1. Early Life and Education
Crystal Dunn's formative years were characterized by a robust athletic and academic development that laid the foundation for her professional soccer career.
1.1. Childhood and High School
Born in New Hyde Park, New York, to Vincent and Rhonda Dunn, Crystal was raised in Rockville Centre, New York, alongside her brother, Henry. She attended South Side High School, where she was a four-year starter, primarily playing as a forward and midfielder. She served as team captain in 2008 and 2009. During her three seasons at South Side, the team lost only two matches, and she helped lead them to New York state championships in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Her 2008 season was notably impacted by her commitments to the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand. As captain in 2009, she showcased her offensive prowess by scoring four goals within the first 20 minutes of the state championship game.
Dunn's high school career was highly decorated. She amassed 46 goals and 35 assists in three seasons, missing her 2008 season due to national team obligations. She was recognized as a Parade All-American and the New York Gatorade Player of the Year. Her other accolades included First-team All-State and All-Long Island honors in 2006, 2007, and 2009. She was also an All-New York First Team and All-Long Island team selection as a freshman, sophomore, and senior. In 2009, she received NSCAA, ESPNRise, and Parade High School All-America honors. The teams she played on in 2007 and 2009 were undefeated and ranked number one nationally by the NSCAA. As a senior, Dunn was named Newsday Long Island Player of the Year, Nassau County Class A Player of the Year, New York Sportswriters Class A Player of the Year, BigAppleSoccer.com Youth Player of the Year, and was the recipient of the Mike Clark Award for the best all-around athlete in Nassau County. Beyond high school, Dunn played for club teams such as Albertson Fury, the RVC Tornadoes, and the RVC Power, with whom she won a state title.
Dunn has reflected on her experiences, stating, "As a black woman, I always felt growing up I had to do above and beyond stuff to be noticed, to feel like I could hang with everybody else." She further explained her commitment to developing a diverse skill set: "I tried to implement so many different things in my game so that I'm not just known for my speed. It's a stereotype that black players are just really fast, but at the end of day I want to be skilled, I want to be technical, I want to have vision and that's what I've always tried to promote in my game: not relying on one thing but just being able to outwork players in so many different ways." This philosophy underpinned her approach to both her high school and professional career.
1.2. Collegiate Career
Dunn attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in sociology from 2010 to 2013.
As a freshman in 2010, Dunn started 23 matches, playing a total of 1,929 minutes, and completed the full 90 minutes in 18 games. She led the team in points with 26, which included nine goals and eight assists. Notably, she scored four goals during the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, with a match-winner against Jackson State University, a goal against Notre Dame, and two goals in a 3-1 victory over James Madison in the second round. Her freshman accolades included Soccer America Freshman of the Year, 2010 NSCAA first-team All-America, Second-team Soccer America MVP, and First-team All-ACC. She made history as the first freshman to win the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award and was a semi-finalist for the 2010 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy.
In her sophomore season in 2011, Dunn started 19 matches, missing only one due to training with the United States under-20 women's national soccer team. She contributed three goals and six assists, earning recognition as third-team All-America and first-team All-Southeast Region by the NSCAA. She was also named to the first-team All-ACC and was selected for the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week three times.
During her junior season in 2012, Dunn was absent for the non-conference portion of the college season while representing the United States under-20 women's national soccer team at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. Upon her return, she played a crucial role in leading the Tar Heels to win the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. In the tournament's quarter-final, Dunn scored both goals in a 2-1 win against top-seeded BYU, including a decisive "golden goal" within four minutes of the end of the second overtime. She also made a critical defensive play by heading the ball off the Tar Heels' goal line in the first overtime, preventing a loss. Dunn was awarded the 2012 Hermann Trophy, and was also named the ACC Athlete of the Year and ACC Defender of the Year. She received her third consecutive All-ACC selection and was an ESPY Awards finalist. Additionally, she was honored with the 2012 Honda Award for Soccer.
In her senior season in 2013, Dunn achieved her first collegiate hat-trick, helping the Tar Heels break a two-match losing streak with a 4-0 victory over the Miami Hurricanes. She finished as the team's top scorer with 14 goals, six of which were match-winners. For her outstanding performance, Dunn was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year, NSCAA All-American, and earned her fourth consecutive First-team All-ACC selection. She was also a Hermann Trophy finalist and a Honda Award nominee.
