Wales women's national football team

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Wales national football team.

Wales
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Dragons (Welsh: Y Dreigiau)
AssociationFootball Association of Wales (FAW)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachRhian Wilkinson
CaptainAngharad James
Most capsJess Fishlock (158)
Top scorerJess Fishlock (46)
FIFA codeWAL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 31 Decrease 1 (6 March 2025)[1]
Highest29[2] (June–December 2018; August 2023; August 2024)
Lowest57[2] (June 2005; May 2006)
First international
 Wales 2–3 Republic of Ireland 
(Llanelli, Wales; 13 May 1973)
Biggest win
 Wales 15–0 Azerbaijan 
(Newtown, Powys, Wales; 21 August 2010)
Biggest defeat
 Germany 12–0 Wales 
(Bielefeld, Germany, 31 March 1994)
 Wales 0–12 Germany 
(Swansea, Wales, 5 May 1994)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2035)
European Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2025)
Websitewww.faw.cymru/en/

The Wales national women's football team (Welsh: Tîm pêl-droed merched cenedlaethol Cymru) represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the governing body for football in Wales and the third-oldest national football association in the world, founded in 1876 (149 years ago) (1876).

Wales qualified for their first major championship, UEFA Women's Euro 2025, in December 2024.[3] They have never qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup. The closest they have come was falling to Switzerland in the UEFA play-offs final for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[4] However, they are set to take part in a World Cup for the first time in 2035 when they automatically qualified as co-host with other three countries in the United Kingdom.

As a country of the United Kingdom, Wales is not a member of the International Olympic Committee and therefore the national team does not compete in the Olympic Games.

History

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The Wales Women's National Team was established in 1973.[5] Their debut fixture was a match against Ireland at Stebonheath Park in Llanelli. A crowd of 3,500 watched them lose 3 - 2.

For 20 years the team was organised independently of the FAW. In 1993, players Laura McAllister, Michelle Adams and Karen Jones, succeeded in persuading the FAW secretary Alun Evans that the FAW should take over the running of the women's national team.[6]

In 2003, the FAW withdrew the team from qualifying games for UEFA Women's Euro 2005 citing the cost of travelling to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Estonia and Israel[6] and cutbacks being needed to support Mark Hughes' men's team. The move was criticised by manager Sian Williams and player Jayne Ludlow and Wales were fined 50,000 Swss Francs by UEFA.

In 2010, Ludlow withdrew from the squad entirely[7] returning only in 2012 with the appointment of Jarmo Matikainen as the first ever full time manager of the women's side.

In 2018, Wales finished second in their World Cup qualifying group for the first time ever, missing out on a playoff spot due to second place team rankings. In 2020 they missed out on a playoff spot by away goals.

Under manager Gemma Grainger, Wales reached the playoffs for qualification to 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. They beat Bosnia, but lost in extra time against Switzerland in Zurich.

On December 3, 2024, the team made history after beating the Republic of Ireland 2-1 qualifying for a first time ever to major women's tournament.[8]

Team image

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Media coverage

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Live television broadcast rights are held by BBC Cymru Wales (Welsh & English language commentary) until 2027.

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The primary kit has long been all-red. The crest of the Football Association of Wales features a rampant Welsh Dragon on a white shield. From 1920, the shield was surrounded by a red border, and the letters 'FAW' were added in 1926. The badge was redesigned in 1951, adding a green border with 11 daffodils, as well as the Welsh-language motto Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae ("The best play is team play"). The motto was briefly removed in 1984, but the badge stayed largely the same until 2010, when the shield was changed to feature rounded sides and the motto banner was changed from white to red and green. The dragon also changed from rampant to rampant regardant. The motto was removed again in 2019, following another major redesign of the badge, which saw the top of the shield flattened and the sides changed not to curve outwards; the green border was also thinned and the daffodils removed.[9]

Kit supplier

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Kit provider Period
Umbro 1996
Lotto 1996–2000
Kappa 2000–2008
Champion 2008–2010
Umbro 2010–2013
Adidas 2013–

Results and fixtures

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Main article: Wales women's national football team results (2020–present)
  • The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2024

