Crystal Dunn gave birth to her son 156 days ago. Portland head coach Rhian Wilkinson has food in her fridge older than that.

And yet, there Dunn was in front of 22,035 fans at Providence Park on Sunday evening, scoring the winning goal to send the Portland Thorns through to Saturday’s NWSL championship game with a 2-1 win over the San Diego Wave. Portland will play the Kansas City Current for the trophy on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Washington, D.C.

Dunn’s goal wasn’t the result of just any shot. It was a volleyed bullet into the top left corner, sealing the comeback she’s made to professional soccer in the last five months.

“What Crystal Dunn did, it is incredible what she did,” Wilkinson said of Dunn’s journey.

The 2021 Concacaf Player of the Year, who played her first NWSL game back at the beginning of September, just three months and 20 days after giving birth to Marcel Soubrier, was never pressured by her club to return to the field. She also wasn’t gifted minutes when she was ready to play. The goal to be on the pitch by the fall was her own, and the minutes she’s played in the five games since then, she’s earned in training.

To fight for minutes on one of the winningest teams in the NWSL is not easy for any player. That never slowed the World Cup champion, who, even before becoming a mother, was on the field passing balls until she was nine months pregnant.

Dunn subbed into Sunday’s match at the attacking midfield position in the 62nd minute, taking off Rocky Rodriguez, who had evened the scoreline 1-1 in the first half with a top-shelf screamer of her own. Registering 30 touches and completing 83 percent of her passes, Dunn was joined on the field by subs Christine Sinclair and Janine Beckie. They outworked a tired San Diego backline, creating endless scoring opportunities as the second half wore on.

And in the third minute of stoppage time, on just her second shot of the game, Dunn finally broke the tie.

Crystal Dunn with the game winner and @ThornsFC
go to the finals.🤯

JWS X @Delta

Official Airline of the National Women's Soccer League pic.twitter.com/kc6BfhoefF

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) October 23, 2022

“They won the game for us,” Wilkinson said of the three subs. “The players that start, there’s ego attached to that, but they’re not the ones who finish the game. The players that come on win us the game, and that’s something that I keep trying to highlight because it’s outside people who put a lot of emphasis on who starts. It’s actually the players on the field at the end of the game that have the biggest impact, and we saw that today.”

Dunn’s contributions came at the right time, not just in this game or any game, but in her leadership off the field, where she’s had a noticeable effect on the team in the second half of the season.

While Dunn was on maternity leave, veteran players Sinclair, Becky Sauerbrunn and Meghan Klingenberg led the Thorns to the No. 2 seed in the NWSL playoffs. But to Wilkinson, it’s clear the team has missed Dunn’s flair.

“She should be the poster woman for everything,” the coach said. “The way she leads, the energy she brings to training, how she connects the team.”

“I’m not in [the locker room], so I don’t know what she does,” Wilkinson later added. “But I do see how everyone respects her and comes to talk to her. I see how she talks to people or notices when people don’t look like they’re enjoying something. She’s very active in that.”

When Dunn isn’t socializing or checking in on teammates, she is naturally introverted and quiet. She prefers to do her own thing, but not until everyone else feels taken care of.

“That is the epitome of a leader,” said Wilkinson. “She knows what’s needed, and she gives it as much as she can.

“I can only speak for myself. She lifts my spirits. I think she’s great. And it seems we have a good team. They like each other. What a great thing to have a team that likes each other. They want to spend time together and they like when she’s there.”

Outside of the Thorns’ locker room, soccer fans everywhere saw that for themselves on Sunday.

“Oh my god, that was just an explosion of emotions for the whole stadium, the whole city,” Rodriguez said after the game. “And the fact that it was Crystal, I mean, we got on the field, she came and celebrated with the whole team. Everybody came together. So it was really emotional and just the perfect way to end.”

Jessa Braun is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering the NWSL and USWNT. Follow her on Twitter @jessabraun.

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins discusses the importance of the current international window for the USWNT and digs into the players who did and did not make head coach Emma Hayes's latest 24-athlete roster.

