San Diego Wave denies allegations of workplace violence under Jill Ellis

Former employees of the NWSL's San Diego Wave have accused the team and its president, Jill Ellis, the coach of the two-time world champion U.S. women's national soccer team, of fostering an abusive environment within the club, allegations the club has denied.

In a social media post Wednesday, former club videographer Brittany Alvarado wrote that “over 30 employees have been laid off or resigned” since the team's inception ahead of the 2022 NWSL season, “75% of whom are women.”

Alvarado's post went on to allege that the NWSL, which was at the center of investigations alleging workplace abuse at several of its clubs that ended in 2022, “turned a blind eye to a pattern of deeply damaging behavior” within the Wave organization.

The treatment of employees under Ellis, Alvarado wrote, “has been nothing short of heartbreaking and devastating to our mental health,” going on to say that “the league has failed to fully address and implement the recommendations of the Sally Yates Report and the 2022 NWSLPA Joint Investigation,” which were aimed at curbing abuse at NWSL clubs.

In response, the Wave released a statement on its official social media accounts denying the allegations, saying the former employee's posts contain “inaccurate and defamatory statements about the club” and “a fabricated email.”

The Wave said the allegations were “categorically false,” including those directed at Ellis, and that the club “intends to pursue all legal avenues to resolve this matter appropriately.”

Alvarado posted what she said was a screenshot of an email from a “senior executive” at the Wave that she received on June 17, 10 days after she resigned from the team. “You are the most pathetic person I have ever met,” the screenshot read. “We are glad you are no longer part of the club.”

Three other former Wave employees later came forward with their own allegations about abuse they said they experienced or witnessed while working at the club on Wednesday night, including former senior communications manager Bernadette O'Donnell, who said she was fired after she informed management of the “unhealthy work environment” and concerns for her own mental health.

The NWSL released a statement Wednesday saying: “The safety, health and well-being of everyone associated with our league is our top priority. We take all reports of potential misconduct seriously, engage qualified independent investigators to thoroughly review these allegations, and take action when allegations are supported by the facts discovered. We have imposed corrective action in all cases where reports have been substantiated, up to and including the termination of individuals who fail to uphold our values ​​and standards.”

The league also encouraged anyone with information about potential wrongdoing to contact the league's chief security officer or report it through an anonymous hotline.

The Wave was purchased this year by Lauren Leichtman and her husband Arthur Levine, partners at Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, from billionaire Ron Burkle in a deal that valued the club at $113 million. Burkle paid a $2 million expansion fee when the Wave joined the NWSL in 2021.

As first reported in SporticoLeichtman and Levine paid $35 million for 35 percent of the club in March, with an agreement to buy the remainder for $78 million after this season ends in November.

Coming into this season, the Wave were considered a model franchise, with the league's second-highest revenue, a National Soccer Hall of Famer in Ellis at the helm and a popular coach in Casey Stoney, who guided the team to the NWSL Shield (for the club's best regular-season record in 2023), back-to-back NWSL Playoff semifinal appearances in the club's first two seasons and the NWSL Challenge Cup earlier this year.

But Stoney was fired last month after a seven-game losing streak.

The allegations have caused a stir in the women's soccer community. Wave star Alex Morgan, who won two World Cups while playing for Ellis on the USWNT, posted on X: “I am disappointed to hear about the allegations made today by several former Wave FC employees,” adding: “I want to be proud of what we are building at Wave, but it is clear that there is still much work to be done.”

Fellow USWNT player Sydney Leroux also publicly supported Alvarado on X.

The Wave will play their next regular season game against the Thorns in Portland on Friday at 10 p.m. ET.

With help from Luke Cyphers.