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27 February Friendly Republic of Ireland  0–2  Wales Dublin
19:30 GMT Report
Stadium: Tallaght Stadium
Attendance: 8,218
Referee: Frida Mia Klarlund (Denmark)
5 April Euro 2025 qualifying Wales  4–0  Croatia Wrexham
19:15 BST
Report Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 4,117
Referee: Zuzana Valentová (Slovakia)
9 April Euro 2025 qualifying Kosovo  0–6  Wales Podujevë
14:00 CEST Report
Stadium: Zahir Pajaziti Stadium
Attendance: 200
Referee: Galiya Echeva (Bulgaria)
31 May Euro 2025 qualifying Wales  1–1  Ukraine Llanelli
19:15 BST
Report
Stadium: Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 4,046
Referee: Shona Shukrula (Netherlands)
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying Ukraine  2–2  Wales Grodzisk Wielkopolski
20:00 CEST
Report
Stadium: Stadion Respect Energy
Attendance: 88
Referee: Caroline Lanssens (Belgium)
12 July Euro 2025 qualifying Croatia  0–3  Wales Karlovac
20:15 CEST Report
Stadium: Stadion Branko Čavlović-Čavlek
Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza (Spain)
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying Wales  2–0  Kosovo Llanelli
18:00 BST
Report Stadium: Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 4,199
Referee: Deborah Anex (Switzerland)
25 October UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs Slovakia  2–1  Wales Poprad
17:30 CEST
Report
Stadium: NTC Poprad
Attendance: 2,013
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)
29 October UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs Wales  2–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 agg.)		  Slovakia Cardiff
19:15 GMT
Report Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 10,504
Referee: Ewa Augustyn (Poland)
29 November UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs Wales  1–1  Republic of Ireland Cardiff
19:15 GMT
Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 16,845
Referee: Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi (Italy)
3 December UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs Republic of Ireland  1–2
(2–3 agg.)		  Wales Dublin
19:30 GMT
Report
Stadium: Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 25,832
Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza (Spain)

2025

[edit]
21 February 2025 Nations League Italy  1–0  Wales Monza
18:15 CET
Report Stadium: Stadio Brianteo
Attendance: 4,219
Referee: Katalin Kulcsár HUN
25 February 2025 Nations League Wales  1–1  Sweden Wrexham
19:15 GMT Barton 77' (pen.) Report Angeldahl 14' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 6,077
Referee: Désirée Grundbacher SUI
4 April 2025 Nations League Wales  1-2  Denmark Cardiff
19:15 GMT Holland 34' Report Bruun 7' Vangsgaard 72' Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 6,779
Referee: Michalina Diakow POL
8 April 2025 Nations League Sweden  1-1  Wales Gothenburg
19:00 CEST Eriksson 59' Report Cain 67' Stadium: Gamla Ullevi
Attendance: 8,759
Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo ESP
30 May 2025 Nations League Denmark  v  Wales Odense
Stadium: Odense Stadion
3 June 2025 Nations League Wales  v  Italy Swansea
Stadium: Liberty Stadium
5 July Euro 2025 group stage Wales  v  Netherlands Lucerne
18:00 CEST Stadium: Swissporarena
9 July Euro 2025 group stage France  v  Wales St. Gallen
21:00 CEST Stadium: Kybunpark
13 July Euro 2025 group stage England  v  Wales St. Gallen
21:00 CEST Stadium: Kybunpark

Coaching staff

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Current coaching staff

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As of 26 February 2024.
Position Name
Head coach Canada Rhian Wilkinson
Assistant coach Wales John Grey
Goalkeeping coach England Jen Herst
Head of physical performance England Luke Taylor

Manager history

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See also: Category:Wales women's national football team managers

Players

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Main article: List of Wales women's international footballers
See also: Category:Wales women's international footballers

Current squad

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The following players were called up for Matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2025 Nations League to be played on Friday, 4 April 2025 and Tuesday, 8 April 2025 in the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff and The Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg respectively against Denmark and Sweden[20]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
12 1GK Olivia Clark (2001-08-30) 30 August 2001 (age 23) 28 0 England Leicester City
21 1GK Safia Middleton-Patel (2004-09-21) 21 September 2004 (age 20) 3 0 England Manchester United
1 1GK Poppy Soper (2002-05-04) 4 May 2002 (age 22) 0 0 England Blackburn Rovers
2 2DF Lily Woodham (2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 24) 37 3 England Crystal Palace (loan)
3 2DF Gemma Evans (1996-08-01) 1 August 1996 (age 28) 75 1 England Liverpool
4 2DF Mayzee Davies (2006-08-25) 25 August 2006 (age 18) 5 0 England Manchester City
18 2DF Esther Morgan (2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 (age 22) 10 0 England Sheffield United
5 2DF Rhiannon Roberts (1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 (age 34) 79 2 Spain Real Betis
14 2DF Hayley Ladd (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 31) 103 3 England Everton
17 2DF Lois Joel (1999-06-02) 2 June 1999 (age 25) 8 0 England Newcastle United
23 2DF Ffion Morgan (2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 (age 24) 42 2 England Bristol City
6 3MF Josie Green (1993-04-25) 25 April 1993 (age 31) 37 0 England Crystal Palace
8 3MF Angharad James (Captain) (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 (age 30) 130 6 United States Seattle Reign
16 3MF Charlie Estcourt (1998-05-27) 27 May 1998 (age 26) 48 3 United States DC Power FC
20 3MF Carrie Jones (2003-09-04) 4 September 2003 (age 21) 35 3 Sweden IFK Norrköping
10 3MF Josie Longhurst (2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 (age 23) 0 0 Canada Vancouver Whitecaps
22 3MF Alice Griffiths (2001-01-22) 22 January 2001 (age 24) 14 0 England Durham (loan)
11 4FW Hannah Cain (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 26) 14 3 England Leicester City
15 4FW Elise Hughes (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 23) 29 3 England Crystal Palace
9 4FW Mary McAteer (2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 21) 7 1 England Sunderland
19 4FW Ella Powell (2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 25) 13 0 England Bristol City
13 4FW Rachel Rowe (1992-09-13) 13 September 1992 (age 32) 74 8 England Southampton
7 4FW Tianna Teisar (2005-09-24) 24 September 2005 (age 19) 0 0 England Bristol City

