Where we left off last year
2025 season: 54 points, 6th in the Eastern Conference, 11th in MLS
Last year ended, of course, with Inter Miami in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. It's always Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami. They joined the league together. It feels like they play every week. I expect both clubs will be launched into the sun together at some point in the 28th century.
Bowing out in the postseason to the eventual champs is nothing for Nashville to hang their heads about, especially not when you consider how big of a slam dunk the rest of their 2025 was. They won the U.S. Open Cup, beating Austin FC on the road. They played a completely different — and more effective — style in BJ Callaghan's first full year at the helm, one that unlocked their Designated Players enough to do real damage. And they made themselves an attractive enough destination to attract some of the league's best talent. Last year was an unequivocal success.
What changed in the offseason
Notable arrivals:
- Cristian Espinoza, RW: Speaking of attracting some of the league’s best talent, Espinoza signed as a DP in Nashville over the winter. The former San Jose Earthquake, who only was available as a free agent because the Quakes forgot to pick up his option, was, perhaps, the best player in this year’s class. The Argentine averaged 14 goal contributions across his seven seasons on a bad San Jose team. Just what could he do as the right-sided midfielder in a clever Nashville team? The club’s top brass are eagerly awaiting an answer to that question.
- Maxwell Woledzi, CB: Nashville’s third signing from the Norwegian top-flight after Eddie Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek, Woledzi joins to help fill Walker Zimmerman’s shoes in the middle of the backline. He should be in line for major minutes in defense.
