Tag: Crystal Dunn

Ranking the top players of 2019

Posted on by Backline Soccer

Earlier this week I wrote a piece complaining about the end-of-year awards voting. In particular, I was frustrated to see Megan Rapinoe sweeping all the big awards, despite producing a fairly middling (by her own high standards) 2019. With Rich Laverty’s wonderful Top 100 project for The Offside Rule and The Guardian wrapping up today, we finally got a more informed take on the world’s top players from a broad set of voters who are far more engaged in the game.

And this time around, Rapinoe finished all the way down at…third.

Hmmm.

Well, in the interest of trying to be productive, rather than merely sitting on the sidelines criticizing everyone else, I decided to give it a go at producing my own list of the top 40 players. It was tough, and I don’t feel remotely satisfied with the final list. It’s extremely hard to judge players, especially when it’s so difficult to see league play across the world, when most international matches outside of the World Cup tend to rely on dodgy streams for distribution, and when statistical records are limited or nonexistent.

Given those constraints, there’s simply no way to prevent bias playing a big role. For strikers in the top leagues, we at least have pretty good information about goals and assists. But who is good at holding up the ball? Who contributes most to link-up play? Who makes excellent runs that expose defenses? Much harder to say. And for everyone else, there’s often literally almost nothing to go by. Who were the best center backs in the Frauen-Bundesliga this year? Having seen only a handful of games, I’m stupendously unqualified to make that assessment.

So it’s understandable why names often matter more in the voting than performance. People know names, but the performances are mostly hidden. I’m certainly not free from that kind of bias myself. But lists like these are still helpful because in encountering multiple different perspectives, we all come to a better understanding about those parts of the game that we’re less in tune with.

With all those caveats stipulated, here is my list of the best players of 2019:

  1. Sam Kerr (Australia – Chicago Red Stars)
  2. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands – Arsenal)
  3. Amandine Henry (France – Lyon)
  4. Julie Ertz (US – Chicago Red Stars)
  5. Crystal Dunn (US – North Carolina Courage)
  6. Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway – Barcelona)
  7. Pernille Harder (Denmark – Wolfsburg)
  8. Ada Hegerberg (Norway – Lyon)
  9. Griedge Mbock Bathy (France – Lyon)
  10. Lucy Bronze (England – Lyon)
  11. Christen Press (US – Utah Royals)
  12. Ewa Pajor (Poland – Wolfsburg)
  13. Dzsenifer Maroszán (Germany – Lyon)
  14. Kosovare Asllani (Sweden – Linköpings/CD Tacón)
  15. Nikita Parris (England – Manchester City/Lyon)
  16. Sam Mewis (US – North Carolina Courage)
  17. Danielle Van de Donk (Netherlands – Arsenal)
  18. Becky Sauerbrunn (US – Utah Royals)
  19. Sara Däbritz (Germany – Bayern Munich/Paris Saint-Germain)
  20. Debinha (Brazil – North Carolina Courage)
  21. Abby Dahlkemper (US – North Carolina Courage)
  22. Nilla Fischer (Sweden – Linköpings)
  23. Kim Little (Scotland – Arsenal)
  24. Wendie Renard (France – Lyon)
  25. Christiane Endler (Chile – Paris Saint-Germain)
  26. Kadidiatou Diani (France – Paris Saint-Germain)
  27. Beth Mead (England – Arsenal)
  28. Eugenie Le Sommer (France – Lyon)
  29. Jenni Hermoso (Spain – Barcelona)
  30. Jill Scott (England – Manchester City)
  31. Casey Short (US – Chicago Red Stars)
  32. Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France – Paris Saint-Germain)
  33. Amel Majri (France – Lyon)
  34. Carli Lloyd (US – Sky Blue FC)
  35. Ellen White (England – Birmingham City/Manchester City)
  36. Lina Magull (Germany – Bayern Munich)
  37. Magdalena Eriksson (Sweden – Chelsea)
  38. Mapi León (Spain – Barcelona)
  39. Barbara Bonansea (Italy – Juventus)
  40. Kailen Sheridan (Canada – Sky Blue FC)

A few comments on some of these players. Starting at the top, it’s incredibly hard to pick a single player as ‘the best’ over the year. I can see a plausible case for everyone in the top 10. They’re all fantastic. In the end, it was Kerr for me, by a hair. Her performances in the NWSL were absurd, and by themselves would have earned her a prominent place at the top of this list. She was also virtually the only Australian to not completely fall apart. And she won the Golden Boot down in the W League. But boy is it hard to argue against Vivianne Miedema, who somehow just continues to get better.

Julie Ertz and Crystal Dunn, meanwhile, were easily the best American players in 2019. Ertz dominated the defensive lines, whether as a #6 or as a center back, and was probably the single most important player on the World Cup winning team, and came very close to being as important as Kerr for the Red Stars. I had Dunn in 4th place for the NWSL MVP for half a season’s worth of games. She was that good. Then consider that she was deputized as a fullback for the World Cup winners. And while I didn’t think she played especially well during the World Cup, she did enough. That kind of versatility is invaluable.

I have Press at #11, which might be too high. But I still don’t think people understand just how outrageous her performances have been this year, for both club and country. She was the difference between Utah being a playoff contender and an also-ran. And she recorded a ridiculous 12 assists for the US, finally truly owning the wing role that she had struggled with for so long.

Dzsenifer Maroszán is ‘only’ at 13 thanks to the injury that effectively killed her World Cup in the opening 20 minutes. I’m still incredibly angry about that game.

I’ve got a few forwards pretty high on the list based partially on their incredibly impressive statistics. From what I’ve actually seen with my eyes, I probably wouldn’t put Beth Mead quite this high. But there’s no denying her record. She’s an assist-machine. Nikita Parris also gets some extra credit for a dominant WSL season last year (in which she actually led Miedema in xG).

