Crystal Dunn set to make third Olympic appearance

Rockville Centre native and United States soccer superstar Crystal Dunn will proudly represent Team USA in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in France, set to begin on July 25 against Zambia.

This marks her third straight Olympic appearance, having previously competed at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the 2020 games in Tokyo, Japan, which were subsequently postponed to the following year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dunn is no stranger to competing at the international level. She has been a significant contributor to the success of the United States Women’s National Team, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup title in 2019.

Since being called up to the senior team in 2013, Dunn has scored 25 goals over the course of 147 international appearances. Much of her success can be attributed to her positional and mental versatility, having played midfield and defensive positions for various clubs and international teams.

In a recent interview with GQ Sports, Dunn explained that her versatility is not only an athletic quality.

“My ability to break down plays and my cognitive ability to solve problems on the field is a major piece of why I’m able to see the game from different angles and play at many different positions,” Dunn said in her interview.

While the USWNT is anticipated to be a major force to be reckoned in the 2024 Summer Olympics, the team still has some proving to do regarding its rank as one of the top teams in the world, following its bronze medal finish in 2021 and its elimination in the Round of 16 at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The USWNT is currently ranked fifth in the world by FIFA — historically, the team’s lowest rank ever since 2003. This year’s roster will also be devoid one of its former captains and veteran striker, Alex Morgan, who was surprisingly cut from the Olympic roster this year.

Dunn, however, shared with NBC News in a recent interview that she still expects success from herself and her teammates.

“I think having these tournaments under our belt has shown that we are a collective group, we know how to find ways to win. We truly believe that we are still at a very dominant level,” Dunn said.