I would categorize Crystal Dunn as an unsung hero of the USWNT. Her game wasn’t about the razzle-dazzle. It was about being everything her team needed her to be and then some. An unshakable presence in a fickle game.
She was smooth with her tackles, swift on the attack, and moved up and down the field with ease, consistently delivering noteworthy performances. She was always just there, doing her job, and doing it unbelievably well. In the beginning, as a spectator, you were so thankful for that, and then her consistency put you at risk of taking her value for granted.
Crystal Dunn’s versatility was an asset in any scenario, but it became particularly invaluable during world events with limited rosters such as the Olympics. She had the ability to play both outside back and winger and be among the best in the world at both. What coach doesn’t love a two-for-one deal? Adding her to a roster is like choosing an octopus over a starfish. An intelligent problem solver with eight muscular, versatile appendages? She can just do more. It’s a no-brainer.
Dunn wasn’t giving fear-instilling, cuss world laden pre game speeches to get her teammates jazzed up and ready to go. Instead, she lit up the room with her charisma, particularly in the form of unmatched dance moves, making her a treasured locker room presence. Then, when game time rolled around, her selfless dominance made her indispensable on the field.
Crystal Dunn’s influence stretched beyond the field
As a woman of color, there was plenty for Crystal Dunn to speak up about. She led the USWNT's charge for equal pay and kneeled with her NWSL teammates in Black Lives Matter shirts. Knowing her voice carried weight, she stood firm in her beliefs, and she became a catalyst for change. As a black woman on the blackest USWNT in history (a gold medal-winning USWNT at that), her mere existence was significant. She became an image of black excellence, inspiring younger generations of black youth who could finally see a reflection of themselves at the senior level.
Then, in 2022, Dunn reached beyond the younger generation to instead inspire her peers when she embarked on the journey of motherhood. Just four months after her son’s birth, she was back playing with the Portland Thorns and training with the USWNT, and two years later, she was winning an Olympic gold. I’m lucky if I can muster up the energy to cook dinner after chasing my toddler around the zoo for three hours. She’s out there taking the whole world by storm.
The USWNT has never had a shortage of stars, but a star with such diversity of skill and influence who brings great joy to those around her is a rare beast and a hot commodity. Dunn leaves the USWNT in good hands (or feet, rather), but everyone’s favorite “cool aunt,” as Trinity Rodman affectionately referred to her, will be sorely missed.