I used the last few slots to pick players that I personally really enjoy watching. The margins at this point are pretty thin, and I certainly don’t feel confident that they were strictly better than the 10-20 great players who fall just beyond that mark. But León is a fascinating player, who plays a huge role in setting the style for both club and country. Bonansea is a bit hard to judge, given the relative weakness of the Italian league, but her performances in the World Cup certainly suggest we should take her numbers there seriously. And Sheridan just completed an absolutely bonkers NWSL season. You could certainly make a case for Van Veenendaal, Naeher, Nayler, Bouhaddi, Lindahl, Alexander, etc. as the next-best keeper behind Endler. But for my money, it’s Sheridan. And it might not be long before she’s clearly the best.

The four players I was most frustrated at leaving off the list were Saki Kumagai, Sherida Spitse, Sara Gama, and Mana Iwabuchi. It’s quite possible that each of them belong much higher. But I just wasn’t able to see enough of them, so couldn’t be confident. I’m also pretty sure there are some Scandinavians who deserve to be a bit higher. But again, I just haven’t seen them enough to be sure.

Conclusion: ranking players is extremely hard, and I commend everyone who put serious thought and effort into it. There may be objectively correct answers, but I don’t know if any of us (apart from maybe Sophie) are capable of finding them. I’m quite confident that players like Rapinoe, Morgan, Lavelle, and Heath are getting massively overrated in most of these lists. They’re all great, certainly, but they didn’t produce enough in 2019 to deserve a spot. However, it’s quite likely that I’m just as guilty of overrating some players from other leagues based on reputation too. So it goes.

Ultimately, all we can ask is that people try, and hopefully we can continue to learn from each other in the process.

Nothing is Guaranteed: 5 Reasons North Carolina Isn’t Untouchable

Posted on by RJ Allen

We all know that the North Carolina Courage are great. They are dynamic, driven, and talented. No one is denying that. In fact, it is the exact opposite. People are talking about them as though they are untouchable. This week on The Scouting Report it was even stated that they could have a chance at going undefeated this season. Whether that is true or not still remains to be seen, but there is something about this team that makes us hope that they could. Could this be the NWSL’s version of the 1972 Miami Dolphins? It could be, but it is likely not possible for any team—there are a lot of variables and factors that come into play throughout the course of the season. No team is untouchable.

Here are five simple reasons why North Carolina isn’t the exception:

1. Complacency

Like any great sports team, there will be moments when their guard will be down. When they are so confident in their abilities that what seems like the simplest of games can turn into a team’s worst nightmare. These are moments of complacency—when all the kinks are worked out, and the team is running like a well-oiled machine, but the issue becomes another team running faster. North Carolina has a fantastic mental game and outlook on the season. I mean, even their slogan for this year is #nofinishline. But anyone who has ever run a long-distance race will tell you that some miles will be better than others. You get into a groove, you grow content, you slow down, you recognize the change, and then you speed back up. The same will most likely happen for North Carolina. They will hit a rough patch at some point—even if for just a game—and then they will come back with the forcefulness we all know they possess.

2. Peak Too Soon

As can be seen with so many teams throughout the history of the game, sometimes teams just peak too soon. Look at the Chicago Red Stars last season. There was a moment when they looked so dominant that it was said that they would definitely win the NWSL Championship… and that didn’t happen. They peaked too soon. It may not happen to North Carolina. There are a lot of factors that come into play. But it can be said that they came into this season in much better form than any other team. They are working as a cohesive unit, while other teams are still trying to find all the parts.

3. The Injury Bug

No team is safe from the injury bug! North Carolina doesn’t have Sam Mewis right now because of it. And statistically speaking, Sam Mewis’s current injury probably will not be the last for the club this year, because things happen. Things that are outside of anyone’s control. It’s why no team can ever be considered untouchable. And when players have to sit out and are no longer an option, it can create holes that other teams are able to exploit. North Carolina doesn’t have a bad bench to replace from, but it isn’t necessarily Portland’s. And not all of the skillsets of players are interchangeable. No one else on the team can do what McCall Zerboni can do. No one else on the team can do what Crystal Dunn can do. So, if major a major injury occurs, that can sometimes mean a major change in playing strategy, and that can take some getting used to.

4. Rosters At Full Strength

I put forth earlier that North Carolina is playing considerably better than the other teams. They are a collective force, while other teams haven’t quite gotten there. But the other teams are working toward that, and they are getting better. They are also going to be getting a lot more talent once their rosters are at full strength. Take Chicago for example. They have won two games this season, but they have done so without Julie Ertz, Danielle Colaprico, and Sam Kerr. Orlando is currently missing Marta, Poliana, and Alanna Kennedy. So comparing North Carolina’s roster to that of other teams definitely bodes well for the Courage, but things may change once other teams have their complete arsenals at their disposal.

5. Self-Infliction

When a team is really good it is often said that something is “theirs to lose.” And for North Carolina, that certainly could be the case with regards to the potential punishment for not releasing Debinha back to Brazil for her international duty on time. The facts surrounding the situation are still a bit hazy, but the fact of the matter is that Debinha played in the March 31 match against Sky Blue when she should not have. No punishment has come down yet, but it would be a shame if North Carolina were to lose three points because of failure to follow the rules. It is these types of mistakes that are completely avoidable. It is what can take a spotless season and give it an asterisk.

There are plenty of scenarios in which North Carolina can be beaten—just like any team in this league can be beaten. Sure, they are stronger than most. They are focused, and headstrong, and extremely skilled. They are the complete package as of right now. But things can change in this league and in this game very quickly. That’s why it isn’t advised to count one team out, or to tally the win before the final whistle. Lots of things can occur, and the players are only human. No one is indestructible. No one is untouchable. Not even North Carolina.

What does Dunn going to the FA WSL mean for the league?

Posted on by RJ Allen

While the acronyms used to describe England’s and the United States’ top divisions of women’s professional soccer suggest great similarity between the two, the FA WSL and NWSL differ more than can be ascribed to name only. More than just the national affiliation, these two leagues have crucially different structures and dynamics in place that can confuse the most devoted Crystal Dunn aficionado.

While the NWSL is run as a traditional American professional sports league, with a playoff system determining its ultimate champion, the Football Association Women’s Super League (FA WSL) is fundamentally more complicated on a structural level.

