Former employees of the NWSL’s San Diego Wave have accused the team and its president, the two-time World Cup-winning coach of the U.S. women’s national soccer team. Jill Ellisof fostering an abusive environment within the club, allegations the club 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, “and 75% of them are women.”
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Alvarado’s post went on to allege that the NWSL, which was the focus of investigations alleging abusive workplaces at several of its clubs that concluded in 2022, “turned a blind eye to a pattern of deeply damaging behaviors” at the Wave organization.
The treatment of employees under Ellis, Alvarado wrote, “has been nothing short of transformative and devastating to our mental health,” going on to say that “the league has not fully addressed or implemented the recommendations of the Sally Yates Report and the 2022 NWSLPA Joint Inquiry,” which were designed to curb abuse at NWSL clubs.
In response, Wave posted a statement on its official social media accounts denying the allegations and saying the former employee’s posts contain “inaccurate and defamatory statements about the club” and “a fabricated email.”
The Wave publication said the claims made were “categorically false,” including those directed at Ellis, and that the club “intends to pursue all legal avenues to properly address this matter.”
Alvarado posted what he said was a screenshot of an email from “a high-ranking member of the Wave team” that he received on June 17, 10 days after he resigned from the team. “You are the most pathetic person I have ever met,” the screenshot reads. “We are so excited that you are no longer with the club.”
Three other former Wave employees subsequently went public with their own allegations about abuse they said they experienced or observed while working for the club on Wednesday night, including former senior communications manager Bernadette O’Donnell, who said she was fired after reporting to management about the “unhealthy work environment” and her concerns for her own mental health.
That’s all I can say, but please know that NWSL employees deserve protection and security, and we deserve to be believed.
– Former Senior Communications Manager for San Diego Wave FC (June 2022 – October 2023) image.twitter.com/hPIsR1Oh43
— Bernadette O’Donnell (@odonnell_bern) July 4, 2024
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 each and every report of potential misconduct seriously, engage qualified independent investigators to thoroughly review those allegations, and act when allegations are supported by the facts uncovered. We have mandated corrective action in all cases where reports have been substantiated, including the expulsion of individuals who do not live up to our values and standards.”
The league also encouraged anyone with information about possible wrongdoing to contact the league’s security officer or report it through an anonymous tip line.
This year, Lauren Leichtman and her husband Arthur Levine, partners at Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, purchased The Wave from billionaire Ron Burkle in a deal that values the club at $113 million. Burkle paid a $2 million expansion fee when The Wave joined the NWSL in 2021.
As first reported in SportsLeichtman 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 concludes in November.
Entering this season, the Wave had been viewed as a model franchise, with the league’s second-highest revenue, a National Soccer Hall of Famer in Ellis leading the front office and a popular coach in Casey Stoney, who guided the team to the NWSL Shield (for 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 amid a seven-game losing streak.
The allegations rocked the women’s football community, with Wave star Alex Morganwho won two World Cups playing for Ellis on the U.S. women’s national team, posted on X: “I’m disappointed to hear about the allegations made by several former Wave FC employees today,” adding: “I want to be proud of what we’re building at Wave, but it’s clear there’s a lot of work to do.”
I am disappointed to hear the allegations made today by several former Wave FC employees.
As players, we have worked hard to build a team that is surrounded by an inclusive, positive and safe environment.
But it is important to me that we create that environment for…
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) July 4, 2024
Fellow USWNT player Sydney Leroux also publicly supported Alvarado on X.
It is the courage of a person who begins to tell his story in the hope that more people will feel comfortable enough to tell theirs one day. We are with you. @bavacado2.
— Sydney Leroux (@sydneyleroux) July 3, 2024
The Wave will play their next regular-season game against the Thorns in Portland on Friday at 10 p.m. ET.
With the help of Luke Cyphers.
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