2. Club Career
Crystal Dunn's professional club career has spanned several teams across the NWSL in the United States and the FA WSL in England, where she has consistently demonstrated her adaptability and impact.
2.1. Washington Spirit
In January 2014, the Washington Spirit selected Dunn as the first overall pick in the 2014 NWSL College Draft for the 2014 NWSL season. She made 19 starts in her 22 appearances for the Spirit during her debut season. The team finished fourth during the regular season with a record of 10 wins, 5 draws, and 9 losses, securing a playoff spot, but was defeated 2-1 by Seattle Reign FC in the semi-final. Dunn finished third in the voting for NWSL Rookie of the Year.
Dunn returned to the Spirit for the 2015 season. On April 26, 2015, playing as a defender, she scored two goals in a 3-1 victory against Sky Blue FC, earning her the NWSL Player of the Week award for week 2. On August 1, 2015, she made history for the franchise by scoring their first hat trick, with all three goals coming in the first half of a win over the Houston Dash. Her six goals that month earned her the league's Player of the Month award. Dunn concluded the regular season as the league's top scorer with 15 goals, securing the 2015 NWSL Golden Boot. She was also awarded the league's NWSL Most Valuable Player (MVP) title, becoming the youngest player, at age 23, to win both awards. Her 0.77 goals-per-game average set a new league record. Dunn later stated that being excluded from the national team roster for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup provided extra motivation for her exceptional league performance.
In her third season with the Spirit in 2016, Dunn scored four goals and provided a career-high five assists. Two of her four goals were scored in the team's inaugural appearance in the NWSL Championship, which they ultimately lost to the Western New York Flash in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.
2.2. Chelsea
On January 3, 2017, Dunn transferred to FA WSL 1 club Chelsea. She made an immediate impact, scoring her first goal just 12 minutes into her first competitive appearance for the club on March 19, during a 7-0 FA Cup win against Doncaster Rovers Belles. Her first league goal came in April in a 6-0 victory over Yeovil Town. Initially playing as a striker for Chelsea, Dunn later transitioned to a wing-back position. During her tenure at Chelsea, she scored five goals in 20 appearances across all competitions. She contributed to Chelsea's victory in the FA WSL Spring Series and helped the club reach the quarter-finals of the 2017-18 UEFA Women's Champions League, marking their first time advancing to that stage. Despite enjoying her time at Chelsea, even naming one of her adopted chickens after the club, Dunn decided to return to the United States to increase her visibility to the national team coaching staff.
2.3. North Carolina Courage
After a year in England, Dunn's return to the NWSL was facilitated by a trade in January 2018, where the Washington Spirit (who retained her league rights) traded her to North Carolina Courage in exchange for players Taylor Smith and Ashley Hatch. Chelsea confirmed this move in February 2018.
Dunn made her debut for the North Carolina Courage in a 1-0 victory over Portland Thorns FC in the opening game of the 2018 NWSL season. Her strong performances earned her the Player of the Week award twice in the 2018 NWSL season (for weeks 8 and 13) and Player of the Month for June. She played in 22 regular season games for the Courage, scoring eight goals, contributing significantly to North Carolina winning the NWSL Shield. The Courage broke several season records that year, including most goals scored, most wins, and most points. Dunn was named to the 2018 NWSL Best XI. She started in the semi-final match against the Chicago Red Stars, which North Carolina won 2-0, advancing to the Championship Game. Dunn also started in the final, where North Carolina secured a 3-0 victory over the Portland Thorns, claiming the NWSL Championship.
In the 2019 season, Dunn made 13 regular season appearances, scoring seven goals. In the playoffs, she scored two goals in two appearances, helping the North Carolina Courage win both the NWSL Shield and their second consecutive NWSL Championship. In the 2020 season, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, she made five appearances and scored one goal in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.
