Former San Diego Wave employee Brittany Alvarado alleged a pattern of abusive behavior by club president Jill Ellis in a social media post Wednesday.
The team denied the allegations in a statement, calling them “inaccurate and defamatory,” and defended the former U.S. women's national team coach.
Alvarado denounced “devastating” impacts on her and other employees' mental health and said Ellis “has no place in this game.”
“Ellis' actions have changed my life,” wrote Alvarado, a former video and creative manager at The Wave. “She prioritizes personal gain over the well-being of employees, fostering an environment that allows for abusive behavior.”
The Wave said Alvarado's allegations against the team and Ellis are “categorically false.”
“San Diego Wave FC has been made aware of a recent social media post made by a former employee containing inaccurate and defamatory statements about the club,” the team's statement read.
“The claims made there are categorically false, including those directed at our president Jill Ellis.”
Alvarado said in his post that he moved from Charlotte to San Diego last year to work for the Wave's coaching staff under Casey Stone, who was fired June 24 amid a seven-game winless streak.
Alvarado further alleged that the Wave masks its public image while perpetuating “discrimination against women” and claimed that nearly 75% of the more than 30 employees who have left the club since its inaugural season in 2022 were women.
San Diego added in its statement that it intends to pursue “all legal avenues to address this matter.”
Wave captain Alex Morgan took to social media to express her disappointment at the allegations against the club. She affirmed the importance of fostering “an inclusive, positive and safe environment for all players and staff.”
Following Alvarado's allegations of misconduct, two other former employees have come forward with similar claims on social media.
An investigation commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2022 and led by former deputy attorney general Sally Yates exposed problems within the NWSL regarding accountability, player safety and a system that failed to address player complaints.
