On May 6, in a place she used to call home, Crystal Dunn scored two goals for the Portland Thorns.
The goals got the headlines after that 3-3 draw with the Courage in Cary, North Carolina. But from Dunn’s perspective, the big accomplishment was going the distance for a full match. Repeating that 90-minute performance six days later was even more fulfilling.
kAm“%92E 76=E C62==J 8@@5 E@ ;FDE C62==J 2AAC64:2E6 9@H 72C x’G6 4@>6[” D96 D2:5] ”*@F <?@H[ :E’D 2 =@E E@ 86E 324< :?E@ D92A6[ ?@ >2EE6C :7 J@F’C6 4@>:?8 324< 7C@> AC68?2?4J @C :?;FCJ]”k^Am
kAmsF??’D D@?[ |2C46=[ EFC?65 ` @? $2EFC52J[ |2J a_] %96 7@==@H:?8 27E6C?@@?[ |2C46=’D >@> 4@?EC:3FE65 2 8@2= 2?5 2? 2DD:DE 2D E96 %9@C?D 362E E96 r9:428@ #65 $E2CD c\_ E@ E96 56=:89E @7 >@C6 E92? a_[___ 72?D 2E !C@G:56?46 !2C<]k^Am
kAm%96 %9@C?D DECF88=65 7@C C646?E C6DF=ED[ 3FE sF??’D C646?E A=2J 92D DE@@5 @FE] w6C 23:=:EJ E@ :?7=F6?46 2 >2E49 :? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 H2JD 92D C6EFC?65[ 6G:56?46 E92E 96C A=2? E@ 36 2E 96C 36DE 7@C E96 FA4@>:?8 uxup (@>6?’D (@C=5 rFA H@C<65]k^Am
kAmsF?? D@>6H92E 72>@FD=J EC2:?65 2=@?8D:56 96C %9@C?D E62>>2E6D 7@C >F49 @7 96C AC68?2?4J] $96 5:5 E92E H:E9 2? 6J6 E@H2C5 E9:D D62D@?[ 2?5 E9:D (@C=5 rFA] %92E D96 H2D 23=6 E@ C6EFC? 2?5 D4@C6 2 A=2J@77 82>6\H:??:?8 8@2= =2DE D62D@? H2D 2 DFCAC:D6 6G6? E@ sF??[ 3FE 6G:56?46 E92E 96C A=2? H@C<65] $96 H2D 324< H:E9 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D (@>6?’D }2E:@?2= %62> 7@C :ED y2?F2CJ 42>A 2?5 >2E496D :? }6H +62=2?5 2?5 D96 6IA64ED E@ 36 324< E96C6 @? yF=J a_ H96? E9:D (@>6?’D (@C=5 rFA <:4<D @77]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJE9:?8 x 5:5 =2DE J62C H2D 23@FE AC6A2C2E:@? 7@C DE2CE:?8 E9:D J62C @77 @? >J 36DE 7@@E[” sF?? D2:5]k^Am
kAms6A=@J65 3J %9@C?D’ 7:CDE\J62C 4@249 |:<6 }@CC:D E@ 36 3@E9 2 >:57:6=5 =:?< A=2J6C 2?5 2 5:DCFAE@C :? !@CE=2?5’D AC6DD:?8 DJDE6>[ sF?? 92D 6>3C2465 E92E C@=6 2?5 >@C6] w6C 7:G6 8@2=D E9:D D62D@? =625 E96 %9@C?D]k^Am
kAm}@CC:D D2:5 @?6 H2J sF?? :>A24ED A=2J :D 9@H D96 4@??64ED H:E9 H:56 2EE24<6CD 2D H6== 2D %9@C?D 7F==324<D]k^Am
kAm“w6C DA64:2= 2H2C6?6DD AFED @FCD6=G6D :? 2 8@@5 A@D:E:@?[” }@CC:D D2:5] “$96 C625D E96 82>6 H6== 2?5 @3G:@FD=J :D 2EE24<:?8 >:?565]”k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 ?2E:@?2= E62>[ sF?? 92D E9C:G65 >@DE=J 2D 2? @FED:56 324<] qFE[ H:E9 E96 %9@C?D[ D96’D :? 96C 6=6>6?E 2D 2 >:57:6=56C :? 2 9:89\AC6DD DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 2 AC6DD:?8 E62>] x E9:?< :E 7:ED >6 H6==] x =@G6 H96? x 5@?’E 92G6 E96 32==[ E@ 86E E96 32== 324< 2D 62C=J 2D A@DD:3=6[” sF?? D2:5] “x =@G6 36:?8 :? E96 >:57:6=5[ 36:?8 23=6 E@ 36 4C62E:G6 2?5 4@??64E:?8 H:E9 E96 7C@?E=:?6]”k^Am