FA WSL is comprised of two divisions, the WSL 1 and WSL 2, in which teams compete to garner the best record on a point system (like the NWSL regular season). Like the men’s football system in England, the teams in the top division, the WSL 1, aim to win the league and earn the title of FA WSL 1 Champions; the teams in the second division, the WSL 2, aim to win the league and earn promotion to the FA WSL 1. To put this in terms easily understood by the NWSL audience, there is no “NWSL Final” that determines the ultimate winner of the league. If run like the FA WSL, the winner of the NWSL’s Shield (Portland Thorns in 2016) would win the league. The team on the bottom of the table in the WSL 1 with the least amount of points accrued over the season is “relegated,” or demoted, to the WSL 2 (Boston Breakers in 2016).

To make it more complicated, the league below the WSL 2, the FA Women’s Premier League (FAWPL), is comprised of two divisions that compete separately for the same ultimate prize.

Yes, funnily enough, the men’s top division in England is called the Premier League, and the women’s third division is called the Women’s Premier League—this is fun, isn’t it? The winners of the Southern and Northern Divisions are not both promoted to the WSL 2 but, instead, compete in one playoff match to determine the team promoted to the FA WSL 2. While there are ten teams currently in both the WSL 1 and WSL 2, there are 11 teams in the Northern and Southern Divisions of the FAWPL. Below these three leagues are even lower leagues that operate under a similar system of promotion and relegation. The basic theory underlying the women’s and men’s leagues in England is that anyone can start an amateur team at the lowest league, and theoretically win each league to rise to the top division. If applied to the United States, this would equate to designating the NWSL as the top division, the ENCL as the next division (maybe), and would be a difficult, basically impossible endeavor for USSF to sort out. 

While the ultimate purpose of the NWSL as an American professional sports league is to be a profitable business that grows every year with greater attendance and expansion, that is not the primary goal of the FAWSL at this point. Like the NWSL, the English FA (equivalent of USSF) supports and runs the FAWSL for the purpose of developing domestic players who can play for the national team. Obviously, players who are not English-born nor hold an English passport can play for FA WSL 1, WSL 2 and WPL teams, but there are restrictions on the number and qualifications required.

Before we get to the debate of what Crystal Dunn even means to the FA WSL, we have to discuss what it means to be professional in England.

The NWSL is run as a full-time professional league in which contracted players are paid at least a minimum salary to work as full-time professional soccer players; several can and do get part-time jobs to help subsidize their lives because the NWSL does not pay a living wage to all of their players (@ Jeff Plush, not me).

Despite working as a starting fullback for the Chicago Red Stars, Arin Gilliland has a part-time job outside of Chicago to help pay for basic living expenses, amenities and basic life as a twenty-something. In the FAWSL, most teams in the WSL 1 pay their players as full-time employees with a salary agreed upon by both parties in a contract. While Chelsea can pay Eniola Aluko say £35,000 per season, Liverpool has no such requirements and can pay their captain however much they think is appropriate. There is a salary cap, like and actually inspired by the NWSL, but it is not a strict number, but rather is a percentage based on the earnings of the club. There is no limit or ceiling for individual salaries; this system is based on the idea that all clubs will be grown sustainably so as to ensure that they’re won’t be large disparities between the clubs. The better individual clubs perform, the more they can pay their players.

There is also a Club Development Fund in which clubs can apply for funds from the English FA, provided they can demonstrate that they can match any funds awarded to them through sponsorship, ticket sales or advertising.

Additionally, unlike the NWSL, where USSF pays the salaries of USWNT players who are playing for NWSL clubs, 30 players in the English women’s national team player pool are awarded “central contracts” for a minimum of £25,000 per year that are separate from their club contracts and salaries. Consequentially, there is significant disparity in the quality (let’s call it that to be kind) of players on each team; while Manchester City Women employs nearly half of the English national team pool, some teams have had no players called up by Mark Sampson this month and/or Kosovaren Aslani on their roster. Beyond money, teams like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal (just last week, they got a selfie with Mo Pharah), attract players with world-class facilities that are funded by their men’s teams. Look at Melbourne City Women in the Australian W-League, which just unveiled a world-class training center just for Head Coach Jess Fishlock’s team—this wasn’t funded by their successes, but the support of the larger Manchester City corporation.

While Manchester City has the full backing of their men’s team that allows it to have the best of the best in terms of player roster, amenities, training, etc., this varies on a case-by-case basis for clubs.

Most teams in the FA WSL 2 employ their players as part-time professional athletes with trainings on different days of the week rather than every day and varying accommodations and perks. There are a few exceptions to the general rule of fully professional FA WSL 1 and semi-professional FA WSL 2 teams. Everton, with the full enthusiastic backing of their men’s team, employs their team as full-time players, and Sunderland AFC recently announced that they will only employ their players as part-time from now on to cut down on costs. While the ultimate goal is obviously to pay everyone as full-time professional athletes, there’s no requirement or impetus to do that. If you’re a business looking to stay in the FA WSL 2 and are comfortable in the league, there’s no need to pay players more or hire players of a higher calibre. Teams in the FA WPL can and do spend more money (hello Charlton Athletic) on their teams than WSL 2 clubs, as is their right—they’re trying to get promoted.

Like the wavering stability of different teams in the NWSL, conditions of teams in the league are not permanent or guaranteed at any time. While Liverpool won the league a few years back under Matt Beard and went to Champions League (the two top teams in the FA WSL 1 advance to the UEFA Champions League competition), now their men’s team no longer supports them as much as they did, and they’ve fallen out of favor. Chelsea is a rising power in the FA WSL, and with their acquisitions of Dunn, Mjelde, Bachmann, and Cuthbert, they’re looking to challenge the reigning monarch of FA WSL, Manchester City, who were undefeated in the 2016 season.

Additionally, while there is a divide between MLS-backed and independently-owned NWSL teams in the States, all teams in FA WSL are affiliated with men’s leagues, from Liverpool Ladies (Liverpool FC are a Premier League team) to the Doncaster Rovers Belles (Doncaster Rovers FC are a League Two team). This helps contribute to that pesky issue of an increasingly lopsided league in which powerhouses, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal, fight for the top two spots to go to Champions Leagues, and others try to avoid relegation. One growing worry of the FA WSL, a league that needs domestic competition to grow it’s domestic players that can play for its national team, is becoming like the Damalsvenskan in Sweden or Ligue 1 in France, where Lyon and PSG battle it out and everyone else just survives.

