The San Diego Wave issued a denial on Wednesday after a former employee publicly accused club president and former USWNT coach Jill Ellis of “life-altering and devastating” abuse.
Earlier Wednesday, the former employee posted a statement on social media that detailed the alleged mistreatment, writing: "The organization often perpetuated discrimination against women and demonstrated a complete disregard for their long-term mental health."
Brittany Alvarado, a former Wave video and creative manager, also specifically referenced Ellis, writing: "On behalf of myself and my former colleagues, the treatment we endured under club President Jill Ellis has been nothing short of life-altering and devastating to our mental health. She has compromised countless lives to advance her narcissistic personal agenda, fostering an environment where abusive behaviors among her subordinates are allowed to flourish."
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the Wave said it was "reviewing this situation" and claimed that the accusations "are categorically false, including the ones directed at our president, Jill Ellis."
By Wednesday night, numerous active NWSL players had commented about the story.
USWNT legend and current Wave player Alex Morgan responded to the news with a social media post, writing in part: “I am disappointed to hear about the allegations made by multiple former Wave FC employees today …. it’s important to me that we are creating that environment for both players AND staff throughout the entire organization. … 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.”
World Cup winner and Angel City forward Sydney Leroux also commented on social media, posting “You feel crazy because you don’t feel believed and you question yourself because you’re going against what we’ve always known and that is to stay quiet. Except when one person speaks their truth you realize that it’s yours too.”
Earlier Wednesday, Pro Soccer Wire reported that it reached out to the NWSL for comment, and a league spokesperson provided the following response:
“The safety, health, and well-being of everyone associated with our league is our highest priority. We 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. We have mandated corrective action in every instance where reports have been corroborated, up to and including the removal of individuals who do not live up to our values and standards.”
After Alvarado's accusations, two additional former employees came 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 issues within the NWSL regarding accountability, player safety, and a system that failed to address player complaints.