U.S. and PSG player Crystal Dunn declares retirement from soccer.
Crystal Dunn, a prominent figure in the United States women’s national soccer team, announced her retirement from the sport on Thursday at the age of 33.
This unexpected announcement was made through a post on her Instagram account. In her message, she expressed her desire to spend more time with her husband Pierre Soubrier and their 3-year-old son, Marcel.
“This choice has not been an easy one, but I feel at peace and deeply satisfied with everything I have achieved,” Dunn stated.
“I have accomplished nearly all that I aspired to in this sport and have given everything I could.”
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“I am prepared to embrace the life that lies ahead. I look forward to spending more time with my family and being a more engaged mother. This was not a decision taken lightly, but it was made with immense appreciation for all I have experienced as a professional soccer player.”
Dunn joined Paris Saint-Germain from Gotham FC in January 2025, but had limited playing time, making only one appearance during the 2025-26 season.
She was a member of the U.S. team that secured victory at the 2019 World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.
In a press release, U.S. Soccer highlighted Dunn’s achievements, describing her 12-year senior international career as “brilliant.”
Dunn participated in the 2008 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, the 2010 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, and the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she played a key role in leading the United States to victory in Japan.
“Her vibrant personality, dedication to her team, and love for dancing at any moment always made her a favorite among teammates and coaches for both club and country,” U.S. Soccer noted in their statement.
Throughout her career, Dunn played for six different professional clubs, beginning with the Washington Spirit, then moving overseas to Chelsea for a period under now-USWNT head coach Emma Hayes, before returning to the NWSL to play for the North Carolina Courage, Portland Thorns FC, and Gotham FC.
She contributed to the Courage’s triumphs in the 2018 and 2019 NWSL Championships, scoring in both the semifinal and final in 2019. Additionally, she aided the Thorns in winning the NWSL title in 2022 and secured the NWSL Shield three times (2018, 2019, and 2021).
Dunn was selected first overall by the Spirit in the 2014 NWSL Draft after her time at the University of North Carolina.
She earned the MAC Hermann Trophy as the top college soccer player during her junior year, when she also helped lead UNC to the NCAA championship, and finished second to future USWNT teammate Morgan Brian in her senior year.
For the Tar Heels, she was recognized as a four-time All-American and was the first player to receive ACC Player of the Year honors three times since Mia Hamm achieved this in 1993.
“I depart from the game with a sense of peace and profound fulfillment for all that I have achieved,” Dunn remarked. “I am thankful for the remarkable individuals I have had the honor to work with, from teammates and coaches to family and friends, and for all the wonderful moments we have shared. I eagerly anticipate my next chapter ahead.”
