USWNT and Portland Thorns defender Crystal Dunn is the 2021 Concacaf women’s player of the year.

A key piece of the U.S. Olympic team that won bronze in Tokyo, she started in all six matches and earned a spot in the tournament’s Best XI. She also helped the USWNT to its fourth SheBelieves title at the 2021 SheBelieves Cup.

At the club level, Dunn helped the Thorns to the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, the 2021 International Champions Cup and the 2021 NWSL Shield. She started in 12 of 15 matches played for the Thorns, scoring one goal and completing 377 of 504 passes.

What a year for Crystal Dunn ✨ Congrats to @Cdunn19 for being named the 2021 Concacaf Women's Player of the Year!@concacafw | #ConcacafAwards pic.twitter.com/mkmM9z29Ee

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) April 5, 2022

“I really was so surprised that I won this,” Dunn, who was visibly shocked at winning, said. “I’m here to let other women who look like me know that their dreams matter and their dreams are achievable.

“Now, about to be a mom, I’m all about chasing new perspectives and evolving myself as a person and a player.”

Dunn is currently on leave from soccer as she is expecting her first child with husband Pierre Soubrier in May.

The world No. 1 USWNT earned another lopsided result against No. 25 Ireland on Sunday, handing the Girls in Green a second straight 4-0 loss despite extensive lineup changes on both sides.

Veteran forward Lynn Biyendolo opened the scoring in her first match as USWNT captain, followed by first-ever senior team goals from both debutant defender Izzy Rodriguez and attacker Yazmeen Ryan.

Second-half USWNT sub Alyssa Thompson found the back of the net in the 86th minute to finish padding the 4-0 scoreline over Ireland.

With one more friendly against No. 8 Canada set for Wednesday, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes rotated all 11 starters on Sunday, trusting bubble players to overcome inexperience to produce a result.

"The level has been set to be relentless in the pursuit of performing and progressing," Hayes said after the game. "It's not about understanding everything in our playbook, but developing the confidence and bravery to deliver."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

The victory also marked the USWNT's 600th program win, with midfielder Sam Meza joining Rodriguez in picking up the 23rd and 24th first caps of the Emma Hayes era.

"I feel like everyone is not only trusting the process, but carrying out all the things we ask them to do," said Hayes of her new additions. "Everybody showed themselves so well."

Though the US keeps stretching its depth and coming out on top, the need to develop strong connections on the pitch could force tough roster decisions in the future.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Canada on Wednesday

The USWNT will cap their three-friendly summer break against rivals Canada on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET.

Live coverage of the clash in Washington, DC, will air on TNT.

The WNBA made a splash on Monday morning, announcing an expansion plan that will see the league officially grow to 18 teams by 2030, with new franchises joining from Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

Subject to approval by the WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors, the league expects to add Cleveland in 2028, with Detroit following in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.

With existing NBA ownership groups backing all three cities, the league chose the trio because of "market viability, committed long-term ownership groups, potential for significant local fan, corporate, media, and city and state support, arena and practice facilities, and community commitment to advancing the sport, among other factors."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Notably, while Monday's news will bring a WNBA team to Philadelphia for the first time, the announcement represents a return for the league to both Cleveland and Detroit.

The Ohio city hosted one of the league's inaugural teams, the Rockers, from 1997 to 2003, while the Detroit Shock joined the WNBA in 1998, eventually relocating to Tulsa in 2010 before becoming the Dallas Wings in 2016.

Monday's WNBA expansion plan also follows the already announced incoming teams in Toronto and Portland, both set to tip off next season, as well as 2025 newcomer Golden State.

Each of the three incoming clubs in Monday's announcement paid a $250 million expansion fee — five times the $50 million that Golden State paid in October 2023.

"This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball," said commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "I am deeply grateful for our new owners… for their belief in the WNBA's future and their commitment to building thriving teams that will energize and inspire their communities."

Women's sports came up big in last week's 2025 ESPY Awards nominations, as superstars like WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, USWNT attacker Mallory Swanson, US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, and others vie for the annual honors.

The Las Vegas Aces forward earned spots on the shortlists for both Best WNBA Player as well as Best Athlete: Women's Sports, where she's up against Biles plus US track and field icons Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will also compete for Best WNBA Player alongside Wilson, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, with Clark also topping the Best Record-Breaking Performance shortlist.

Women's soccer also stole the spotlight, with the USWNT earning a Best Team nod while forward Mallory Swanson nabbed Best Comeback. Fellow Triple Espresso star Trinity Rodman's Olympic quarterfinal overtime goal also snagged a nomination for Best Play.

Dating back to 1993, the ESPYS recognize the most impactful sports stories of the year, including Best Player, Best Comeback, and Best Team.

This year's women's sports nominees feature several 2024 winners, including Clark (Best College Athlete, Best Record Breaking Performance), Biles (Best Comeback Athlete), and Wilson (Best Women's Sports Athlete, Best WNBA Player).

Individual women and women's teams across the sports world will be on hand when the awards hit the red carpet later this month, with the likes of US rugby star Ilona Maher, US gymnast Suni Lee, golfer Nelly Korda, US ski legend Lindsey Vonn, NCAA basketball standout JuJu Watkins, and tennis icons Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka among the 2025 nominees.

How to watch and vote for the 2025 ESPY Awards

The 2025 ESPY Awards will kick off on July 16th at 8 PM ET, airing on ABC.

Fan voting for the awards will close three hours before the start of the ceremony.

Reigning back-to-back Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí will soon re-join her Spain teammates at their 2025 Euro training camp, with doctors discharging the star midfielder on Sunday after a brief hospitalization for viral meningitis.

Calling the 27-year-old "a very important player for us," Spain manager Montse Tomé told media on Friday that "The word is definitely scary, but the doctor tells me it is under control."

"Thanks to everyone for the messages I've received and to those who have helped me these past few days," Bonmatí posted to social media. "Fortunately, everything is going well. I hope to be back soon."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

The reigning World Cup champions are still hunting their first-ever Euro title, with national team feeder clubs like FC Barcelona poised to cash in on participating players.

Last week, UEFA upped its club benefits program budget to €9 million ($10.6 million) following a recommendation from the European Club Association — a full doubling of the €4.5 million ($5.3 million) paid to clubs sending players to the 2022 summer tournament.

Under the program, Euro athletes' home clubs will be compensated a daily rate of €985 ($1,159) for releasing the player for the during of the tournament.

With training camp preparation days, clubs across Europe will receive between €19,700 ($23,186) and €36,445 ($42,894) for each player competing at the 2025 Euro, depending on how deep a run that athlete's national team makes in the July competition.

For Bonmatí's home club Barcelona, which sent 18 players to represent eight of the tournament's 16 teams — nearly their entire roster and more than any other club — that means a minimum club payday of €354,600 ($417,346) with a ceiling likely surpassing €600,000 ($706,000).