She is the Most Unique Player in the World
Dunn’s remarkable display at the World Cup shows she’s a true “Jill of all trades” on the pitch. Her speed, agility and footwork were crucial elements of the U.S. defense which, unlike past years, did not have the luxury of sitting on big leads. The backline was forced to secure one-goal victories throughout much of the knockout stage. Dunn’s stifling defense of French star Kadidiatou Diani was a difference-maker in the quarterfinals.
HUGE TACKLE!
Diani is played in beautifully but Crystal Dunn recovers and slides in to block the shot! #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/Cyc3d9eS5B
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 28, 2019
But her performance against the Netherlands in the final was a perfect illustration of just how invaluable Dunn is to the U.S. team. She was solid all game and almost netted a goal on a pass from Rapinoe. She later made a crucial tackle that thwarted the Dutch attack and led to a second U.S. goal that iced the game.
While Team USA relied mostly on Dunn’s defense, she is known as one of the dangerous goal scorers while playing in the NWSL. As a striker for Washington in 2015, she was named league MVP while leading all players in goals. Then last season with the North Carolina Cougars, she led the team to a championship while serving as a playmaking midfielder.
“She’s the most versatile player I’ve ever coached,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis told the Associated Press. “It’s not just her ability to play in different lines, it’s the quality with which she plays in different lines, which is quite extraordinary.”
One of the things that stands out about Dunn is her diminutive size. Standing at just 5-foot-2, Dunn is often left looking up at the majority of her opponents. It’s something that she says has left a chip on her shoulder.
“In the early stages, when I realized I was going to be probably the shortest player on the teams I was on, it was hard,” Dunn told ESPN in 2018. “I felt like girls were getting recruited over me strictly because of their height, and it made me self-conscious. I had doubts about my height and size on the pitch.
“I am not the biggest, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be the quickest or the smartest and find other ways of being successful.”
