The three-way trade between the North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, and Portland Thorns brokered in October shook up the NWSL–Crystal Dunn was on the move. In late February, four months after coming over from North Carolina, Dunn committed to Portland by inking a three-year deal.

With the USWNT’s European friendlies wrapped up, and as the NWSL Challenge Cup continues, what can we expect from Dunn as she wears the Thorns crest for the first time?

She’s a winner. #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/FSIr6kExUu

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

Let’s take a look at Dunn’s stats over her seven-year professional career. Since 2013, the 28-year-old has appeared in 109 matches for the United States women’s national team, logging an impressive 24 goals and 18 assists, winning the 2019 World Cup, and cementing her status as a consistent and reliable contributor on the back line.

In the NWSL, Dunn has lived up to the expectations that come with being a first overall pick. Thorns coach Mark Parsons was coach of the Washington Spirit when they selected Dunn with the top pick in 2014. Dunn has said she’s looked forward to “coming full circle” by reuniting with Parsons in Portland.

Washington Spirit trades #USWNT star Crystal Dunn’s rights for 2 players: https://t.co/Oy4T7JgYHY pic.twitter.com/pZU5jT8N6w

— ABC 7 Sports (@7NewsDCSports) January 17, 2018

In three seasons in North Carolina, Dunn led the Courage to two NWSL championships and two NWSL Shields, contributing 18 goals in 44 appearances. She has had success wherever she’s gone so far in the league, and there’s no reason to think the same won’t be true in Portland.

Our dancing queen that loved to score goals 💃⚽️

Thank you, @crysdunn_19.#NoFinishLine pic.twitter.com/KDYk19CYKs

— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) October 22, 2020

Parsons had high praise for Dunn after the trade became official.

“Crystal is a game-changer, and with her intelligence, dribbling, passing, and finishing ability, she can unlock a game in a split second, while her defensive qualities and work rate make her as impactful off the ball as she is on it,” he said. “She has a winning mentality, a contagious personality full of positivity, and the desire to be her best and make people around her the best.”

If using one adjective to describe Dunn, “versatile” is probably the most constructive. She thrives in a variety of positions on both offense and defense and has demonstrated equally the ability to score and to create chances for teammates. Now teaming up with Christine Sinclair, Lindsey Horan and Rocky Rodríguez in Portland, Dunn’s offensive repertoire will be on full display and the Thorns are in a much better position to win their first NWSL title since 2017.

🔜💭🌹 pic.twitter.com/TAUGdjg6DD

— Crystal Dunn | Soubrier | (@Cdunn19) March 31, 2021

On a call with reporters after the trade, Dunn said she would prefer to assume an attacking role with the Thorns, despite primarily playing defense for the USWNT.

“I did voice to him that I don’t really want to play in the back line,” Dunn said of a conversation with Parsons. “So if he has that idea lined up, I’m like ‘OK, well I’ll deal with it.’ But I think he knows that I definitely want to pursue an attacking role, and I think he can agree with me as well on that.”

Dunn is currently listed as a midfielder on the Thorns roster. Wherever Parsons decides to slot her in the lineup, we can expect to see her name on the scoresheet regularly.

If we’ve learned anything from Dunn’s career, it’s that where she goes, the hardware seems to follow. Portland is certainly banking on it.

The WNBA is back in action on Tuesday night, as the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm headline a series of games that could make or break the current trajectories of several 2025 title contenders.

Seeking an especially strong Tuesday performance is the Fever, as Indiana tries to snap a two-game losing streak against the increasingly confident Storm.

"There are going to be stretches that are really good and there's going to be stretches that aren't as good," Fever guard Caitlin Clark said on Sunday, addressing her recent shooting slump.

While the Indiana and Seattle clash will lead the Tuesday charge, the night will also see young squads sizing up WNBA juggernauts as bottom-table teams look for a leg up:

• No. 8 Indiana Fever vs. No. 5 Seattle Storm, 10 PM ET (NBA TV): The Fever need a win against a Storm side that can't seem to lose, as both teams eye the postseason.

• No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 9 Washington Mystics, 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The up-and-coming Mystics will attempt to hand the Lynx a second season loss, as Minnesota star Napheesa Collier remains day-to-day with lower back stiffness.

• No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 12 Dallas Wings, 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Dream are on a tear, surging up the standings as the struggling Wings attempt to take flight.

