Crystal Dunn, an Olympic champion and World Cup winner who played 160 games for the U.S. women’s national team, announced Thursday that she is retiring from professional soccer.
A key figure in the United States’ 2019 World Cup win and 2024 Olympic triumph, Dunn lifted the championship trophy three times in the top-flight NWSL, with the North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019 and with the Portland Thorns in 2022.
She was a versatile talent who was deadly in midfield and on the offensive line. She became a crucial part of the national team’s defense, shining as a left back, despite this not being her favorite role.
“I leave the game with a sense of peace and deep satisfaction for all that I have accomplished,” Dunn said in a statement.
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“I am grateful for the incredible people I have had the opportunity to work with, from teammates and coaches to family and friends, and all the amazing moments we have shared. I am very much looking forward to my next chapter.”
Dunn is the latest in a string of high-profile players from America’s modern golden age to retire. She played together with Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, among others, cementing herself as the foundation of the American backline.
“I kicked a football for the first time when I was four, not knowing it would change my life,” says Dunn. “My trip wasn’t perfect, but it was beautiful.”
Published on January 29, 2026
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