Crystal Dunn’s acquisition raises the profile of this very issue as a new debate emerges over the level of competition and professionalism rages in England.

The United States has won three World Cups and five Olympic gold medals. One of those World Cup wins was with our favorite professional league in place, and the others were not. The English Women’s National Team’s best performance was in 2015 with their bronze medal win at the 2015 Women’s World Cup against Germany (this was epic). A great portion of this success was due to the strength of its domestic league that cultivated incredible English players like Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Alex Scott (Arsenal), and Karen Carney (Chelsea). Some of these players have plied their trade in other countries, but almost all players on the English WNT have played in their domestic league at sometime in their careers.

It is the impetus of the English FA to cultivate a strong league to improve the quality of their national team. Therefore, by all accounts, Crystal Dunn arguably took a spot on Chelsea away from an English player. Does she benefit the league by increasing the level of competition or hurt it by taking the spot of a young player on Chelsea who could become the next English great? Is the FA WSL strong enough to have quality players start on a FA WSL 2 side and then rise through the ranks to the FA WSL 1 and full English national team? This balancing act is the true question of the English women’s league system.

Another point of comparison that I would be remiss not to discuss would be the popularity of these leagues in attendance and broadcast. While every single team in the NWSL averages a minimum attendance of 2,000, FA WSL 1 teams would celebrate a league game with 2000 people in attendance with champagne, cigars and a trip to one of the nightclubs that Prince Harry frequents. Every single NWSL game is available to watch on YouTube or Fox Sports; in the future, we expect greater TV deals and better streaming from all teams. The English FA negotiated an exclusive broadcast deal with BT Sport for the rights to the FA WSL, the England Women’s Senior Team and The FA Women’s Cup.  Rather than every match broadcast somewhere, only a few matches are broadcast live on television, and there is a limit to the number individual clubs can broadcast on their own.

Despite the resources and desires of Manchester City, they were only allowed to broadcast a few of their FA WSL matches on Facebook (Alex Morgan isn’t the only one). Their UWCL (UEFA Women’s Champions League) matches are all broadcast on Facebook. While attendance for the FA WSL 1 has averaged over a thousand people for the past couple of years, the attendance for the FA WSL 2 has yet to reach an average of 500 people in attendance. Unlike the thousands that Crystal Dunn is used to seeing in the stands at the Plex or online in Youtube streams, the FA WSL is a less popular league that is trying to gain fans in a crowded and prejudiced marketplace.

While the United States has a long way to go in convincing everyday Americans that female athletes are worth watching, the United Kingdom has decades to go in convincing people that women can and should play football. While women’s football was MASSIVE during World War One, drawing crowds of 53,000 even after the war had ended, the English FA banned women from playing football in 1921.

From 1921 to 1971, the English FA banned professional women’s football in the United Kingdom on grounds that females were “unsuitable” to football and called for clubs to refuse women from using their grounds to play. Cultural norms persist in this country among some populations where women are not expected to play or watch football. Huge strides have been made, but the fact remains that many think little or nothing of women’s football.

The success of players like Lucy Bronze at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, with England’s best finish in a World Cup since the England MNT’s fourth-place finish in 1990, has helped change a lot of minds, but it’s just the beginning. If you think the United States is a crowded sports market, every city, village and township has a football club belonging to some league that draws crowds. Sometimes during the summer, the NWSL is the only professional sports league operating on any given day in a market; the Orlando Pride sometimes are the only team playing in Florida that can be watched and attended by Central Floridians. It’s not just the Premier League that is drawing attendance away from the FA WSL, but all the other teams in 11 tiers of English football to compete with.

While it would be fun to also discuss the wonders of the FA Women’s Cup and Champions League, that’s another 2,000 words. The real worry for NWSL supporters in the face of Crystal Dunn’s move to England is what it means for them. The saving grace for NWSL fans who want Americans to stay in the American league is the strict rules for soccer/football players who do not live in the European Union or European Economic Area.

All FA WSL clubs are entitled to register a maximum of two non EU/EEA players on their rosters, and Chelsea is all full up with Crystal Dunn and Ji So-yun. Maybe Christine Nairn or Vanessa DiBernardo will leave the NWSL for the FA WSL one day if they’re never called up for the national team and can earn more abroad in the UK, but there are so few spots for non-EU players to play in the FA WSL. Chelsea used one of their ever-so-valuable spots on Crystal Dunn because she is of the calibre to merit her international spot.*

Players like Crystal Dunn are not just attracted to the FA WSL for money but also for the opportunity to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and work in facilities that far surpass the Rutgers Soccer Stadium in New Jersey. But the NWSL can offer different things, and, depending on who you talk to, is likely to grow more competitive, popular, and profitable than the FA WSL—and grow faster. But the NWSL is limited by the short season and long off-season, the maximum salary ceiling that hurts Tom Sermanni’s quest for Caitlin Foord, and standards of the league that Alex Morgan has rightfully complained about.

Can the NWSL and FA WSL exist symbiotically? Yes. Could it become an antagonistic relationship in the future with no advantage given to either side? Absolutely.

*With Brexit looming, the English FA will have to adapt to new realities away from the EU, so who knows how these rules will change.

Dunn is Done in Washington, USWNT star heads to Chelsea

Posted on by RJ Allen

Crystal Dunn has decided to leave Washington DC and the NWSL behind. The USWNT star is heading to England’s Chelsea Ladies FC in the FA WSL.

The contract, unlike Alex Morgan, has no option for Dunn to play in the NWSL in 2017.

 

Below is the Washington Spirit statement.

BOYDS, MD. (January 3, 2017) – Washington Spirit and U.S. Women’s National Team forward Crystal Dunn has signed a deal to play for Chelsea Ladies FC in the FA WSL in England.

 

“On behalf of the entire Spirit organization and our fans, I want to thank Crystal for her years of commitment and outstanding performance,” said general manager and head coach Jim Gabarra. “Of course it hurts to lose such a talented player, but this is professional sports, and every time there’s a roster spot open it creates opportunities for others.”

