Both Toronto FC and Nashville SC have an American defender who has previous connections with their opponents from past MLS experiences. Walker Zimmerman, who joined TFC in January, played six seasons with Nashville SC (2020-25), scoring 16 goals and providing seven assists across 172 appearances. The Lawrenceville, Georgia native netted Nashville’s first-ever MLS goal during their inaugural league match, a 2-1 victory against Atlanta United on February 29, 2020. He later led the Boys in Gold as captain to their first trophy by lifting the 2025 Lamar Hunt U. S. Open Cup. While at Nashville, the U. S. international was honored as MLS Defender of the Year twice (2020, 2021), selected as an MLS All-Star three times (2021, 2022, 2023), and named to the MLS Best XI four times (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). Unfortunately, Zimmerman will be sidelined for Saturday’s match at GEODIS Park due to yellow card accumulation after receiving his fifth caution of the season against St. Louis CITY SC.
On the flip side, Daniel Lovitz was picked 24th overall (second round) by TFC in the 2014 MLS Super Draft after coming from Elon University. The Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania native tallied four assists over his three seasons with Toronto (2014-16) across a total of 47 appearances. Now in his seventh season with the Boys in Gold, Lovitz has contributed two assists in 26 matches this year, including making 18 starts during the ongoing MLS campaign.
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