Watkins begins with those not invited to this week's senior team camp, with Hayes using the concurrent U23 camp as a "minor league" for athletes who "need a little bit more development or need to be in a different training situation or have different leadership structures."

Watkins specifically digs into the placement of midfielder Korbin Albert and forwards Jaedyn Shaw and Mia Fishel with the U23 squad, as well as the overall omission of goalkeeper Jane Campbell.

Honing in on Albert, Watkins calls her U23 spot a demotion, saying "It's wild to me that someone who started the [2024] Olympic gold-medal match for the USWNT is now playing for the U23s when the senior team is in session."

"I think we're stuck in this question of, 'is she good enough or is she not?'" explains Watkins, noting that "Albert isn't giving [Hayes] those all-around performances that validate that roster spot when there are other players that could be given a look."

In contrast, Watkins backs Hayes's decisions to place the versatile Shaw and Fishel — who's still regaining form from a 2024 ACL tear — with the youth team.

Calling her "the player truly out in the cold here," Watkins worries that 30-year-old Campbell might be facing an "always the bridesmaid, never the bride of the US goalkeeper cycle," with Hayes opting for a largely untested trio of Mandy McGlynn, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, and Claudia Dickey as she continues seeking retired star Alyssa Naeher's replacement.

Top NWSL play fuels USWNT roster call-ups

The uncapped Dickey, says Watkins, is one of the players reaping the benefits of Hayes's developmental roster movements.

"She is statistically one of the highest performing goalkeepers in the NWSL this season," notes Watkins about the Seattle Reign starter. "The numbers do not lie. She is one of the best pure shot-stoppers in the league this year, if not the best."

Also snagging a shot at the senior team thanks to stellar NWSL play are Orlando Pride standout and "Swiss Army knife defender" Kerry Abello, Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie, and Kansas City Current captain Lo'eau LaBonta.

LaBonta, who headlined this USWNT roster by earning her first-ever call-up at age 32, is a versatile midfielder with, according to Watkins, a "really, really strong" mentality as well as a "wonderful locker room presence."

Citing Hayes's previous comments about the age of certain players causing her to seek younger athletes, Watkins wonders if LaBonta's call-up isn't simply a long-overdue reward for years of top professional play, and instead, perhaps, a sign that Hayes is "learning that you need a little bit of both [youth and experience]."

"I think [LaBonta's] going to make herself hard to drop," states Watkins. "With 2027 only two years away, I'm not betting against LaBonta. She's going into this camp looking for more call-ups. This is not just a 'job well done' situation for her."

Finally, Watkins mentions that many younger players, like Kansas City's Michelle Cooper and Claire Hutton, and Utah's Ally Sentnor, are back in the mix "because they're playing too well for the U23s. They've been put into senior team camp and they've swam — they have not sunk."

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Summer friendlies serve as senior team try-outs

The stakes are high for the 24 athletes in this USWNT camp, with small windows to impress Hayes while facing two tough opponents in the upcoming days: May 31st's clash with China PR and a June 3rd date with Jamaica's Reggae Girlz.

"Who's going to be able to elevate their game even if they don't have a ton of experience?," asks Watkins. "It's up to the senior call-ups to make those players that are in the U23s harder to call back in. And those players in the U23s are going to probably have to show new sides of themselves to get back into the fold."

"This is the Emma Hayes system. And I cannot wait to say who says, 'Nope. This is not just a pat on the back. You're not dropping me.'"

About 'The Late Sub' with Claire Watkins

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes on the USWNT, NWSL, and all things women's soccer. Special guest appearances featuring the biggest names in women’s sports make TLS a must-listen for every soccer fan.

Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women's Sports newsletter for more.

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The world No. 1 USWNT is back in action on Saturday, taking on No. 17 China PR in the first of two early summer friendlies as head coach Emma Hayes continues evaluating talent across the 24-player roster.

"We have two different types of opponents ahead of us, so we'll have to be creative in breaking down those teams in different ways," Hayes told reporters earlier this month.

