By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 30, 2026-Crystal Dunn will be recognized for her extraordinary career with the US Women’s National Team during a pregame ceremony before the United States faces Spain on October 10 at Audi Field in Washington, DC. The game will feature the two best women’s national teams in the world as Spain is #1 with the USA right behind at #2 in the latest rankings as Spain are the defending Women’s World Cup champions and the USA are the Olympic gold medalists.
The ceremony will celebrate Crystal’s retirement from international soccer and honor one of the most versatile players in US women’s soccer history. US Soccer also announced that the first 2,000 fans entering the stadium will receive a commemorative Crystal Dunn bobblehead.
The honor is another milestone in a journey that began on the fields of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). Crystal played for the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) growing up as well as the Rockville Centre and Albertson youth soccer clubs. She led South Side High School to three state championships and went on to star at the University of North Carolina, where she won the 2012 NCAA championship and the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top collegiate player.
Her professional career included starring roles with the Washington Spirit, North Carolina Courage, Portland Thorns, Gotham FC, Chelsea (England) and Paris Saint-Germain (France). She was the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner for top scorer in 2015 after being left off the USA roster for that year’s Women’s World Cup, a disappointment she spoke about to local youth soccer players in encouraging them to persevere.
Crystal went on to earn 160 caps for the United States from 2013 through 2025, helping the red, white and blue win the 2019 Women’s World Cup, an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo in 2020 and Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games. Equally comfortable as a defender, midfielder or forward, Crystal became known for her versatility, relentless work ethic and leadership on and off the field.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/