The San Diego Wave have lost their first match since explosive allegations surfaced that team president and former USWNT coach Jill Ellis fostered an “abusive environment” at the NWSL franchise.
Alex Morgan and her teammates fell 1-0 to the Portland Thorns on Friday thanks to Izzy D’Aquila’s dramatic 85th-minute game-winner.
This made for a complicated week for Wave after Ellis was accused by a former camera operator on the crew of “fostering an environment where abusive behavior is allowed to flourish among her subordinates.”
Brittany Alvarado, who said she is the team’s former video and creative manager, called on the NWSL to remove team president Ellis from her position.
She cited a poor work environment that was discriminatory and affected her mental health in a Long post on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Alex Morgan and her teammates fell 1-0 to the Portland Thorns on Friday night.
Forward Maria Sanchez walks away from Reyna Reyes at Providence Park
The Wave responded with a statement saying the team “has been made aware of a recent social media post made by a former employee containing inaccurate and defamatory statements about the club.”
The Wave went on to say that they were investigating Possible legal avenues available to address the matter.
“Jill Ellis has no place in this game and has been excused for far too long,” Alvarado wrote of the English-born executive, who won two World Cups with Team USA during her celebrated run on the sidelines.
Alvarado doesn’t blame Ellis for everything he says he’s endured, but he does believe Ellis has been the driving force behind the team’s rampant rotation since its inaugural 2021 season.
“Since the team’s creation, more than 30 employees have been fired or resigned, and almost 75 percent of them are women, highlighting the deep problems within the club,” Alvarado said in her post on X.
“Unfortunately, many of these employees are hesitant to speak publicly about their experiences, reflecting the widespread fear surrounding these issues.”
Alvarado shared an alleged example, though not one that directly involved Ellis.
Brittany Alvarado (pictured) made her announcement on social media on Wednesday
Ellis won two World Cups with the U.S. National Team before moving to the Wave of the NWSL.
Instead, Alvarado shared a brief email she said was sent to her by a member of the team’s senior management in the wake of her recent resignation.
“You are the most pathetic person I have ever met,” read the email marked 6-17. “You must have no sense of work ethic or integrity. We are so thrilled that you are no longer with the club.”
The team insists that this email was fabricated.
“Not only does the post contain a fabricated email, but the claims it contains are categorically false, including those directed at our president Jill Ellis,” a club spokeswoman said in a statement.
Team captain Alex Morgan later took to social media with a statement of her own.
“I am disappointed to hear the allegations made today by several former Wave FC employees,” Morgan wrote on X.
Alvarado believes Ellis has been the driving force behind the team’s rampant personnel turnover.
‘As players, we have worked hard to build a team that is surrounded by an inclusive, positive and safe environment.
“But it’s important to me that we create that environment for both players and staff across the organization. Fairness in the workplace is something I have championed and will continue to champion.
“I want to be proud of what we’re building at Wave, but it’s clear there’s a lot of work to do.”
