USWNT's Dunn: 'I hope to be recognized as a face of women’s soccer'
The 28-year-old star thinks that she has merited the right to be inseparable from the United States sport.
The United States women's national team star Crystal Dunn has said she desires to one day be the face of football.
The Portland Thorns has become one of the key players in the
USWNT
squad, playing an essential part in their 2019 World Cup win.
Dunn has an attacking mentality; however, she has been effectively utilized as an improvised left-back with the USWNT.
As the U.S. keeps on going through
SheBelieves Cup
, Dunn trusts that her talent alongside her candid promotion will make her the sport's ideal delegate.
"With my versatility and being one of the few Black women on the U.S. women's national team, what I would have loved to see happen earlier, which I still hope will happen, is to be recognized as a face of women's soccer," Dunn told Forbes.
"I am recognized as a player on the national team, which is great. But what I would like to see shift is the whole idea that this sport is predominantly white or that it is a white person's face that is the face of women's soccer.
"I have earned the right to be posterized and be a part of huge campaigns and lead the way for women's soccer and not feel like I am just a player."
Even though Dunn has acquired applauses for her capacity to play a wide range of positions, she admitted that she doesn't really delight in her flexibility in positions.
"I never wanted to be a versatile player," said Dunn. "Most people want to be great at something. If you are a striker, you want to be known for scoring goals, assisting and creating goals. For me, I did not get the luxury of working on one quality. I have to be good at scoring and creating goals and good at defending."
Dunn hopes that the impression and insights about Black competitors in all sports change, she prefers to be known as an attacking playmaker, which is her favorite position.
"For a long time, Black quarterbacks were an anomaly," Dunn said.
"That is why I'm so passionate about wanting to be seen as a 10 because it is a position that not a lot of Black women play.
"Black women, I would say, are mostly center backs, outside backs, and wide forwards. Playing at a 10 means that I am now combating the stereotypes of being fast, physical, and strong.
"I am passionate about wanting the world to see more Black women, especially in the roles that don't fit the stereotypes that have been placed on us; that goes against everything that people have seen and use to describe Black athletes."
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