With an average of just 30.7 caps per player, this international window is an opportunity for NWSL favorites to prove their national team value — though the USWNT will be without one up-and-comer: Due to a minor hip injury, Angel City defender Gisele Thompson departed camp on Thursday, with Hayes opting not to replace the 19-year-old in the lineup.

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Fresh faces to take on a familiar foe

The US has faced China PR a total of 60 times — more than any country other than No. 7 Canada. China also boasts the second-most US defeats with nine, though they haven't upended the USWNT since 2015.

In total, the USWNT boasts a 38-9-13 all-time record against their longtime rival, including arguably the team's most famous victory: the history-making penalty-kick win in the 1999 World Cup final at the Rose Bowl.

That said, the teams haven't squared off since December 2023 — some six months before Hayes took the helm.

"We have new faces, we have experience, we have veterans, we have young players. I think we're a really amazing blend of all of the above," said midfielder Sam Coffey this week. "I think more than anything, the common denominator in everyone here is just a hunger to get better."

How to watch the USWNT vs. China PR friendly match

The USWNT kicks off against China PR at 5:30 PM ET on Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Live coverage of the match will air on TBS.

Friday's WNBA action promises to bring the heat, delivering a major homecoming for new LA star Kelsey Plum as well as strategic veteran moves and rookies looking to right the ship while newly revamped teams continue to gel.

In the wake of significant offseason movement, the 2025 WNBA season is all about striking a balance between developing young talent and leveraging seasoned stars as former franchise players take on very familiar opponents.

Veteran-heavy teams will shoot to manage workloads this weekend, as powerhouse squads juggle shifting lineups while those that trailed last year fight to rise up the WNBA standings.

Highlighting the Friday night slate are a trio of games, all airing on ION:

• No. 1 New York Liberty (5-0) vs. No. 7 Washington Mystics (3-3), 7:30 PM ET: The reigning champion Liberty managed to eke out an 82-77 win over 2025 expansion side Golden State without injured stars Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally on Thursday — but can they hold off a Mystics team punching above their weight behind standout rookie duo Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen?

• No. 10 Los Angeles Sparks (2-4) vs. No. 6 Las Vegas Aces (2-2), 10 PM ET: Sparks guard Kelsey Plum will face her former teammates for the first time on Friday, taking on a Las Vegas side searching for redemption after Seattle spoiled Aces guard Jewell Loyd's own homecoming in last weekend's WNBA action.

• No. 2 Minnesota Lynx (5-0) vs. No. 3 Phoenix Mercury (4-1), 10 PM ET: Two of the league's top performers will hit the court in Arizona, as perennial MVP candidates Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas go head-to-head for the first time in 2025.

A few teams have already faced adversity this year, but even more have settled into the grind as the longest-ever WNBA season rolls into June.

WNBA legend Candace Parker is gearing up for a busy summer, as two of her former franchises — the Chicago Sky and LA Sparks — recently announced plans to retire her No. 3 jersey this year.

The Chicago Sky announced on Wednesday that they will raise Parker's jersey in the Wintrust Arena rafters in an August 25th ceremony, honoring the Chicagoland product who helped them win their first-ever WNBA championship in 2021.

"I never imagined one day my jersey would hang in the rafters of my hometown team," said Parker in a statement. "Coming home to Chicago and helping bring the city its first WNBA championship here — it was personal. I'm beyond grateful to the city, the fans, and everyone who's been part of my journey. Chicago raised me, and this will always be home."

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Also in on the action is Los Angeles, where Parker spent a 13-year stint that including earning her first league title in 2016. The Sparks previously stated in late March that they would retire Parker's jersey in a June 29th celebration — during LA's game against the Sky.

The Chicago ceremony also coincides with a game against another of Parker's squads: The Sky will face the Las Vegas Aces — the final team Parker led to a WNBA championship in 2023.

Parker is the first Chicago player to have her jersey number retired, as well as the Sparks' third behind Lisa Leslie and Penny Toler.

"Candace is the best all-around player that has ever played in the WNBA," said Sparks co-owner and NBA legend Magic Johnson.

With an impact that still radiates throughout the WNBA, fans and former teammates alike are jumping at the chance to pay their respects to Parker this summer.