2.4. Portland Thorns FC
On October 22, 2020, Crystal Dunn was initially traded to OL Reign from North Carolina Courage in exchange for Casey Murphy and 140.00 K USD in allocation money. Later that same day, she was traded again, this time to the Portland Thorns FC, in exchange for an international roster slot, a first-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, and 250.00 K USD in allocation money. Her move to Portland was partly influenced by her husband, Pierre Soubrier, who was the head athletic trainer for the Portland Thorns.
During the 2021 NWSL season, Dunn was away from the club for much of July and August due to the rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympics. She played in 15 matches for the Thorns that season, helping them secure an NWSL Shield, which was her third career NWSL Shield title.
Following the 2021 season, Dunn announced her first pregnancy. She missed the majority of the 2022 NWSL season but made a remarkable return to the field less than four months after the birth of her son, Marcel Jean, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 victory against the Orlando Pride on September 9, 2022. Her first goal for the Thorns after her pregnancy was a crucial game-winner in the 93rd minute of their semi-final match against the San Diego Wave FC. Dunn also made her fourth career appearance in an NWSL Championship match, coming on as a substitute in the final, where the Thorns lifted the trophy.
In the 2023 season, Dunn played 19 matches for the Thorns, scoring five goals and providing two assists. After the season, she became a free agent and announced her departure from the Thorns, later stating that she felt undervalued by the club.
2.5. NJ/NY Gotham FC
During the 2023 offseason, Dunn was linked with several clubs, including the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit, with reports suggesting the Pride had offered her an annual salary of 400.00 K USD. On December 31, 2023, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that Dunn, a native of Long Island with family in the New York metropolitan area, had signed with the club through 2026.
2.6. Paris Saint-Germain
Crystal Dunn is expected to join Paris Saint-Germain in Première Ligue starting January 31, 2025.
3. International Career
Crystal Dunn has had a distinguished international career, representing the United States at various youth levels before becoming a key player for the senior national team, known for her versatility and contributions in major tournaments.
3.1. Youth Teams
Dunn has competed for the United States in various national youth teams from 2008 through 2012. She participated in the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. For the U-20 national team, she played in 14 international matches in 2010. She also played every minute of the U.S.'s five matches at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, where the team emerged victorious. She was also a member of the team that won the 2012 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. In total, she made 13 appearances and scored 1 goal for the U-17 team and 47 appearances for the U-20 team.
3.2. Senior National Team
On January 22, 2013, Dunn received her first call-up to the senior national team's training camp under newly appointed coach Tom Sermanni. She made her debut for the team on February 13, 2013, in a friendly match against Scotland. She was subsequently named to the roster for the 2013 Algarve Cup. Dunn made her first Algarve Cup appearance for the senior team on March 6, 2013, against Iceland, starting at left back and playing the full 90 minutes in the United States' 3-0 victory. She earned her third cap during the tournament's final match against Germany, where the United States clinched the championship with a 2-0 win.
In October 2014, Dunn was omitted from the national team roster for the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship, which served as the qualifying tournament for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She returned from injury in December 2014 and traveled with the team to Brazil, though she did not play. Dunn was named to the roster for February 2015 friendlies against France and England, making a substitute appearance against England. She was also on the roster for the 2015 Algarve Cup but did not play. While she was named to the preliminary roster for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, she was notably left off the final 23-player squad.
In September 2015, Dunn was added to the roster for the national team's Women's World Cup victory tour prior to the September 17 match against Haiti, becoming the first player not on the World Cup roster to join the tour. She made her first start of 2015 against Haiti, recording her first career national team assists (both on Carli Lloyd's goals) and scoring her first national team goal in the final moments of the match.
Dunn played in the national team's opening game of the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, scoring her fifth international goal in the 5-0 victory over Costa Rica. In the third group match against Puerto Rico, Dunn tied the record for most goals scored by a U.S. player in a single match, netting five goals and contributing one assist. She also won the Golden Boot for the tournament with 6 goals.
In March 2019, during a national team match, each player wore a jersey honoring a woman; Dunn chose to honor Serena Williams. On February 7, 2020, Dunn played her 100th match for the United States in a 4-0 win against Mexico. Dunn was the only American player to start in all six matches at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan, playing all but 16 minutes throughout the tournament and helping the team secure a bronze medal.
