Crystal Dunn leaves Portland Thorns FC

Crystal Dunn, the 31-year-old United States Women’s National Soccer Team star from Rockville Centre, announced via social media on Nov. 9 that she will not be returning to the Portland Thorns FC after three seasons with the organization. News of her departure means that Dunn will go into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

“My time in Portland has come to an end and I am extremely grateful for all the memories,” Dunn said via X. “This decision has weighed heavily on me for a while but I am ready for a new journey.”

In her message to the fans, Dunn thanks the City of Portland for its energy, support and passion for the team. She continues to thank her teammates for challenging her to play her best and for the love and support they provided while she was giving birth.

“Reflecting on the past three years, it is clear to me that trust and accountability are the basis for a strong and resilient culture,” Dunn continued. “My time in Portland has held moments of great success and absolutely heartbreaking experiences. These moments have not only shaped some of the most challenging years of my career but also me. I am walking away, knowing the woman, the mom, the teammate and the friend I will forever be as I look ahead to my next chapter.”

Before she turned pro, Dunn was already making a name for herself as the captain of the South Side High School Lady Cyclones, which she would lead to three New York state championship titles in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

She was selected first overall by the Washington Spirit during the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League draft. Dunn was left off the World Cup roster in 2015, and was eager to prove her worth, which she did by dominating the league in scoring while earning herself the MVP title.

After three seasons with the Spirit, she joined the Chelsea Ladies Football League in England for a brief time before returning stateside to play for the North Carolina Courage, where she helped secure the 2018 and 2019 NWSL championship. She was also a major component behind the United States Women’s National Team’s 2019 World Cup championship over the Netherlands.

Dunn was traded to the Thorns in 2020 via a three-team trade with the North Carolina Courage and the OL Reign in Seattle. She would later sign a three-year deal with the Thorns in February 2021. Despite missing the majority of the 2022 season due to her pregnancy, she managed to return to the pitch almost four months after giving birth to her son, Marcel, to help the Thorns win NWSL championship.

Dunn joined the USWNT at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this past summer. Despite a solid start in the opening game over Vietnam, the team struggled to maintain its performance and were eliminated in the Round of 16 following a 0-1 loss to Sweden that ended in penalty kicks.

The 2023 season did not go well for the Thorns FC either, which managed to finish as the No. 2 seed in the league, but were eliminated by Gotham FC in the semifinal round. Dunn ends her time in Portland after three seasons, during which she scored only seven goals and four assists in 41 matches.