The Washington Spirit’s Crystal Dunn has been voted the National Women’s Soccer League’s Most Valuable Player, capping a breakout 2015 season in which she firmly established herself as one of the rising stars in American soccer.
At 23, the youngest to ever win the league’s top individual honor, Dunn is also Washington’s sole representative on the NWSL’s Best XI (or, for that matter, the Second XI) all-star team. The awards are voted on by media, club officials, players, and fans.
After suffering the disappointment of being one of the final cuts from the U.S. Women’s National Team roster that won the World Cup to much fanfare this summer, Dunn channeled her frustration in the best, most productive way possible. The Long Island native absolutely tore through league play, winning the Golden Boot with 15 goals (an NWSL-record 0.75 goals per game) to go along with 3 assists.
Consistently deployed at forward for the first time in her career, Dunn terrorized defenses with her pace, power, and clinical finishing, leading the Spirit to an 8-6-6 record and a berth in the NWSL semifinals (they lost 3-0 in Seattle), even as teammates Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris, and other notables missed significant time due to international duty.
“It is such an honor to be named NWSL MVP,” Dunn said in a statement posted on Twitter. “This has been such an unexpected year with so many ups and downs. Even though this has been one of my hardest years in my career, it has also turned into one of my greatest achievements.”
Dunn’s dominant club campaign earned her a call up for the USWNT’s recent “victory tour” friendlies against Haiti in Detroit and Birmingham, where she played every minute of both matches, tallying two goals and two assists as a winger. After those standout performances, the UNC alum seems almost certain to be selected by USWNT head coach Jill Ellis’ for next year’s Olympic squad, as Dunn’s versatility (she can play as a striker, on the wing, or as a defender) should be a significant asset on a trimmed-down 18-woman roster.
In the meantime, District sports fans will have at least one local MVP to celebrate as they turn their attention to the (clown?) question of whether or not the Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper is the National League’s most valuable player despite his team’s disappointing season.