kAmsF?? 92D 925 DF446DD 6G6CJH96C6 D96’D A=2J65i DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:AD 2E $@FE9 $:56 w:89 :? #@4<G:==6 r6?E6C[ }6H *@C<j 2 }rpp ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A :? 96C ;F?:@C D62D@? 2E }@CE9 r2C@=:?2j }(${ E:E=6D H:E9 E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 r@FC286 2?5 =2DE D62D@? H:E9 !@CE=2?5j E96 a_`h (@>6?’D (@C=5 rFA 492>A:@?D9:A]k^Am
kAm~?6 724E@C :? sF??’D DF446DD7F= C6EFC? 27E6C 96C AC68?2?4J :D 96C H:==:?8?6DD E@ 6>3C246 492?86[ D@>6E9:?8 D96’D 925 E@ 5@ D:?46 96C 7C6D9>2? D62D@? 2E }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 H96? D96 F?6IA64E65=J 7@F?5 96CD6=7 A=2J:?8 2D 2 5676?56C] xE H2D E96? E92E sF?? =62C?65 E96 G2=F6 @7 DEF5J:?8 G:56@ 27E6C 2 >2E49] $96 92D EC@F3=6 D=66A:?8 27E6C 2 >2E49[ D@ FDF2==J H:== C6H2E49 E96 82>6 E92E ?:89E]k^Am
kAm“x’> 2 >2DD:G6 72? @7 H2E49:?8 7:=>[” D96 D2:5] “x E9:?< E92E’D E96 36DE H2J E92E x 42? C646:G6 7665324< 7C@> >J @H? ;@3 @? E96 7:6=5]”k^Am
kAmq6J@?5 DEF5J:?8 96C @H? A6C7@C>2?46D[ sF?? H2E496D D@446C H:E9 2 <66? 6J6] vC@H:?8 FA[ |:2 w2>> H2D 2 A=2J6C D96 EC:65 E@ 6>F=2E6] v6EE:?8 E@ <?@H w2>> 2?5 36 4@24965 3J 96C 2 3:E H9:=6 2E &}r 925 2 3:8 :?7=F6?46 @? sF??] x? E96 >6?’D 82>6[ E96 2EE24<:?8 AC@H6DD E92E qC2K:=:2? C:89E 324< s2?: p=G6D 3C@F89E E@ E96 7:6=5 :D 2? 6I2>A=6 @7 2 A=2J6C sF?? 92D H2E4965 4=@D6=J]k^Am
kAmu@C E62>>2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 5676?56C |6892? z=:?86?36C8[ :EVD sF?? H9@VD E96 :?DA:C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 23@FE rCJDE2= 36:?8 96CD6=7] xEVD 23@FE 96C 92G:?8 7F?] xEVD 23@FE 4CJDE2= F?=62D9:?8 96C :? 96C >@>] *@F 5@ ?@E >6DD H:E9 |2>2 362C J@F <?@H H92E xV> D2J:?8n” z=:?86?36C8 D2:5 27E6C !@CE=2?5VD c\_ H:? @G6C r9:428@ @? |2J a`] “$96VD ;FDE 7:?2==J 86EE:?8 E@ A=2J 2 3:E >@C6 7C66] p?5 H96? D96VD 366? A=2J:?8 7C66[ D96VD 366? 72?E2DE:4 7@C FD]k^Am
kAmVxEVD ;FDE D@ :?DA:C:?8 E@ H2E49 2?5 x =@G6 36:?8 2 A2CE @7 :E[Q z=:?86?36C8 D2:5] Qq642FD6[ 36:?8 @? E96 A:E49 H:E9 96C[ D96 @A6?D 6G6CJE9:?8 FA 2?5 2==@HD @E96C A=2J6CD E@ 86E :?E@ DA246D E@ C62==J 9FCE E96 @E96C E62>]”k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 7:=> DEF5J[ sF?? A@:?ED E@ E96 G2C:6EJ @7 A@D:E:@?D D96’D A=2J65 2D 6IA6C:6?46 D96 G2=F6D]k^Am
kAm“yFDE 36:?8 G6CD2E:=6 92D 8:G6? >6 E96 36DE G:D:@? @7 E96 7:6=5] x 86E E@ A=2J 6G6CJ D:?8=6 A=246 2?5 x 86E E@ 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 G2=F6 6G6CJ D:?8=6 A@D:E:@? @? E96 7:6=5[” sF?? D2:5]k^Am
kAm#6EFC?:?8 E@ AC@76DD:@?2= D@446C 27E6C 8:G:?8 3:CE9 E@ |2C46= H2D 2 5:776C6?E ;@FC?6J E92? E92E @7 C6EFC?:?8 7C@> 2? :?;FCJ] (:E9@FE E96 A2:? E92E 4@>6D H:E9 2? :?;FCJ[ sF?? D2:5 D96 2E 7:CDE 6IA64E65 >@C6 7C@> 96C 3@5J E92? :E 4@F=5 56=:G6C]k^Am
