Portland Thorns Trade for Crystal Dunn: Twitter Reacts

Less than a week after the conclusion of the NWSL Fall Series, and with the Louisville expansion draft looming in November, the first of what may be a series of blockbuster trade deals went down yesterday. When the dust had settled, North Carolina Courage midfielder Crystal Dunn was on her way to the Portland Thorns, where her husband is the team’s athletic trainer.

The USWNT stalwart’s cross country flight had a layover by way of Tacoma, with OL Reign sending Casey Murphy and allocation money to North Carolina in exchange for Dunn, before trading her to Portland for an international spot for the 2021 season, the Thorn’s first round NWSL draft pick (2022), as well as some additional allocation money, some of which depends on Dunn’s future in the NWSL.

Needless to say, some members of the women’s soccer world were shocked while others rejoiced. One thing is for certain: next month’s expansion draft could get quite interesting, as Portland, among other clubs, now has some tough decisions to make regarding which which players to protect.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the deal:

 

PORTLAND THORNS: RECEIVE CRYSTAL DUNN

????️????

Coming soon to the Rose City… #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/UnERQbkwTq

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) October 22, 2020

All about this. https://t.co/5NvFs5eLsc

— Lindsey Horan (@LindseyHoran) October 22, 2020

I think fans had a sense of this possibility the more Crystal Dunn seemed to be living her best life in Portland with her husband her 5 chickens and her cat, chopping wood and doing DIY, but it’s nice to see it happen for real https://t.co/xBmelGLggZ

— Steph Yang | Horrible Soccer Goose (@thrace) October 22, 2020

It’s fun to get in the weeds with transactions like these but my main feeling is that Crystal Dunn set the world on fire in 2019 and got exactly what she wanted in 2020 and that’s how all of this is supposed to work and I’m very happy for her

— Claire Watkins (@ScoutRipley) October 22, 2020

North Carolina probably got the 'worst' of the trade, but 100K and a world class keeper (arguably their biggest need) is nothing to sniff at--especially if you had no leverage.

— Charles Olney (@olneyce) October 22, 2020

Crystal Dunn moving from NC to Portland has the potential to take with it the balance of power in the #NWSL Long way to go through until we see what actual 2021 rosters are going to look like. This is a big one though

— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) October 22, 2020

this is so freakin exciting @crysdunn_19 https://t.co/0izRVA0ZkX

— Sophia Smith (@sophsssmith) October 22, 2020

 

OL REIGN: ONE INTERNATIONAL SPOT FOR 2021; PORTLAND’S 2022 NATURAL FIRST ROUND NWSL DRAFT PICK; ALLOCATION MONEY ($250,000), $50,000 OF WHICH IS CONDITIONED UPON DUNN’S FUTURE NWSL PLAYING STATUS

Thank you to @CaseyMurph for the brilliant performances over the last two seasons and for the joy you brought to all our supporters. pic.twitter.com/MQpQBpoUdI

— OL Reign (@OLReign) October 22, 2020

You know greatness when it walks in the room.
.@caseymurphy11 it was an honor to document your journey the last couple years. I can't even describe how excited I am for your future, but bummed it won't be here with us. I guess I'll have to get some photos of the away team.… pic.twitter.com/0teUaqncbv

— JaneG. Photography (@JaneGPhoto) October 22, 2020

Reign basically traded Casey Murphy for a 1st round pick, a one-year international slot, and $110 in aggregate allocation money. They likely need a starting keeper, but that is not a bad haul just for stepping in to facilitate a trade between two other teams#NWSL

— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) October 22, 2020

 

NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE: RECEIVED CASEY MURPHY, ALLOCATION MONEY ($140,000) PAID OVER 2021 ($65,000) AND 2022 ($75,000)

Thrilled to welcome Casey! Fantastic, young player. Can’t wait for you to join us in #CourageCountry https://t.co/W7eNKWJSAV

— Curt Johnson (@curtjohnson17) October 22, 2020

Three things #CourageCountry should know about @CaseyMurph

1. Drafted 13th in the 2018 NWSL Draft.
2. Named the 2018 Goalkeeper of the Year in Division 1 Feminine in France.
3. Her NWSL career-high 11 saves came in the 2019 NWSL Semifinal against the Courage#NoFinishLine pic.twitter.com/gxpSFvPQxc

— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) October 22, 2020

Going to miss photographing you Casey Murphy ???? pic.twitter.com/ySadcL8vgb

— Nikita (@kryptobanana) October 22, 2020

@CaseyMurph you’re a legend https://t.co/wbuXx0QELr

— Rosie White (@rosiewhite13) October 23, 2020

Uh, @OLReign, what the actual???

WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?

Casey Murphy?! Our brilliant, young, reliable keeper? Jesus.

I... wow.

Why?

WHY?

Why.

I am not having a good day.
Today is A Bad Day. https://t.co/VnmO3ZKYJo

— Gen Williams (@genwilliams) October 22, 2020