A Look at Crystal Dunn’s Favorite Soccer Legends and Their Inspiration on Her Playstyle

Crystal Dunn is one of the most versatile and dynamic players in the history of women’s soccer. A World Cup winner, Olympic gold medalist, and NWSL champion, the 5-foot-1 dynamo has defied size stereotypes and positional pigeonholing throughout her career. Whether deployed as a left back, winger, attacking midfielder, or forward, Dunn’s relentless energy, tactical intelligence, and technical skill make her a nightmare for opponents and a joy for teammates.

Dunn’s unique style didn’t develop in a vacuum. She has frequently credited a select group of American soccer icons with shaping her approach to the game. These legends provided not only inspiration but also concrete templates for how to compete at the highest level. By examining how Dunn absorbed and adapted traits from her idols, we can better understand the foundation of her bold, fearless playstyle.

Below, we dive deep into the specific legends Dunn admires, the exact attributes she borrows from each, and how those influences manifest in her performances for club and country.

The Core Legends in Crystal Dunn’s Pantheon

Abby Wambach – The Relentless Goal Scorer

No list of Dunn’s idols is complete without Abby Wambach. The all-time leading international scorer (until Cristiano Ronaldo eclipsed her marks on the men’s side) and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Wambach was the ultimate big-game player. Dunn has noted that Wambach’s never-say-die attitude and willingness to physically impose herself on defenders directly influenced her own attacking mentality.

Wambach’s aerial dominance might seem an odd fit for a player Dunn’s height, but Dunn took the lesson not in jumping technique but in intentionality. Wambach didn’t just try to get to the ball—she willed herself into scoring positions. Dunn employs that same mentality when making runs into the box from her wide or deep positions. She times her movements to arrive at the precise moment the ball arrives, using body positioning and surprise to defeat taller defenders.

Key Dunn example: Watch her goal against Sweden in the 2019 World Cup quarterfinal. Starting from the left wing, Dunn exploded into the box at the far post, lost her marker with a sharp cut, and slotted home a left-footed finish. Her movement screamed Wambach: decisive, late, and ruthless.

Mia Hamm – The Creative Playmaker

Mia Hamm, the face of women’s soccer during the 1999 World Cup run, is another cornerstone of Dunn’s inspiration. Hamm’s technical gifts—first touch, close control, vision, and ability to switch play with a single pass—are qualities Dunn has expressly tried to emulate. Hamm didn’t rely on raw speed alone; she read the game two steps ahead, constantly scanning for gaps to exploit.

Dunn channels Hamm most clearly when she drifts into central areas. As a left back under Vlatko Andonovski, Dunn often vacated the flank to combine with midfielders, mimicking Hamm’s role as a roaming forward. Her ability to take a pass under pressure, turn, and find a runner is a direct reflection of Hamm’s playmaking DNA. Dunn also excels at playing inside the lines, using deception to create space for herself and others.

Stat to note: In the 2019 NWSL season, Dunn created 42 chances from open play, more than any other defender in the league. Her technical foundation, built in part on Hamm’s example, allows her to execute those line-breaking passes.

Kristine Lilly – The Workhorse

If any single player embodied the term “two-way player” before it became fashionable, it was Kristine Lilly. With 352 international caps (the most in USWNT history), Lilly’s career was a monument to durability and discipline. Her ability to track back defensively, win tackles, and then burst forward again set a standard for midfielders and wingers alike.

Dunn has frequently mentioned Lilly’s stamina as a model for her own game. Unlike many attacking players who conserve energy, Dunn presses relentlessly from the first whistle to the last. Her work rate is a tactical weapon: opponents know they cannot rest when she is on the field. Dunn covers more ground per 90 minutes than almost any other player in the NWSL, regularly exceeding 11 kilometers.

How it shows: In the 2021 SheBelieves Cup, Dunn made 12 ball recoveries in a single half against Argentina, many of them high up the pitch. That kind of pressing requires the same obsessive conditioning that Lilly displayed throughout her career.

Hope Solo – The Defensive General

Though a goalkeeper, Hope Solo’s impact on Dunn’s style is perhaps the most surprising but deeply influential. Solo’s dominance in goal came from her commanding presence—her voice organized the backline, her timing on crosses eliminated danger, and her refusal to be intimidated set a tone for the entire team.

Dunn has cited Solo’s leadership as a reason she feels comfortable directing traffic from the left back position. Even when playing as a defender, Dunn is not silent. She constantly communicates with her central defenders, midfielders, and goalkeeper, organizing shape and calling out switches. That vocal authority came directly from watching Solo seize control of her penalty area.