Recent call-ups

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  • The following players have been called up for a Wales squad in the last 12 months.
  • This information may be incomplete or incorrect.
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Soffia Kelly (2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 (age 18) 0 0 England Aston Villa v.  Kosovo, 9 April 2024
GK Laura O'Sullivan-Jones (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 33) 59 0 Wales Gwalia United v. Denmark, 4 April 2025
DF Scarlett Hill (2007-10-09) 9 October 2007 (age 17) 0 0 England Manchester United
DF Sophie Ingle (1991-09-02) 2 September 1991 (age 33) 141 6 England Chelsea v.  Kosovo, 16 July 2024
DF Amy Richardson (2006-01-05) 5 January 2006 (age 19) 0 0 Scotland Partick Thistle (loan) v.  Croatia, 12 July 2024PRE
DF Cadi Rodgers (2007-08-29) 29 August 2007 (age 17) 0 0 England Chelsea v.  Croatia, 12 July 2024PRE
MF Ania Denham (2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 (age 18) 0 0 England Wolverhampton Wanderers v.  Croatia, 5 April 2024
MF Mared Griffiths (2007-03-03) 3 March 2007 (age 18) 1 0 England Manchester United v. Sweden, 26 February 2025
MF Elena Cole (2007-04-08) 8 April 2007 (age 18) 0 0 Wales Gwalia United v.  Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE
MF Anna Filbey (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 25) 7 0 England Watford v.  Republic of Ireland, 29 November 2024PRE
MF Jess Fishlock (1987-01-14) 14 January 1987 (age 38) 160 46 United States Seattle Reign v. Denmark, 4 April 2025
MF Ellen Jones (2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 23) 0 0 England Sunderland v. Sweden, 26 February 2025
MF Ceri Holland (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 27) 41 6 England Liverpool v. Denmark, 4 April 2025
MF Charlotte Lee (2006-01-05) 5 January 2006 (age 19) 0 0 England Aston Villa v.  Slovakia, 25 October 2024PRE
FW Kayleigh Barton (1988-03-22) 22 March 1988 (age 37) 86 22 England Charlton Athletic v. Sweden, 26 February 2025
FW Olivia Francis (2006-02-20) 20 February 2006 (age 19) 0 0 England Liverpool Feds (loan) v.  Ukraine, 4 June 2024
FW Tegan McGowan (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 (age 20) 0 0 England Birmingham City v.  Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024
Notes
  • PRE = Preliminary squad

Captains

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Records

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Main article: List of Wales women's international footballers
See also: Category:Wales women's international footballers
  • *Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 4 June 2024.

Top goalscorers

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# Player Year(s) Goals Caps
1 Jess Fishlock 2006– 46 159
2 Helen Ward 2008–2023 44 105
3 Natasha Harding 2008–2022 26 103

In April 2017, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 100 caps for the Wales national football team.[24]

In April 2024, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 150 caps for the Wales national football team.[25]

Competitive record

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FIFA Women's World Cup

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FIFA World Cup record Qualification record FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
China 1991 Did not enter UEFA EURO 1991
Sweden 1995 Did not qualify UEFA EURO 1995
United States 1999 6 0 2 4 7 21
United States 2003 6 0 1 5 2 13
China 2007 6 4 2 0 17 2
Germany 2011 8 3 0 5 23 16
Canada 2015 10 6 1 3 18 9
France 2019 8 5 2 1 7 4
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 10 6 2 2 22 5 2 1 0 1 2 2
Brazil 2027 To be determined To be determined To be determined
MexicoUnited States 2031 To be determined To be determined To be determined
United Kingdom 2035 Qualified Qualified as co-host
Total 1/12 - - - - - - - 54 24 10 20 96 70 2 1 0 1 2 2
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship

