---
title: Women Behind the Scenes Drive Nashville SC’s Success
description: Nashville SC’s female support staff, led by Sydney Gray and Brie Cecil, drives player success while breaking barriers in MLS and inspiring women in sports.
image: https://blog.healthyroster.com/hubfs/Athletic%20Training%20And%20Sports%20Medicine%20News-1.jpg
---

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 June 23, 2026

# Women Behind the Scenes Drive Nashville SC’s Success

![Picture of Tim Clark](https://blog.healthyroster.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tim%20Clark.jpg?width=50&name=Tim%20Clark.jpg) By  [ Tim Clark ](https://blog.healthyroster.com/blog/author/tim-clark)  ·   1 minute read

![Articles for Athletic Trainers and News Stories](https://blog.healthyroster.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Athletic%20Training%20News%20and%20Articles%20-%20Small.png?width=500&height=150&name=Athletic%20Training%20News%20and%20Articles%20-%20Small.png)For International Women's Day, we got a story from the Nashville Soccer Club! Why? Because Nashville SC’s strength on the field is powered by the dedication of the women off it! 

With a female-led support staff, the club is breaking barriers in Major League Soccer, proving that success is built through trust, expertise, and hard work.

Sydney Gray, one of only three female head Athletic Trainers in MLS, is always on her feet to keep the players on theirs.

*“Supporting an athlete mentally, physically, emotionally — all of those pieces go into what an Athletic Trainer does,” Gray said.*

Her passion for the profession started with personal experience.

*“I played soccer my whole life, tore my ACL, went through a bunch of rehab,” she recalled. “We didn’t even have an Athletic Trainer on staff. They only covered football games, and that’s when the dream started.”*

Brie Cecil shares a similar journey. A former player herself, she now serves as Nashville SC’s performance dietitian, ensuring players fuel their bodies for peak performance.

*“Knowing what it feels like after a game day for recovery and what they need before makes a difference,” Cecil said.*

At the team’s kitchen, she works closely with chefs to tailor meals to athletes' needs.

*“One thing we’ve incorporated this year is mixing in the vegetables,” Cecil said. “That way, when we provide them lunch, it’s like, ‘This is what you’re getting,’ instead of, ‘This is an option.’”*

Their impact doesn’t go unnoticed.

*“We’re very lucky to have both of them,” defender Dan Lovitz said. “It’s great to see them every day and to know that they’re here for us and to help us reach our maximum potential.”*

For Gray and Cecil, it’s about paving the way for others.

“I want girls to know they can get into any male-dominated sport,” Cecil said. “To not be afraid.”

Watch the YouTube video [here](https://youtu.be/pWm8HZWkTIA)! 

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