 

The Spirit drafted Dunn with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NWSL College Draft. The Rockville Centre, New York native had a banner 2015 season scoring 15 goals for the Spirit and was awarded NWSL Golden Boot, NWSL MVP, Washington Spirit Golden Boot, and Washington Spirit MVP. She was also NWSL Player of the Week a record six times and NWSL Player of the Month for August. Dunn was named to 2015 NWSL Best XI and averaged 0.75 goals per team game, a new NWSL record (2015 Highlights). In 2016, Dunn scored four goals, including both Spirit goals in the NWSL Championship, and had a career high five assists.

 

The forward was a key member of the Under-20 team that won the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan in 2012, where she had three assists. Dunn made her debut for the senior U.S. National Team in 2013 and scored her first career international goal on September 17, 2015. Dunn was a member of the 2016 United States Olympic team, scoring a goal against Colombia in a group stage match. The 24 year old was also nominated for U.S. Soccer’s Female Player of the Year for 2016. 

 

In a time when our country is most divided, is the national women’s team most inclusive?

Posted on by RJ Allen

In case you missed it, there was a presidential election in the United States this past Tuesday. No matter how you voted, or whether you were able, you might have had some feelings about it the following day.

There’s Nothing Like an Election to Remind You How Divided We Are

Full disclosure, I was one of those people with feelings. After the election, I was left more than discouraged, plagued with concern for the future of my friends and family, as well their own personal safety – and my own as included. To be even more honest, I was finding it hard to get excited about the upcoming pair of international friendlies the United States national team was about to face. I love sports. I love women’s soccer. How low must I be if I couldn’t get enthusiastic about sports?

The US national team is currently ranked number one in the FIFA standings. They will be facing Romania in these two upcoming matches. Romania is currently ranked 36th overall, and were eliminated from qualifying to the Euros. It not difficult to imagine the US will come out victorious in these matches. I thought maybe I’d skip these games and continue with my post-election processing.

Nothing Like Sports to Show Us How United We Can Be

Sports can sometimes be a way for people to try and find some solace. Sports are a constant in our American culture. Need to take your mind off something? Watch a game. I heard you can even find drone racing on television these days. Sports can be therapeutic at times. Whether you’re out on the pitch, in the press box, or watching in your home – sports can be a source of comfort.

In pulling myself out of political limbo, I’ve tried to remind myself why I should watch a couple of games that ultimately are meaningless in terms of major tournaments. This team hasn’t always been the most diverse. History has shown that. Former USWNT goalkeeper Briana Scurry recently had her jersey and gloves enshrined in the brand new National Museum of African American History and Culture. The same jersey she wore in 1999 just 17 years ago when the USWNT won their second Women’s World Cup.

17 years ago: that’s younger than our nation’s voting age.

In spite of the lack of diversity on this team–largely to things like “pay to play” and the failure, on multiple levels, to make formal youth soccer opportunities available and accessible in ethnic urban areas–the Women’s National Team has always given its fans reasons to cheer. In winning their World Cup championships and Olympic medals. They have also given its fans players who are uniquely their own to root for. Whatever your politics, if you cheer for this team you probably have favorite players.

Whether you’ve been around awhile and have looked up to a legend like Mia Hamm, or maybe you’re a LGBT youth who has found representation in a player like Megan Rapinoe. Maybe you’re strong in faith and looked up to players like Lauren Holiday. Maybe you’re a young girl or woman of color and are searching for someone who looks like you, and realizing that for the first time, watching this team on the field tonight, you have LITERAL options.

When You Cry Because There Are So Many Players For You to Cheer For

When the national call-ups first dropped, it truly was a welcome surprise. Yes, this team is different than a year ago, but that wasn’t the surprise.  It was the range of diversity and inclusion represented on it. It was mainly because of its diversity and inclusion, something that has been somewhat scarce in games past.  It gave us six players of color to watch and cheer for in these upcoming games.

Along with national team regulars Crystal Dunn and Christen Press, we saw players like Casey Short and Lynn Williams earn their second camp call-ups. We saw the return of Jaelene Hinkle and a first time call-up for Orlando Pride’s Kristen Edmonds. When Hinkle had to decline due to injury, her Western New York Flash teammate Jessica McDonald received the call-up, and tonight, earned her first cap with the senior team. Six players. More than one hand. More than enough to help heal a heart in this divisive time in our country.

To my knowledge, I am unaware of there being any current Asian or Latinx or non-Christian players on this team. I also understand that this is professional sports and one should expect the best roster of players. I acknowledge that could mean the team can literally look different at any time.  Therefore, I will always celebrate these small moments that mean so much to so many.

The Personal Is Political

It’s easy to dismiss people’s feelings when they don’t directly affect your own. There has been a lot of that in this country the last few days. It’s also easy to say sports are just entertainment. However, let’s not act like sports hasn’t been a unifying tool for people in their time of need. Sports has always been a place for people to try and come together. Maybe these November friendlies came at the most perfect time, even if they are ‘meaningless.’

They will allow us a moment to imagine that things aren’t looking so grim.

A large amount of work must take place at a grassroots level to make this game more accessible to everyone. However, these games and this moment will give us a roster that’s starting to look toward a more diverse future. That includes representation for a sector of fans that hasn’t always been so visible. Representation matters, and these players care about that. Crystal Dunn is very good at having that conversation and has been more than willing to take on that role. 

These games might not see all these players on the pitch. Maybe these games will be completely one sided. Maybe we could all use something simple to root for, like our soccer team vs the other soccer team. Maybe as citizens we will get to a point where we will allow more love and less fear.  I will always be on the lookout for the next great national team Latinx superstar, and I will always look for women of color being dominate in their respective sports, but I have never felt more hopeful about the national team’s future than now.

Visibility Matters: An Interview with Crystal Dunn

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Washington Spirit have had quite the year, dominating the 2016 league standings for most of the season. But in recent weeks, the team’s momentum appears to have slowed as the regular season winds down. This week Washington was looking for a victory against Chicago in order to lock up the league shield, which would have given them a strong finish to carry into their home-field semifinal coming up this Friday night.