• No. 10 LA Sparks vs. No. 11 Chicago Sky, 8 PM ET (NBA TV): The Sparks have cooled after a hot start while the Sky has yet to rev up, with both teams aiming to end a three-game losing streak on Tuesday night.

Teams across the league are hoping to make the most of every minute while also managing injury concerns and absences as the WNBA All-Star break looms.

The WNBA Class of 2025 is already making its mark on the league, with first-year players stepping up and showing out while the Rookie of the Year race — and betting odds — heat up.

No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers has been just as good as advertised, with the Dallas Wings guard leading her class in both minutes played and points per game while also charting league-wide in assists per game, steals per game, and mid-range shots made.

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DraftKings currently has Bueckers as the clear WNBA Rookie of the Year race frontrunner at -1,000, though the dynamic DC duo of guard Sonia Citron (+1,500) and forward Kiki Iriafen (+1,000) are quickly gaining traction.

Iriafen won May's WNBA Rookie of the Month award after a series of career-opening double-doubles, while her Washington Mystics teammate Citron has continued to execute in the clutch — most recently posting a career-high double-double performance of 27 points and 11 rebounds in last Sunday's 91-88 overtime win over Dallas.

"Not only is [Iriafen] holding her own, she's excelling," Citron told JWS earlier this month. "And seeing that is just incredible."

"Soni just does all the little things," Iriafen added. "She doesn't shortcut anything, she's doing the fundamentals, she doesn't cheat the game at all."

Though the NWSL hit the pause button this week, players worldwide are still on the move, as both European and US soccer teams use the midseason break to sharpen their lineups with international signings.

The NWSL has already seen one major departure, with the San Diego Wave announcing Monday that forward María Sánchez will return to her former Liga MX club UANL Tigres after nearly five years in the NWSL, with the Wave set to receive an undisclosed transfer fee in return.

"When the opportunity came to return to Tigres, I had to do a lot of inner searching, and I ultimately decided that returning to Liga MX Femenil and Tigres specifically was the best course of action for my career," the 29-year-old dual citizen and Mexico international player said in the Wave's release.

NWSL clubs are also setting their sights on European free agents, with the Washington Spirit bringing in Juventus forward Sofia Cantore last week — the first Italian signing in league history.

Also hopping aboard the player transaction carousel is new WSL side London City, with the top-flight debutantes inking OL Lyonnes midfielder and Dutch international Daniëlle van de Donk on Friday.

Meanwhile, van de Donk's wife and club teammate Ellie Carpenter is also potentially WSL-bound, with the defender reportedly nearing a deal that would see the Australian join Chelsea FC in return for the Blues sending Canadian international Ashley Lawrence to OL Lyonnes.

For their part, OL Lyonnes picked up defender Ingrid Engen from Barcelona as a free agent last week, adding the Norwegian international after snagging French forward and PSG's all-time leading scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto earlier this month.

With the most recent NWSL CBA abolishing traditional trade windows, expect even more international signings and roster reshufflings before the league resumes play on August 1st.

San Diego is paying tribute to one of their own, with the Wave announcing plans to retire the No. 13 jersey of NWSL and USWNT legend Alex Morgan on September 7th.

Still topping the team's all-time scoring leaderboard with 23 goals in just over two seasons with San Diego, the retired club captain will be the first-ever Wave player to receive the prestigious honor.

Morgan also led San Diego to the 2023 NWSL Shield as well as postseason appearances in the 2022 expansion club's first two seasons.

"Alex's legacy goes far beyond goals and accolades. She helped lay the foundation for this club and elevated the standard for what women's soccer is today," said Wave FC governor Lauren Leichtman in the team's Tuesday announcement.

"She made this city her home, inspired our fans and community, and helped define who we are," Leichtman continued. "Her impact will be felt for generations, and it's only fitting that her number becomes a permanent part of Wave FC history." 

Morgan joined the Southern California squad's ownership group just last month, saying "San Diego is where I've built my home, where I am raising my children, and found a purpose beyond my playing career."

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How to attend the San Diego jersey retirement of Alex Morgan

San Diego will officially retire Morgan's No. 13 jersey during their home match against the Houston Dash at 8 PM ET on September 7th.

Tickets to the game will go on sale to the general public online at 6 PM ET on Tuesday.