Dunn was named to the 18-player roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France. In the quarter-final against Japan, she provided a crucial long ball to assist Trinity Rodman for the game's only goal in extra time, sending the team to the semifinals. She started in the gold medal match against Brazil, which the United States won 1-0 with a goal from Mallory Swanson, earning Dunn her first Olympic gold medal.
4. Style of Play
Crystal Dunn is highly regarded for her creative problem-solving in attack, her exceptional work rate, and most notably, her remarkable positional versatility. She began her professional career as a forward for the Washington Spirit and the United States national team. During her time at Chelsea, coach Emma Hayes deployed her as a wing-back. Upon her return to the United States with the North Carolina Courage, she primarily played as one of two attacking midfielders alongside Debinha. While playing for the Courage, Dunn also solidified her reputation as one of the world's best left backs, becoming a consistent starter in that position for the United States during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Despite her success in defensive roles, Dunn has openly expressed her preference for playing an attacking role. Her ability to seamlessly adapt to multiple positions makes her an invaluable asset to any team, highlighting her deep understanding of the game and her diverse skill set.
5. In Popular Culture
Crystal Dunn has extended her influence beyond the soccer field into popular media, using her platform to engage with significant social issues. She has been featured in Self Magazine, showcasing her athletic regimen and lifestyle. In 2016, she starred alongside teammates Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe in the docu-series Keeping Score, which was broadcast by Fullscreen. The series followed the athletes as they prepared for the 2016 Summer Olympics and specifically addressed critical topics such as equal pay in sports and racism, highlighting Dunn's commitment to social justice.
6. Personal Life
Crystal Dunn married Pierre Soubrier in December 2018. They first met when Dunn was playing for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL, where Soubrier was working as an athletic trainer. His presence in Portland, where he served as the head trainer for the Portland Thorns, was a contributing factor in Dunn's desire to be traded to that club. The couple shares their home with five chickens, named Quinn, Juke, Chelsea, Toulouse, and Rocky, as well as three cats. Crystal Dunn has a height of 61 in (155 cm).
On November 11, 2021, Dunn announced that she and Soubrier were expecting their first child. Their son, Marcel Jean, was born on May 20, 2022, following an unplanned C-section. Dunn's return to professional soccer shortly after childbirth was widely noted as a testament to her dedication and resilience.
7. Honors and Achievements
Crystal Dunn has earned numerous honors and achievements throughout her collegiate, club, and international career, solidifying her status as one of the most decorated American soccer players.
7.1. Club
- NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship: 2012 (with University of North Carolina)
- FA WSL Spring Series: 2017 (with Chelsea)
- NWSL Championship: 2018, 2019 (with North Carolina Courage); 2022 (with Portland Thorns FC)
- NWSL Shield: 2018, 2019 (with North Carolina Courage); 2021 (with Portland Thorns FC)
- NWSL Challenge Cup: 2021 (with Portland Thorns FC)
- Women's International Champions Cup: 2021 (with Portland Thorns FC)
7.2. International
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2012 (with United States U20)
- CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2012 (with United States U20)
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2019 (with United States)
- Summer Olympic Games Gold Medal: 2024 (with United States)
- Summer Olympic Games Bronze Medal: 2020 (with United States)
- CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2018 (with United States)
- CONCACAF W Gold Cup: 2024 (with United States)
- CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2016, 2020 (with United States)
- SheBelieves Cup: 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 (with United States)
- Tournament of Nations: 2018 (with United States)
- Algarve Cup: 2015 (with United States)
7.3. Individual
- Hermann Trophy: 2012
- Honda Sports Award: 2012-13
- ACC Player of the Year: 2012
- ACC Defensive Player of the Year: 2010
- ACC Offensive Player of the Year: 2013
- Soccer America Player of the Year Award: 2012
- NWSL Player of the Week: 2015 (Weeks 3, 8, 11, 16, 18, 20), 2018 (Weeks 8, 13), 2021 (Week 6)
- NWSL Player of the Month: August 2015, June 2018
- NWSL Most Valuable Player: 2015
- NWSL Best XI: 2015, 2018
- NWSL Second XI: 2016, 2019
- NWSL Golden Boot: 2015 (15 goals)
- CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Golden Boot: 2016 (6 goals)
- IFFHS Women's World Team: 2019
- CONCACAF Women's Championship Best XI: 2018
- CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Best XI: 2020
- CONCACAF Player of the Year: 2021
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup All-star team: 2010
8. Career Statistics
Detailed statistical data for Crystal Dunn's club and international appearances and goals are provided below.
