Crystal Dunn: “When players band together, that’s how the game moves forward”

FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Crystal Dunn was speaking on the Players Panel at the launch of Project ACL in the NWSL at Nike’s New York Headquarters. The United States defender and FIFPRO Global Player Council member, who retired in January 2026, spoke at the event about the importance of the project, as well as the significance of insuring that the voices of players are heard in football’s decision-making process.

FIFPRO: Crystal, how important is it that Project ACL is now expanding into the U.S. and the NWSL?

Crystal Dunn: An initiative like Project ACL is extremely important because it plays a direct role in continuing the progression of the women’s game.

The research being conducted through this project is focused on a very serious and relevant topic, specifically ACL reduction. These are injuries that have historically had a major impact on players’ careers, but the reality is that many of them can be preventable with the right research, data, and attention. The work currently being done shows real promise, and I genuinely believe it deserves far more attention than it has received in the past. 

FIFPRO has done incredible work by engaging directly with players; having conversations, listening to their insight, and collecting firsthand accounts of what it has been like to play professionally across different markets and environments. Hearing these experiences directly from players is invaluable.

Because this is such an important topic, it requires ongoing focus and continued visibility. Having events like this take place in the United States, and expanding that presence into the NWSL, matters deeply. We are all in this together, and progress only happens when we collectively commit to it.

How important is that research and potential solutions are player centred, and that players' voices are throughout that process?

I’ve  been very fulfilled being a member of the FIFPRO Global Council. The work that FIFPRO is doing is truly incredible, and being part of that process has meant a great deal to me. It is incredibly important to continue gaining insight from players, because their voices truly matter. They are the ones who live these realities every single day. Players are the ones who experience these injuries firsthand. It is they who go through the physical, mental, and emotional challenge of returning to play after injury.

Too often, players don’t always feel as supported as they could be during that process, particularly when it comes to returning in a way that allows them to perform at their highest potential. Those lived experiences matter.

Players’ voices are the most important voices in this conversation. If we don’t listen to them, if we fail to centre their experiences and their needs, we place ourselves at a disadvantage when it comes to truly progressing the game. Progress can’t happen in isolation from the people who are most affected, and that’s why listening to players is absolutely essential.

You have been very involved with players representation trough FIFIPRO, the USWNTPA and the NWSLPA. For players who may not know much about being part of collectives like this, what advice would you give about getting involved?

Being part of the FIFPRO Global Player Council has been incredibly rewarding for me. It’s not only about lending your voice, although that is certainly important. It’s also about learning from the experiences of other players and becoming aware of challenges, perspectives, and realities that you might not have been exposed to otherwise.

One of the most meaningful parts of this experience has been the connections I’ve been able to build with other players. Those relationships have been so enjoyable and valuable, largely because many of us didn’t have those connections before. Often, it’s only when players come together and openly discuss shared experiences that those bonds really form.

For anyone who is interested in getting involved, using their voice, and helping to progress the game, I genuinely believe this kind of participation can be incredibly fulfilling. It has brought me a great deal of enjoyment and purpose. I don’t just see myself as a player on the field, but also as someone who can contribute off the field - someone who can help push this game forward in a meaningful way.