But the Chicago Red Stars played spoiler on Saturday, winning the game and solidifying their place as the number three seed. Awarded to the team with best season record, the league shield was once firmly in the Spirit’s grasp, but the winner will now come down to whether or not the Portland Thorns draw or win over Sky Blue tonight.  Yet, despite the 3-1 result against Chicago, Crystal Dunn, one of Washington Spirit’s talented forwards, had a strong game, netting the team’s only goal, and helping to develop much of Washington’s offensive presses.

After the loss, Dunn took time to speak with Backline Soccer about the result, sharing thoughts on her change in play this year, as well as the upcoming playoffs and the unpredictability of the 2016 NWSL season. We also discussed recent headlines regarding Megan Rapinoe’s protest that started in Chicago a few weeks ago, and the importance of respecting people’s opinions while also respecting the right to protest. And we took up the issue of the particular pressures that athletes of color may carry in the sports they play.

Backline Soccer (BS): Tonight’s game had playoff implications for both teams. Can you share your thoughts on the game?

Crystal Dunn (CD): Yeah, it was a bit of a bummer. Obviously we stepped into this game wanting to win the shield. We wanted to come out and do really well so we could have that good momentum heading into the semis;  it didn’t go our way. I think we had our chances. We didn’t get into our rhythm until after being down 2-0, and unfortunately it’s tough coming back in this league from being down 2-0. So for us, I feel like the game was lost in the first fifteen minutes. We worked hard to get back in the rhythm of things, we did a good job of that, but it just didn’t go our way.

BS: You’ve had an interesting role on the Spirit this year. There has been a lot mentioned about your lack of goals this season, but your assist game is very strong. Do you feel any different having scored a couple goals now?

CD: You know I’ve played a different role this year. New coach. New system. I will say, it hasn’t been easy this year. Just because I’ve played in the nine [position], I’ve played the seven, I’ve played the eleven. It’s not like last year where I was just in one position and that was it. That was my position. That was my role. To just be in that one spot. Honestly, looking back, I’ve never had a season where I’ve had five assists and for me you have to take that for what it is. I don’t look at this year as a disappointment in any way. I look at it at as, “hey, I’ve never assisted so many goals in a season,” so it’s something to look forward to.

BS: As far as a season in general, the NWSL this year has been kind of unpredictable. Playoff opponents still up in the air, down to the wire, final week scenarios. Was prepping for tonight’s game perhaps a playoff preview?

CD: It’s been wild! I think for us we know that were hosting. And I think that is something to take the weight off of our shoulders. We know we have a good field, we know we play really well on our field and for our home fans. For us, tonight was obviously disappointing. But I think going into the semis I think we’re going to regroup and refocus.

BS:  It was a busy night in Chicago tonight. Many events, including tonight’s game. Chance the Rapper is on a huge tour right now. He planned a whole special event just for his hometown Chicago. In the event that this game wasn’t scheduled for Saturday, but instead on Sunday, would you have tried to find tickets to the concert?

CD: One hundred percent. YES! Absolutely.

BS: Quick follow up, who is the one teammate who would’ve been trying to scrounge up tickets with you?

CD: Teammate! It would definitely be Estelle Johnson. She’s freakin’ silly, and she’s all about getting into shenanigans with me. So for sure her. She’s my ride or die on the team.

BS: Chicago made some headlines the other week as well. Your national team teammate Megan Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem here in the game against the Red Stars. She extended that into the national team games. There has been a ton of discussion regarding this. Sometimes just discussing the form of protest, not the issues. Carli Lloyd has mentioned that there have been discussions with teammates about it. Did she ever talk to you about it? Or ask for advice?

CD: You know Pinoe [Megan Rapinoe] is a good friend of mine. We’ve had multiple conversations about it. I did share my views with her on the situation [form of protest]. I told her “look, as a black woman who is playing a sport that is majority white, I love that fact she’s trying to stand up for people’s rights. For something that’s so close to my heart.”  I just further expressed to her that, “No, I can’t be with you in NOT standing for the national anthem.”  Because for me it’s about the fact that people have given their lives for this country. Yes, a country that is NOT perfect. One that has LOTS of flaws. Trust me. I know. I have friends who have been victimized for just for being the way they are and looking the way the look. But to me, the flag and the national anthem doesn’t mean that this country is perfect, for me it means we want to hope for what this country is going to be, what this country could and should be. When I put my hand over my heart, it’s about closing my eyes and thinking about the people who’ve given their lives for me to be living in this world. Yes, it is not perfect and there are rights and methods to express the way you feel about those things. Ultimately, she [Rapinoe] said she understood exactly where I was coming from, and she told me she respected my opinion and she was going to continue doing what she’s been doing. We also have to respect that, I respect her for that and I would never, ever in my life tell her or anyone that you should not be doing this. We live in a country where we have freedom of expression, and I can’t take that away from her.

BS: Exactly, it’s literally a right. I myself have been pretty vocal on some of these issues at Backline Soccer. Whether it’s in my writing, or webcasts. Because I feel similarly–it’s her right to protest–but I also feel it’s necessary to have those types of conversations.

CD: Yes. One hundred percent. Absolutely.

BS: I’ve also mentioned, as you have here, the game is very Anglo. And there is a need to support women of color in this sport. Because at times there can be certain level of weight, or pressure on athletes of color in the game. Do you ever feel that kind of weight?

CD: For those who don’t know, I’ve grown up in a predominately white neighborhood. I’ve been around white people all my life. For me, it never bothered. It was what I was used to ever since I was 2 years old. It was like this is all I know. This is what I know. It really wasn’t until I got older, where I really started to take notice of my environments. I noticed “WOW. I am really, REALLY the only black girl on all of my teams, I’m the only black girl in all of my classes.” Even with me being on the national team, it’s funny, because in my conversations with Pinoe, we also talked about that, how there has maybe been about fourteen black women on the national team. In its history. Those things matter. Especially for me. I know we have a lot of mixed people on the national team. I think something people don’t understand is – that the way you look? It matters. For me? I’m a chocolate girl on the national team. You know, I’m not mixed, I’m not light skinned. I’m not any of that. So my experience on the team is completely different from someone who doesn’t look like me. I hold that very dear to my heart because I want people to know that when they see me on the national team, that they can look at me and still feel like they can make it to where you want to get in life. I don’t think that’s something everyone can understand. People don’t realize that. They might see a mixed girl and say “oh she’s mixed, she counts” and yes, absolutely the do. Mixed girls are technically black. But the reality is that if you don’t look like me? You will be treated differently.