8.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Continental | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Regular season | Play-offs | Cup | |||||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Washington Spirit | 2014 | NWSL | 21 | 0 | - | - | 21 | 0 | ||||
| 2015 | 20 | 15 | - | 20 | 15 | |||||||
| 2016 | 13 | 2 | - | 13 | 2 | |||||||
| Total | 54 | 17 | 0 | 0 | - | 54 | 17 | |||||
| Chelsea FC | 2017 | FA WSL | 8 | 1 | - | - | - | 8 | 1 | |||
| 2017-2018 | 7 | 2 | - | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 4 | |||
| Total | 15 | 3 | - | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 5 | |||
| North Carolina Courage | 2018 | NWSL | 22 | 8 | 2 | 0 | - | 24 | 8 | |||
| 2019 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 9 | ||||||
| 2020 | - | 5 | 1 | - | 5 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 35 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | - | 44 | 18 | |||
| Portland Thorns FC | 2021 | NWSL | 14 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 0 | - | 14 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 2023 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 20 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 40 | 7 | |||
| NJ/ NY Gotham FC | 2024 | NWSL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |
| Paris Saint-Germain FC | 2025 | Première Ligue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 115 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 137 | 41 | ||
8.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | |||
| 2013 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2016 | 25 | 14 | |
| 2017 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 18 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 21 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 157 | 25 | |
Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dunn goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 17, 2015 | Detroit, Michigan | Haiti | 5-0 | 5-0 | Friendly |
| 2 | September 20, 2015 | Birmingham, Alabama | 3-0 | 8-0 | ||
| 3 | October 25, 2015 | Orlando, Florida | Brazil | 2-1 | 3-1 | |
| 4 | December 13, 2015 | Glendale, Arizona | China | 1-0 | 2-0 | |
| 5 | February 10, 2016 | Frisco, Texas | Costa Rica | 3-0 | 5-0 | 2016 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying |
| 6 | February 15, 2016 | Puerto Rico | 1-0 | 10-0 | ||
| 7 | 3-0 | |||||
| 8 | 6-0 | |||||
| 9 | 8-0 | |||||
| 10 | 9-0 | |||||
| 11 | March 3, 2016 | Tampa, Florida | England | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2016 SheBelieves Cup |
| 12 | April 6, 2016 | East Hartford, Connecticut | Colombia | 1-0 | 7-0 | Friendly |
| 13 | July 9, 2016 | Chicago, Illinois | South Africa | 1-0 | 1-0 | |
| 14 | July 23, 2016 | Kansas City, Kansas | Costa Rica | 1-0 | 4-0 | |
| 15 | August 9, 2016 | Manaus, Brazil | Colombia | 1-1 | 2-2 | 2016 Summer Olympics |
| 16 | September 15, 2016 | Columbus, Ohio | Thailand | 6-0 | 9-0 | Friendly |
| 17 | October 23, 2016 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Switzerland | 4-1 | 5-1 | |
| 18 | November 13, 2016 | Carson, California | Romania | 2-0 | 5-0 | |
| 19 | April 6, 2017 | Frisco, Texas | Russia | 1-0 | 4-0 | |
| 20 | 3-0 | |||||
| 21 | April 9, 2017 | Houston, Texas | 3-0 | 5-1 | ||
| 22 | 5-1 | |||||
| 23 | January 21, 2018 | San Diego, California | Denmark | 5-1 | 5-1 | |
| 24 | October 10, 2018 | Cary, North Carolina | Trinidad and Tobago | 4-0 | 7-0 | 2018 CONCACAF Championship |
| 25 | June 4, 2024 | St. Paul, Minnesota | South Korea | 1-0 | 3-0 | Friendly |