kAm“*@FC 3@5J 766=D 7:?6] *@FC <?66D 2C6 8@@5] *@FC 2?<=6D 2C6 8@@5[” sF?? D2:5] “*@F 2C6 ;FDE H2:E:?8 7@C J@FC 3@5J E@ 86E E@ 2 A=246 H96C6 J@F 42? A9JD:42==J 92?5=6 E96 56>2?5D @7 E96 82>6 282:?] $@[ :E’D ;FDE 2 A2E:6?E H2:E:?8 82>6]”k^Am
kAm$F49 A2E:6?46 H2D 2 492==6?86]k^Am
kAm“pD 2? 2E9=6E6[ J@F’C6 =:<6[ ‘x’> C625J E@ 8@] x 766= 8@@5[’” sF?? D2:5] “qFE :E’D 2== 23@FE 2==@H:?8 J@FCD6=7 E:>6 E@ 8:G6 J@FCD6=7 8C246 2?5 ;FDE H@C<:?8 J@FC H2J 324< 2?5 D=@H=J 3FE DFC6=J]”k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 (@C=5 rFA ?@H EH@ >@?E9D 2H2J[ sF??’D A=62D65 H:E9 96C AC@8C6DD]k^Am
kAm“x’> 2 7:C> 36=:6G6C E92E 2?J >@>6?E J@F’C6 @? E96 7:6=5[ H96E96C J@F’C6 EC2:?:?8 @C H96E96C J@F’C6 A=2J:?8[ :D AC6A2C2E:@? 7@C E96 (@C=5 rFA[” sF?? D2:5] “x 5@?’E E2<6 2?J 52J =:89E=J] x’> 2=H2JD ECJ:?8 >J 92C56DE E@ >2I:>:K6 >J 677@CED @? E96 7:6=5]”k^Am
kAm%9@D6 677@CED 92G6 sF?? @? E96 4FDA @7 A=2J:?8 :? 2 (@C=5 rFA 7@C E96 D64@?5 E:>6] $96 H2D 2 <6J 4@?EC:3FE@C 2E C:89E 324< 7@C E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :? a_`h 2?5[ ?62C:?8 96C b`DE 3:CE952J[ :D AC:>65 7@C 2?@E96C E:E=6 AFD9]k^Am
kAm“pD >F49 2D H6 2C6 G6CJ 4@>A6E:E:G6 2?5 H6 2== H2?E E@ H:? 82>6D 2?5 H6 H2?E E@ A=2J 2E @FC 36DE 2E 2== E:>6D[ x E9:?< E96 3:886DE =6DD@? J@F ?665 E@ =62C? :D E92E J@F H2?E E@ A62< :? E96 (@C=5 rFA[” sF?? D2:5] “*@F H2?E E@ 766= =:<6 J@F 2C6 9:EE:?8 E96 8C@F?5 CF??:?8 4@>6 (@C=5 rFA E:>6[ 2?5 E92E’D 6I24E=J H96C6 >J >:?5D6E :D]”k^Am
kAmp ?6H A@D:E:@? E92E 92D AFD965 sF?? E@ 8C@H @G6C E96 A2DE J62C :D[ @7 4@FCD6[ >@E96C9@@5] sF?? DA6?E A2CE @7 96C 7:CDE |@E96C’D s2J 4@249:?8 @E96C 7@=<D’ <:5D 2E 2 D@446C 42>A 367@C6 “;FDE DA6?5:?8 E:>6 H:E9 >J D@?[ ;FDE =@@<:?8 2E 9:> 2?5 86EE:?8 E@ 46=63C2E6 9@H 72C x’G6 4@>6 2D 2 >@>]”k^Am
kAm$96’D 2=D@ D66? D:8?:7:42?E 8C@HE9 7C@> E96 =628F6 D96’D 42==65 9@>6 7@C >@DE @7 E96 A2DE 564256]k^Am
kAmsF?? H2D E96 }(${’D 3C62<@FE DE2C :? :ED E9:C5 D62D@?[ 62C?:?8 a_`d =628F6 |'! 9@?@CD H:E9 E96 (2D9:?8E@? $A:C:E] qFE[ 96C 244@>A=:D9>6?ED E92E D62D@? H6C6?’E 6I24E=J 7C@?E\A286 ?6HD]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 H6C6?’E >2?J A6@A=6 A2J:?8 2EE6?E:@? E@ E9:D 82>6[” sF?? D2:5] “qFE[ D66:?8 H96C6 E96 82>6 :D ?@H[ J@F =@@< FA :? 6G6CJ D:?8=6 >2C<6E 2?5 E96C6 2C6 72?D H2:E:?8 2E E96 82E6D H2?E:?8 E@ 36 :? E96 D62ED 2?5 EH66E:?8]”k^Am
kAm*6D[ D@4:2= >65:2 :D A2CE @7 E96 8C@HE9 @7 96C DA@CE]k^Am
kAm“$@4:2= >65:2[ 2D D42CJ 2?5 <:?5 @7 ?682E:G6 2D :E 42? 36 2E E:>6D[ x E9:?< :E 2=D@ 92D 8:G6? E9:D >2DD:G6 A=2E7@C> E@ D9:?6 =:89E @? E96 =628F6[” D96 D2:5] “p?5 ?@E ;FDE @FC =628F6[ H@>6?’D D@446C :? 86?6C2=]”k^Am