By Jeremy Rasmussen
After securing its berth in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil with an impressive sweep of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, the US Women’s National team traveled to Tampa, Florida for the inaugural SheBelieves Cup. The elite tournament featured three of the final four teams in last summer’s Women’s World Cup finals.
One of the players who continues to make her mark on the WNT is Crystal Dunn. Once a defender, she now finds herself as a winger, putting her blazing speed and finishing touch to good use for the US attack.
Dunn, a standout at the University of North Carolina, has been a star for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), and won the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2015 with her league-leading 15 goals. At age 23, she was the youngest player to win both the NWSL MVP and Golden Boot awards.
Dunn was the leading scorer in CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, tallying six goals, including five against Puerto Rico in a 10-0 drubbing.
Coming on as a sub in the 61st minute against England on March 3 at Raymond James Stadium, Dunn made an immediate impact, scoring the game-winner in a 1-0 victory. In the 72nd minute, she turned, split two defenders, then blasted a shot into upper corner to beat England goalie Karen Bardsley.
“(Dunn’s) goal was world class,” US coach Jill Ellis said after the match. She’s done well, and she deserves to be here. This is what she can pull out. This is what she’s capable of.”
Last year, Dunn was among the 25 players vying for a Women’s World Cup spot before the roster was trimmed to its final 23. That bitter disappointment at missing a roster spot has fueled the Rockville Centre, New York native to make sure she will never be left off again. After missing the World Cup, Dunn actually rejoined the team for its Victory Tour, starting in seven matches and scoring four goals while assisting on three.
“I think in the last year, I definitely grew as a person and as a player,” Dunn said. “I think when I started not to focus so much on missing out on the World Cup, I allowed myself to just keep growing as a player.
“Of course I was devastated, but I still felt like I was with the team right up to the Cup and making a contribution. Now, it’s just about improving. And that’s what I’ve done in the past year.”
Teammate Alex Morgan said the 2016 edition of the WNT is vastly different from the 2015 World Cup champs. Last year’s team was a savvy, veteran-laden bunch, while this year’s team is faster and has several younger players – such as Dunn, Emily Sonnett (22), Lindsey Horan (21), and the baby of the bunch,Mallory Pugh (17).
“It’s really fun to be in this environment,” Morgan said. “We’re really coming together now. We’ve been together a lot lately. So, if we’re not sick of each other by now, it’s a good sign!”
Dunn was roommates with WNT goalie Hope Solo during Olympics qualifying. “Hope loves me. I think I made her laugh a lot,” Dunn said. “Although she doesn’t want to admit it because she wants to be all serious and stuff.”
Dunn said she gets along with everyone on the team, but her best buddy is defender Julie Johnston, who recently got engaged to Philadelphia Eagles Tight End Zach Ertz.
“I’m already prepared for her wedding!” Dunn said. “Just kidding. Wait, no, I really am.”