San Diego Wave denies toxic-workplace allegations by former employees
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San Diego Wave president Jill Ellis has been criticized by former employees. Photo: Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images
Multiple former San Diego Wave FC employees on Wednesday alleged on social media that club president Jill Ellis cultivated a toxic work environment. The club denied the allegations in a statement, calling them "inaccurate and defamatory … [and] categorically false."
Why it matters: The employees' viral post claims the organization "perpetuated discrimination against women and demonstrated complete disregard for their long-term mental health" while calling for the NWSL to remove Ellis, a former U.S. Women's National Team coach.
The latest: The team is not currently investigating these allegations, but an "independent third-party evaluation" of the workplace over three months this year found no wrongdoings by the club, according to a league source.
- However, an internal investigation is not off the table if findings merit one, the source said.
- The club said it is pursuing legal avenues to address the matter but did not share details.
Zoom in: Brittany Alvarado, a videographer and creative manager who resigned from the Wave in June, posted a lengthy statement saying the treatment employees endure under Ellis is "nothing short of life-altering and devastating to our mental health."
- She wrote that Ellis has fostered "an environment where abusive behaviors among her subordinates are allowed to flourish."
- At least three other former Wave employees supported Alvarado and posted similar allegations on social media, The Union-Tribune reported.
- Alvarado alleged that more than 30 employees, mostly women, have been fired or quit since the club was founded in 2021, "underscoring deep issues within the club."
The intrigue: Alvarado posted a screenshot of an email she claimed was sent from a "senior leadership member" that called her "pathetic" following her resignation.
- The club said in its statement that the email was fabricated.
- A league source explained it came from a fraudulent Hotmail account portrayed as an official Wave account that's been used to harass the club in recent weeks, including sending the NWSL commissioner a fake letter of resignation from a current employee.
The other side: "When allegations of mistreatment have been made, we have taken them seriously and investigated them thoroughly," Ellis said in an emailed statement to Axios, noting outside evaluations have not found any wrongdoing. She called these accusations "false" and "personally damaging."
- She also said mental health is a priority for the Wave, which has employee assistance programs to help those who need it.
- The NWSL also issued a statement saying they "take serious any and every report of potential misconduct, hire qualified independent investigators to review those allegations thoroughly, and act when allegations are supported by the facts uncovered."
The big picture: NWSL clubs and the league itself have come under fire for cultural and systemic issues perpetuating misconduct, with investigative reports detailing unhealthy and abusive work environments for players.
What they're saying: Wave forward and USWNT star Alex Morgan, who's been a champion of player rights and an advocate for workplace equity, posted on X, saying she was disappointed to hear about the allegations and that it's important that players and staff are surrounded by "an inclusive, positive and safe environment."
- "I want to be proud of what we are building at the Wave but it is clear that there is so much work to be done," she wrote.
What's next: The Wave visit the Portland Thorns at 7pm Friday.