Real-time example: In the 2015 World Cup final, Dunn shifted from midfield to left back after an injury. Despite being repositioned mid-game, she directed defensive rotations with confidence. That adaptability and composure trace back to Solo’s insistence on owning your role.

How These Legends Blend Into Dunn’s Playstyle

Crystal Dunn’s genius lies in her ability to synthesize these disparate influences into a coherent, devastating style. She doesn’t simply copy one trait from each legend; she combines them in ways that create new dimensions on the field.

From Wambach: Dunn gets the attacking aggression and goal-scoring instinct. She is always a threat in the final third, even when playing as a defender. In the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, she scored two goals as a fullback, making late runs that left defenders flat-footed.

From Hamm: Dunn borrows the creativity and technical freedom. Her dribbling in tight spaces and her ability to play line-breaking passes are Hamm-esque. On the national team, she often pulls the ball back from the byline to pick out runners—a signature Hamm move.

From Lilly: Dunn internalized the work ethic and two-way commitment. She understands that attacking freedom requires defensive responsibility. She averages over 5 tackles per game in the NWSL and regularly leads her team in interceptions.

From Solo: Dunn adopted the commanding presence. She calls out instructions, organizes set pieces, and exudes confidence that elevates teammates. Her mental toughness in big moments—calm under pressure, quick to rebound from mistakes—is Solo’s gift.

This blend is what makes Dunn positionless. She can start as a winger, drop into midfield, cover at fullback, or even play as a false nine. Each legend’s influence equips her with a different tool for a different job.

The Evolution of Dunn’s Multirole Career

College and Early NWSL – The Attacking Discovery

At the University of North Carolina, Dunn was a forward. She won the Hermann Trophy in 2014 after scoring 19 goals and 10 assists. Her game was raw speed and directness—pure Wambach-style attack. She ran at defenders, took them on 1-v-1, and finished with power.

The influence: Wambach’s attacking template gave Dunn the confidence to demand the ball in dangerous areas. Even as a young player, she believed she belonged in the box.

International Rise – Adapting to Need

When Dunn joined the senior USWNT, coach Jill Ellis faced a surplus of attackers. Instead of waiting, Dunn embraced a new role: left back. It was a stark shift. She had to learn defensive positioning, recover runs, and how to handle elite wingers. This is where Lilly’s work ethic kicked in. Dunn studied hours of film, did extra defensive drills, and absorbed the positional discipline of a fullback.

The influence: Lilly’s tenacity and Solo’s organizational skills helped Dunn thrive despite being uncomfortable. She didn’t just survive—she became one of the best left backs in the world. In the 2019 World Cup, she was named to the tournament’s Best XI at the position.

Club Dominance – The Complete Player

At the NWSL level, Dunn has played every position except center back and goalkeeper. For the Washington Spirit (2015–2019) and later the Portland Thorns (2021–2023), she was deployed as a winger, attacking mid, and even target forward. Her ability to switch between creative playmaker and direct goal scorer mirrors Hamm’s flexibility. Dunn’s 2021 NWSL MVP season saw her lead the league in goals, assists, and chances created—a stat line that recalls Hamm’s prime.

The influence: Hamm’s versatility allowed Dunn to see the field not as a linear role but as a canvas where she could paint different pictures depending on the match state.

Dunn’s Own Advice to the Next Generation

In interviews, Dunn often tells young players not to limit themselves by position. “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do because of your size or your starting position,” she said in a 2020 feature. “Watch legends like Abby, Mia, Kristine, and Hope—they didn’t fit a mold. They created new ones.”

This philosophy is a direct inheritance from her idols. Wambach overcame being written off after college; Hamm battled doubters who said she was too small; Lilly played 23 seasons without losing her competitive fire; Solo faced personal and professional adversity with unshakable belief. Dunn sees each of these stories as permission to be audacious.

Conclusion

Crystal Dunn’s favorite soccer legends are not just names on a poster—they are blueprints for a career that defies categorization. Abby Wambach gave her the belief to attack with abandon; Mia Hamm taught her the artistry of playmaking; Kristine Lilly drilled the importance of never stopping; Hope Solo showed her how to command a backline and a team.

Together, these influences have produced one of the most complete and adaptable players the women’s game has ever seen. Dunn’s legacy will likely inspire the next generation just as her idols inspired her. By studying how she weaves together their strengths, aspiring players can learn that greatness is not about copying one hero—it is about assembling a mosaic of lessons into something uniquely your own.