Jessica Lynne O'Rourke Çarmıklı (née O'Rourke; born 3 January 1986) is a professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder and a defender. Born in the United States, she represented Turkey internationally.
O'Rourke was raised in the Marlton section of Evesham Township, New Jersey, and attended Cherokee High School.[2]
Jessica started her professional career in 2008 with the only professional team in the US at that time, the F.C. Indiana Lionesses. She played a significant role as a defensive midfielder for F.C. Indiana as they won USL W-League Central Conference in 2008; advancing to the Championship Finals where she tallied the only goal for the Lionesses in the 47'.[3]
On January 16, 2009, she was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) with the 2nd pick of the 9th Round (58th overall).[4]
In 2009, she competed in the United Soccer Leagues' W-League as team Vice Captain for the Buffalo Flash; then played in the Spanish Superliga Femenina with the Club Cajasol Sporting de Huelva.
For the 2010/2011 season, she joined the club Zvezda-2005 in the Russian Women's Football Championship league and the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In November 2016, Jessica signed with the Istanbul-based club Beşiktaş to play in the Turkish Women's First Football League.[5] After an 18-month absence for maternity, she returned with Beşiktaş J.K. and took part in the first appearance of the club in the 2019–20 UEFA Women's Champions League - Group 9 matches; scoring her first goal in Champions League play against Alashkert in the 87th minute.[6]
On September 3, 2021, Fenerbahçe announced technical staff, with Jessica Çarmıklı being announced as administrative manager.[7] On January 8, 2022, Fenerbahçe announced that she would be on the field as a footballer for the club for the rest of the season.[8]
By September 2020, O'Rourke Çarmıklı was called up to the Turkey women's national football team to play at the UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying Group A matches.[9] She wore the Turkish national jersey for the first time as she was naturalized through her marriage to a Turkish person. She played at the away match against Kosovo in Antalya on 23 October 2020.[10][11]
O'Rourke has resided in Turkey since 2010 and has settled in Istanbul.[12] She is married to Turkish businessman Oğuzhan Çarmıklı. They have two children.[13][14]