Crystal Dunn returns to the NWSL after departing to England
Forward Crystal Dunn will return to the U.S to play for the North Carolina Courage after departing from Chelsea FC in England.
The 25-year-old resigned from her NWSL team the Washington Spirit in 2016 and signed to play for Chelsea where she won the WSL Spring Series and contributed the success of the Blues seeing the quarter-finals for the first time in the Women’s Champions League.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to leave Chelsea,” said Dunn. “However, the opportunity to return to the USA felt like the right decision for both personal and footballing reasons at this stage of my career.”
Dunn played her last game for Chelsea this past Saturday in a 2-2 match against Manchester City. According to the NWSL, the Courage had rights to Dunn in 2016 while she was still with the Spirit in a blockbuster trade.
The trade took place in the beginning of January where the Spirit traded the rights to Dunn to the Courage for defender Taylor Smith and Ashley Hatch. When Dunn departed to England in 2016, the Spirit still had rights over the 2015 MVP.
During her time with Chelsea she started in 12 games and had a total of 20 caps with five goals under her belt.
Dunn was Washington’s first overall pick in the 2014 Draft and within her first season she scored 15 goals in 21 games. Her presence on the team positively impacted the Spirit as she helped them reach to the NWSL final for the first time.
The former player of the University of North Carolina will return to the NWSL for this season and will adapt to the style of play by head coach Paul Riley.
“I’m really excited to be back in an area that means so much to me,” said Dunn. “I am just excited to get started and meet my new teammates.”
This past season the Courage set sail for their first NWSL season and remained on top for majority of the season. Their first season record was 16-7-1. The Courage managed to make their way to the finals, but fell 1-0 to the Portland Thorns in the 2017 NWSL Championship.
Before the NWSL season begins, Dunn will partake in the third annual She Believes Cup hosted by U.S. Soccer, which kicks off this Friday.