BS: Experiences are different, even within certain racial groups.

CD:  And that’s the colorism that people don’t understand. That’s what ties into bigger things. Like the whole minorities and people of color being on the national stage. So yeah, I do sense a bit of pressure. But it’s not negative pressure. Every day I wake up and want to hold myself in the right way, and carry myself in the right way. To allow people to feel like “look, Crystal Dunn made it. I look like her. If she can make it.  Maybe I could make it too.”

Around the World of WoSo

Posted on by RJ Allen

Plenty of good and not so good things happened this week in the world of women’s soccer. Here’s my weekly roundup for you.

Kelley O’Hara Taken Down From Behind:

The tackle heard around the National Women’s Soccer League on Saturday night was on Sky Blue and USWNT member Kelley O’Hara. This was her first game back from Rio. The challenge came in the 91st minute from an unlikely source in Chicago Red Stars midfielder Alyssa Mautz. The tackle came from behind, which usually does not end well. This was an uncharacteristic foul by Mautz, who I’ve seen play in person. I’ve watched countless footage from her A&M days and in the NWSL, and I’ve never seen her make that kind of reckless challenge. I am in no way excusing her decision to make that tackle, as it was a terrible mistake and one that was strange because of the circumstances (Chicago was leading by three goals, clearly about to win). After leaving the stadium in a boot and on crutches, O’Hara seems to be in good spirits, taking to Twitter to update her status:

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Ada Hegerberg Named Best Player in Europe:

If she didn’t have it before, this 21 year-old from Norway certainly has everyone’s attention now, after beating out French star Amandine Henry (PSG/Portland Thorns FC) and Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan (FFC Frankfurt/Olympique Lyonnais) to be named UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe for 2015/2016. This is the first time that a German player hasn’t won (the last three winners include Celia Sasic, Nadine Kessler and Nadine Angerer). Hegerberg has scored an impressive 28 times in just 50 appearances for her national team since being called up in 2011—a feat exciting to see from someone so young. She plays her club ball at Olympique Lyonnais in France (D1 Feminine) and has made 43 appearances since 2014, scoring 59 goals along the way. She is proving to be a special player. Hopefully we will see more of the same from her in the future.

Duke Falls to Arkansas in NCAA upset:

When the number two ranked team in the country traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas last Friday, I was sure they would come away with a convincing win, but I was wrong. Not only did Duke lose, they only managed three shots on goal and gave Arkansas their first win in program history over a top 10 ranked opponent. Credit of course to the Razorbacks for using home atmosphere to their full advantage, playing a very impressive match in front of a record crowd of 3,010. With the disappointing loss this early in the season, Duke has two wins and, looking ahead on the schedule, it doesn’t get any easier as the Blue Devils face North Carolina and West Virginia in the next two weeks (also top 10 teams). The good news for Duke is that it’s early in the season; they have time to improve and learn from mistakes to get where they need to be. For me, this is the biggest upset in Women’s Division I so far. What will it do for Arkansas and Duke moving forward? What kind of effect will this game have on the rest of the season? In the long run, it’s a massive confidence booster for Arkansas, proving they can seriously compete with any team. Duke will need to forget this game and get back to the quality soccer we are used to seeing. Definitely worth keeping an eye on these two teams.

Seattle Show Signs of Life:

The Seattle Reign faced the Portland Thorns this weekend, and they came away with a 3-1 win to end the Cascadia Rivalry with one win apiece. Before the match, the Reign were in sixth place in the NWSL standings and seven points out of playoff contention. With these three points, they move to fifth (helped by a Sky Blue loss) and are still mathematically in the hunt for that fourth spot. Dutch playmaker Manon Melis scored two goals, and Megan Rapinoe added a third to ensure a victory for Seattle. Melis now is the Reign’s leading goal scorer, with five on the year. The way they played, the spirit they showed, and the style in which they won reminded me of the Reign from last year’s regular season. With Jess Fishlock (looking refreshed), Bev Yanez, and the returning Kawasumi Naho all grabbing assists, the Reign looked very comfortable going forward. Haley Kopmeyer stood tall in goal for Seattle and (in the absence of Hope Solo) made six saves, while keeping her back line organized enough to grab three crucial points. It’s no secret the assertion of Naho into the lineup certainly has had a positive effect on the team. For Seattle fans, it feels like they are finally coming together. But with four games left, is it too late? Playing in front of 5,888 at home seemed to give the Reign that energy and spark needed to win. I’m not counting out Harvey’s team just yet.

Marta and Schelin lead FC Rosengard to Swedish Cup Victory:

Less than week after the Olympics ended, many players were back with respective clubs, including five-time Ballon d’Or winner Marta and Olympic silver medalist Lotta Schelin. Both play for FC Rosengard in the top Swedish league, the Damallsvenkan. FCR are known for bringing in top players from all over the world; in the past they have fielded the likes of Ramona Bachman (SUI), Nilla Fischer (SWE), Formiga (BRA), Ana Mittag (GER), and Manon Melis (NLD). The rich history is understandably quite the draw for many players. The Svenska Cupen final against Linkoping FC had many recognizable players on display for Rosengard: Marta, Schelin, Emma Berglund (captain), Ali Riley, Ella Masar, and Lieke Martens. For Linkoping, one standout player is Stina Blackstenius, who many should remember played a superb tournament for Sweden in the recent Olympics. She scored the only goal for Linkoping but just didn’t have enough star power to find the win. As for Rosengard, they put on a dominant 3-1 performance, with goals from Marta, Schelin, and Martens to earn the victory.  This was the club’s third Svenska Cupen in program history, and with that kind of roster, one of its most impressive, surely.

