Jessie Fleming

Biography

Jessie Fleming scored several critical goals at Tokyo 2020 en route to Canada winning the gold medal. She got Canada’s first in the penalty shootout against Brazil in the quarterfinal. She scored on a penalty kick in the 74th minute of the semifinal to give Canada the 1-0 win over the United States. She got another penalty kick goal in the 67th minute against Sweden to tie the gold medal game. And then she opened the scoring for Canada in the penalty shootout of that final. Fleming played full time in five of Canada’s six games during the Olympic tournament and totalled 555 minutes for second most on the team. She was named Canada Soccer’s 2021 Player of the Year for her efforts. She would also earn Player of the Year honours in 2022 and 2023. 

In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, Fleming started all six of Canada’s games, playing full time in four of them, including the bronze medal match as Canada defeated Brazil. 

Fleming has been part of successful Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Tournaments/Playoffs in 2016, 2020, and 2023, securing Canada’s spots for Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. 

Following the retirement of Christine Sinclair in 2023, Fleming was named captain of the Women’s National Team ahead of the 2024 Concacaf Gold Cup. She was named to the tournament’s Best XI as Canada made the semifinals. She had first worn the captain’s armband at the 2022 Arnold Clark Cup. Fleming has appeared in three FIFA Women’s World Cups – 2015, 2019, and 2023. 
Fleming was 14 years old when she made her debut in the Canadian youth program in 2012 and won a silver medal with Canada at the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. She was 15 years old when she made her senior debut for Canada, then the second-youngest player to ever suit up for the country. In 2014 she represented Canada at both the FIFA U-17 and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups. 

In 2015, Fleming helped Canada win silver at the Cyprus Cup and appeared in two games of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil. She then played every minute of every game as Canada finished fourth at the Pan Am Games in Toronto. In the bronze medal match, Fleming scored Canada’s lone goal on a penalty kick as the host nation lost to Mexico. She went on to be named the 2015 Canadian female U-20 Player of the Year for the first of three straight years. 

Fleming scored once at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier where Canada finished second to earn a spot in Rio. She then helped Canada win the 2016 Algarve Cup. 

Fleming was a key contributor as Canada finished second at the 2018 Concacaf Championship to qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She played every minute of Canada’s four games at France 2019. In early 2020, she helped Canada finish second at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament to book their tickets to Tokyo 2020. She was part of another runner-up finish at the Concacaf Championship in 2022. 

Fleming competed with Canada at the SheBelieves Cup in 2021, 2023, and 2024; the team finished second overall at the latter. 

Fleming played collegiately for UCLA where she was a two-time finalist for the Hermann Trophy as the NCAA’s top player. In 2016 she was named Top Drawer’s Freshman of the Year, and as a sophomore in 2017 led the Bruins to the NCAA College Cup final. She was a three-time All-American and a four-time All-PAC 12 First Team selection.

Fleming turned pro in 2020 with English club Chelsea. She won three straight FA Women’s Super League titles and FA Cups from 2021 to 2023. In 2021 she also helped the Blues win the English Super Cup and Community Shield and reach the final of the Champions League. She returned to North America in 2024, joining the Portland Thorns.

A Little More About Jessie

Getting into the Sport: Started playing soccer at age 3… Grew up participating in soccer, hockey, track and cross-country running… Outside Interests: Graduated from UCLA in 2021 with a degree in Materials Engineering and minor in Environmental Science… Odds and Ends: Favourite mottos: “Play every game like it’s your last” and “Get outside your comfort zone, that’s where the magic happens”… Always puts the right side of her equipment before the left side… Nickname: Jess, JFlem…