MIAMI – Crystal Dunn has announced her retirement from professional football, closing the chapter on an indelible playing career that includes several Concacaf international trophies, Olympic gold medals, and a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
One of the most influential players of her generation, Dunn was a key player for club and country – lifting trophies with the United States women’s national team, Chelsea F.C. Women, North Carolina Courage, and Porland Thorns.
Dunn began her career as one of the top players in the United States at the college level, helping the iconic University of North Carolina Tar Heels women’s soccer program to the 2012 NCAA Division I trophy. In the process, she was named the winner of the prestigious Hermann Trophy, awarded to the season’s best player.
She began to make her mark for the United States at the youth ranks. Dunn helped the Stars and Stripes win the 2008 Concacaf Women's U-17 Championship, scoring the match-winning goal in the 1-nil semifinal victory against Mexico to send the USA to the first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where the USA had a runners-up finish.
After garnering experience at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Dunn was a key piece in the U.S. conquest of the 2012 Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship and the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Her outstanding play led her to a senior national team debut in 2013, becoming a constant call-up for the USWNT for 160 appearances. She finished her senior international career with 25 goals.
Dunn etched her name in U.S. women’s soccer history by helping her nation win the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup in 2024.
During the qualification cycles, she also helped the USA win the 2018 Concacaf W Championship, finishing with a Best XI selection, and the Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016 and 2020, finishing as the top scorer of the former with six goals, and a Best XI selection in the latter.
Dunn began her club career with the Washington Spirit in 2014, helping the club to the 2016 NWSL Championship Final, falling on penalty kicks against Western New York Flash. She also had a standout 2015 where she was named the NWSL MVP, an NWSL Best XI selection and collected the NWSL Golden Boot with 15 goals. She was a Second XI selection during the 2016 season.
The U.S. star tested herself overseas with English side Chelsea FC women in 2017, helping the club win the FA WSL Spring Series, and reach the Quarterfinals of the 2017/18 UEFA Women's Champions League before returning stateside.
Upon her return to the NWSL, Dunn helped the North Carolina Courage to a historic run with back-to-back seasons (2018, 2019) completing the NWSL Championship and NWSL Shield double. She was named to the league’s Best XI in 2018 and Second XI in 2019.
Dunn joined the Portland Thorns in 2020 and went on to deliver one of the club’s most prosperous spells, winning the NWSL Challenge Cup and NWSL Shield in 2021 and an NWSL Championship in 2022. During her time with Portland, Dunn also earned Concacaf Player of the Year honors in 2021.
A champion in every sense, Crystal Dunn departs the game as one of the greatest players ever produced by the region — an enduring icon whose impact on women’s football will be felt for generations to come.