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UEFA Women's Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result P W D* L GF GA P W D* L GF GA P/R Rnk
EnglandItalyNorwaySweden 1984 Did not enter Did not enter
Norway 1987
West Germany 1989
Denmark 1991
Italy 1993
EnglandGermanyNorwaySweden 1995 Did not qualify 6 0 0 6 5 36 –
NorwaySweden 1997 8 2 1 5 9 15
Germany 2001 6 0 2 4 3 16
England 2005 Withdrew Withdrew
Finland 2009 Did not qualify 11 3 0 8 11 21 –
Sweden 2013 8 3 1 4 12 14
Netherlands 2017 8 3 2 3 13 11
England 2022 8 4 2 2 16 4
Switzerland 2025 Qualified 10 6 3 1 24 7 Rise[a] 20th
Total 1/14 - - - - - - 65 21 11 33 93 124 20th
*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.

European Competition for Women's Football (Unofficial)

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1979 : Group Stage[26]

UEFA Women's Nations League

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UEFA Women's Nations League record
League phase Finals
Season Lg Grp Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R Rnk Year Pos Pld W D L GF GA
2023–24 A 3 4th 6 0 1 5 4 15 Fall 16th Europe 2024 Did not qualify
2025 A 4 To be determined N/A 2025 To be determined
Total 6 5 0 1 23 9 16th Total
Rise Promoted at end of season
Same position No movement at end of season
Fall Relegated at end of season
* Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs

Algarve Cup

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The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football.

Portugal Algarve Cup record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
1994
to 2001		 did not enter
2002 12th 4 1 0 3 1 9
2003 12th 4 0 2 2 4 8
2004 10th 4 2 0 2 6 8
2005
to 2008		 did not enter
2009 12th 4 1 0 3 8 6
2010 did not enter
2011 8th 4 2 0 2 6 7
2012 8th 4 2 1 1 3 4
2013 12th 4 1 2 1 3 4
2014
to 2022		 did not enter
Total 8/26 28 9 5 14 31 47

Other tournaments

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Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
2023 Pinatar Cup Runner-up 3 1 2 0 2 1

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ From Euro 2025 onwards a new qualifying format was introduced, linked to the Women's Nations League where teams are divided into leagues with promotion/relegation between the leagues at the end of each cycle.

References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Wales". FIFA. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  3. ^ "Euro 2025 play-off: Wales beat Republic of Ireland to reach first major women's tournament". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  4. ^ "Women's World Cup play-off: Wales hearts broken by extra-time Switzerland winner". BBC. 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  5. ^ Harries, Owain (2024-02-23). "Republic of Ireland v Cymru - A fixture that shaped a brighter women's future". FAW. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  6. ^ a b WalesOnline (2003-05-07). "UEFA take action... by fining Wales!". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 2024-07-20. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  7. ^ "Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow calls time on Wales career". BBC Sport. 2012-10-18. Archived from the original on 2024-07-20. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  8. ^ Downey, Sophie (2024-12-03). "Wales weather Ireland storm to reach Euro 2025 and write names in history". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  9. ^ "A new identity for football in Wales". faw.cymru. Football Association of Wales. 7 August 2019. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  10. ^ "'For Them' – Where 200 games began for Cymru women". Football Association of Wales. 20 October 2021. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  11. ^ "North Wales women's football greats: No 3 – Ceryl Tindall-Jones". February 8, 2021.
  12. ^ "Internationale wedstrijden – KBVB". static.belgianfootball.be. Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  13. ^ "Keeper coach Tucker joins Swans". BBC Sport. 15 July 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  14. ^ Leighton, Tony (4 October 2010). "New Wales coach Jarmo Matikainen sets sights on Euro 2013 qualification". The Guardian.
  15. ^ "Wales Women lose manager Jarmo Matikainen". BBC Sport. 17 January 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  16. ^ "National Women's Teams Manager – Jayne Ludow". Football Association of Wales. 2 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Jayne Ludlow: Wales manager leaves role". BBC Sport. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Gemma Grainger: Wales appoint new manager to succeed Jayne Ludlow". BBC Sport. 19 March 2021. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Rhian Wilkinson: Former Canada defender named Wales head coach". BBC Sport. 26 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Cymru squad announced for opening Nations League matches".
  21. ^ Pitman, Mark (20 February 2015). "Ingle ready to lead Wales". UEFA. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Ladd's Honour as she Prepares for 100th Wales Cap". Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  23. ^ "LOREN DYKES RETIRES FROM PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL". FA Wales. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  24. ^ Mitchelmore, Ian (5 April 2017). "Jess Fishlock becomes first player to hit 100-cap milestone as Wales Women beat Northern Ireland at Ystrad Mynach". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  25. ^ BBC, Sport (8 April 2024). "Euro 2025 qualifying: Jess Fishlock to captain Wales in Kosovo". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  26. ^ Erik Garvin. "Inofficial European Women Championship 1979". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
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