San Diego Wave FC has threatened legal action against a former employee who accused the NWSL club and its president, former USWNT head coach Jill Ellis, of abusive behavior.
Brittany Alvarado, the Wave’s former video and creative director, posted on X on Wednesday what appears to be a redacted screenshot of an abusive email she received from a “member of senior management,” along with a statement accusing the club of demonstrating “a pattern of deeply harmful behavior.”
San Diego said the club became aware of a “social media post by a former employee containing inaccurate and inflammatory statements about the club” in a statement posted to the club’s X account Wednesday.
“Not only does the message contain a fabricated email, but the allegations contained within are categorically false, including the one directed at our President Jill Ellis,” the statement read. “San Diego Wave FC is currently reviewing this situation and intends to pursue all available legal avenues to resolve this matter appropriately.”
The NWSL also released a statement on the situation: “The safety, health and well-being of everyone associated with our league is our top priority. We take any reports of potential misconduct seriously, engage qualified independent investigators to thoroughly review these allegations, and take action when allegations are supported by the facts uncovered. We have imposed corrective measures in every instance where reports have been substantiated, up to and including the removal of individuals who fail to uphold our values and standards.
“We encourage anyone with information about potential wrongdoing to report this misconduct to the League’s Chief Safety Officer. Individuals can also report this misconduct anonymously through Real Response by texting 872-259-6975.”
In his statement, Alvarado said that “despite its public proclamations, (The Wave) has perpetuated discrimination against women and demonstrated a complete disregard for their long-term mental health.”
Alvarado singled out Ellis, who she said “has no place in this game,” and called on the NWSL to “take immediate action to remove Jill Ellis from the San Diego Wave and the league in its entirety to finally protect the staff and players they have neglected and ignored for far too long.”
“On behalf of myself and my former colleagues, the treatment we endured under Jill Ellis was nothing short of heartbreaking and devastating to our mental health,” Alvarado said. “She sacrificed countless lives to advance her narcissistic personal agenda, fostering an environment where abusive behavior among her subordinates could thrive.”
Alvarado also criticized what she described as the NWSL’s failure to “take meaningful action” to address her complaints about “these pervasive issues” in the past.
“The (NWSL) investigations into these matters were particularly negligent, which further exacerbated the disregard for the well-being of those involved,” Alvarado said.
The allegations come nearly three years after players and former players came forward with numerous accounts of widespread and systemic abuse and sexual misconduct committed against players and staff at multiple teams by their coaches and general managers.
Following the 2021 abuse revelations, US Soccer commissioned the Sally Yates Report, a 300-page document detailing the allegations and recommending actions for the league and US Soccer in the wake of the scandal. Alvarado accused the NWSL of failing to “fully consider and implement” those recommendations.
“Every day of inaction further validates the dangerous illusion that the NWSL has adequately addressed the pervasive problem of abusive leadership,” Alvarado said.
According to the Sally Yates report, former USWNT players informed Jill Ellis of abuse allegations against former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames during his tenure as USWNT head coach from 2014 to 2019. No decisive action was taken to remove him at the time.
Alvarado also posted what she describes as an email she received from a “member of senior management” 10 days after her resignation, as an example of “the exact behaviors and personnel that were consistently encouraged under Jill Ellis’ presidency.” The image appears to characterize Alvarado as “pathetic” and “devoid of any sense of professional ethics or integrity.”
“It is time for accountability and decisive action to safeguard the well-being of everyone involved in this sport,” Alvarado said.
Another former San Diego Wave employee, Jenny Chuang, said she was placed on suicide watch while working as a club photographer for the team in 2022, but said “the people who hurt her no longer work at the Wave.”
“I sought help as my mental health declined rapidly, but was pushed to resign. After a failed attempt, I left to save myself,” Chuang wrote on X. “It breaks my heart that nothing has changed in the past two years.”
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