'I didn't feel valued' - USWNT star Crystal Dunn admits Portland Thorns exit brought her 'peace' after sealing huge transfer to NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC

The USWNT veteran was unveiled as a NJ/NY Gotham FC player on New Year's Eve after signing a contract through to 2026. Dunn left the Portland Thorns in November, days after they were beaten by Gotham in the NWSL play-off semi-finals. Now, the 31-year-old has revealed why she decided not to renew her contract with the Oregon-based side.

In an interview with Pro Soccer Wire, Dunn said: "I won’t get into the weeds but, I basically found myself in a place where I just didn’t feel valued the way that I truly deserve to be valued. Life has a funny way of just kind of throwing things at you, and you just adapt."

Dunn added: "I felt very fortunate that free agency came when it did, because I was ready. At the end of the day, it’s really about finding comfort in a place that you want to be. Once the decision was made that I just am going to move on from Portland, to me, I was just at such peace. I’m just happy that I can call New York my home again."

Despite her desire to leave Portland, Dunn admitted it wasn't easy saying goodbye to her teammates. "I frickin’ love my teammates to death. I mean, I shed some tears with them. Sophia Smith and Kelli Hubly, all these players that I’ve actually truly enjoyed playing with, it wasn’t easy to say goodbye to them, but I think that they support me and they support my family and they support the decision that I needed to make."

Signing Dunn represents a major coup for the reigning NWSL champions. The three-time NWSL and 2019 World Cup winner was reportedly offered $400,000 per season to join Orlando Pride, but instead chose to return to her hometown with Gotham.

Dunn and her family will move to New York, and with the 2024 NWSL season not due to start until March 16, she has plenty of time to bed-in with her new team.