Dunn Hasn’t Been Crystal Clear For Washington:

Last year’s NWSL MVP has yet to score a single goal in 2016. Yes, you read that correctly. Crystal Dunn had a breakout year in 2015, scoring 15 goals in 20 appearances. Last season she took 84 shots and 48 were on frame, yet this season, in 10 games Dunn has managed 23 shots; only seven have been on goal. Dunn hasn’t scored yet, but she has tallied four assists on the year. One explanation could be that teams have figured out how to frustrate her. With her speed, that is a difficult task, but players all across the league have shown the ability to contain her. Dunn has done tremendous work in games this season—her effort is next to none; she’s just contributing in a different way this year. It’s clear the Spirit, as a whole, have done a better job spreading the ball around, as 10 different players have scored this season, as opposed to seven players last season. Washington are sitting pretty in first place and have earned 35 points. They have more than proven that Dunn doesn’t need to do all the heavy lifting for them to have success.  If you would’ve told me at the beginning of this year that the reigning MVP wouldn’t have a goal to her name with four games left, I would’ve laughed and said that’s crazy. Turns out Dunn and Washington are the ones laughing all the way to the playoffs.

Fit, Focused, and Black Lives: Crystal Dunn Preps for Rio

Posted on by RJ Allen

Much can change in the course of year. No one knows that any better than Crystal Dunn.

Last July the US women’s national team celebrated their third FIFA Women’s World Cup after 16 years, it was a momentous occasion that Dunn just narrowly missed. In a post-game celebratory interview, Abby Wambach still praised Dunn’s efforts even though she was cut from the final roster.

After missing out on the World Cup, Dunn utilized the NWSL as platform for herself. She went on a scoring spree, netting 15 goals for the Washington Spirit helping lead them into the NWSL playoffs for a semi-final match. She was awarded the NWSL golden boot winner for 2015. Her outstanding play led to more national team call-ups for the US victory tour, CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, and the She Believes Cup.

She has shown she is ready to make the leap onto the international stage that is the Olympics.

Backline Soccer was able to discuss the Olympics, NWSL, and current social issues with Dunn before an Olympic friendly in Chicago. Rio is right around the corner, and with a roster yet to be named, Dunn remains focused on her Olympic dream despite the headlines around.

Backline Soccer: Can you talk to us about preparing for the Olympics in Rio in the middle of the NWSL season?

Crystal Dunn: “A lot of us here are 9 games deep in the league, it’s a lot of games. I think coming into this camp we all knew our legs might not even fully be where they need to be just because of the season we’ve had so far. Surprisingly, in the first few days we   were here we just clicked instantly, and sometimes that doesn’t happen at camp. You know we’re playing all over the field, and with different teams, and different players. Sometimes when you come into camp it’s so hard to get readjusted with everything, but this 9-day camp has been great so far. We’ve clicked, like I said. We’re all just so focused on the goal at hand and ready to have these sendoff games so we can be prepared for Rio.”

BS: It’s amazing what can happen in just a year. Going from the World Cup and falling short of making the roster there. Fast forward to this year with you being on the cusp of Rio. To be honest, you’re looking like you’ve got a pretty good shot to make the roster. Does the NWSL help play a part in keeping you fit and prepared for international tournaments?

CD: “For me, the league is the most intense league, I think. Just with the athleticism that’s in this league, you’re not really catching a break for 90 minutes. I think its prepared me really well. I feel fit. I feel healthy. I’ve been playing against really great players in the league, which has always prepared me for coming into national camps.”

BS: So, last season you went off on a scoring spree in the NWSL. We’re currently at the season midway point, and you have had some awesome assists. However, there may be some out there who think you’re not where you should be in terms of goals. Have you had to adjust your play a bit in preparation for Rio?

CD: “You know a lot of people ask how do you feel this year as opposed to that year, and it’s crazy to think that before last season – it’s not like I was on the radar for goal scoring. So I think that people have a way of kind of twisting what they think they know about the game and things like that. But I’ve also never had 4 assists in a season, you know? So, if they were to ask what’s this season like compared to last, I’d say I think I’m doing pretty well. Just for the fact that I’ve probably set a new goal now. I don’t have to be that person that’s going to score goals, but if I’m making other players around me look better, and play better then I think that’s exactly what I need to be doing. As a teammate I need to just wait for my moment and if a goal comes for me, then a goal comes. But at the end of the day if my team is winning then I would never sit and pout in a corner. [laughs]”

BS : Well said! Finally, I want to touch on something before we close. The other day Sydney Leroux put out a really awesome post on her blog, touching on some of the really sad things that have been going on the few days..

CD: “Oh YES.”

BS: Do you have any words of consolement? Or any words of advice for young girls of color who maybe woke up this morning feeling unsafe or uncomfortable in their own skin?

CD: “Yes. You know it’s crazy that all this is going on. I think not many things have been said about it. I think that’s the kind of disappointing stage. I think it’s crazy that when Orlando happened everyone kind of took a deep breath and was running to everyone’s call, and I feel like that’s great. I was one of those people that was like, this is a terrible thing that has happened in our country, we all need to be unified in this. But I think that the shootings that have been going on have been going on for years. I feel like people are now not even still waking up about the situation. Just as a Black woman on the national team I feel like this is something that needs to be said. You know, there’s not many of us that have been on this team. I always talk to Syd about these things. She’ll ask ‘Crys how do you feel?’ and I’ll say ‘I feel the same way as you.’ It’s just that I don’t know what can be done. I don’t know what words to truly say. I don’t want to make this about race because that happens a lot of the time. But I do think that the issues that are going on are a lot deeper than what people really think. So you know, it’s upsetting knowing that not that many people want to speak up on this issue that’s going on in our country.”

(Christen Press and Crystal Dunn | Source: Sandra Herrera @SandHerrera_)

The US women’s national team faced another Olympic bound team, South Africa on July 9. Some predicted an uneven match with the number 1 ranked FIFA team going up against the 52 ranked FIFA team. The game ended with a 1-0 score line with USA as the victors. Crystal Dunn scored the lone goal.

 

*This article was published back in July 2016 on Midfield Press. The Author has granted republishing on Backline Soccer*