Former San Diego Wave employee Brittany Alvarado has accused team president Jill Ellis of creating an environment that is “devastating” to employees’ mental health.
Alvarado, who served as the club’s video creative manager, released a statement on Wednesday. Via X So she filed charges against the organization and the former two-time World Cup-winning U.S. women’s national team coach.
“Despite its public declarations, the organization frequently continues to discriminate against women and has demonstrated a complete disregard for women’s long-term mental health,” Alvarado wrote.
“Despite my unwavering commitment to my work and women’s football, I found myself trapped in an environment where my mental wellbeing was being relentlessly undermined. It has become clear, with the difficult decision, that in order to protect my wellbeing I have no choice but to step away from my dream job at Wave FC.”
“Speaking for myself and my former colleagues, the treatment we received under club chairman Jill Ellis was truly life-changing and had a devastating impact on our mental health,” she added.
Alvarado, who started working at the club in March 2023, claimed that of the more than 30 employees who were fired or quit after the inaugural 2022 season, about 75% were women.
She also claimed that Ellis has “no place in this game.”
“She prioritized her personal gain over the well-being of her employees and fostered an environment that condoned abusive behavior,” Alvarado wrote.
The Wave quickly denied the allegations, Statements on social media accountsdefended the former head coach of the U.S. women’s national soccer team.
“San Diego FC is aware of recent social media posts by a former employee that contain inaccurate and derogatory statements about the club.
“Not only does this post contain fabricated emails, but the claims within it, including those directed at Chancellor Jill Ellis, are completely false.”
The club added that it is “currently reviewing the situation” and will pursue “all available legal options to address this matter appropriately”.
Two former Wave employees also came forward to X, supporting Alvardo’s claims of an unhealthy work environment.
Bernadette O’Donnell, the team’s former senior communications director, She claimed she was fired She committed suicide shortly after consulting her boss because she felt “hopeless in life and most of the time didn’t want to be alive” due to an “unhealthy work environment.”
Casey Stoney was fired as head coach of the Wave on June 24th after a disappointing 2024 season with three wins, two losses and six draws.
Stoney expressed regret on social media, saying he “wasn’t given enough time to bring a championship to San Diego.”
Alvarado expressed his respect for working with Stoney and highlighted the positive impact she has had on the club.
“It was an honor to work with the team’s players and coaching staff, especially former head coach Casey Stoney,” Alvarado said in the post. “Casey was an influential leader who always looked out for others, led the locker room and inspired me as an LGBTQ+ member.”
“It’s time for accountability from the @nwsl,” Alvarado wrote, demanding that the league act immediately and fire Ellis.
This is not the first criticism against Ellis, who led the U.S. women’s national team to consecutive World Cup titles during her five-year tenure from 2014 to 2019.
In 2020, former U.S. women’s national team player Sydney Leroux, who now plays for Angel City FC, said, “Crack Podcast“she” [Ellis] Good “as a person” but not good as a coach.
“we [Ellis]”She’s not good for people’s mental health, that’s for sure. It’s best that she’s gone,” Leroux added during the podcast appearance.
Ellis was also mentioned multiple times in the 2022 Yates report into allegations of abusive behavior in the NWSL and professional women’s soccer.
The report said Ellis and former U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati received reports from the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team about abusive behavior by NWSL coaches, but no action was taken against the coaches until the Yates report was released.
The four coaches were ultimately banned from the NWSL, but Ellis did not expect any punishment would result from the report.
U.S. women’s national team legend and San Diego striker Alex Morgan was quick to address the situation on social media on Wednesday.
“We are saddened to learn today of allegations made by several former Wave FC employees.” She wrote to X.
“As players, we have worked hard to create a team that is surrounded by an inclusive, positive and safe environment, but it’s important to me that we create that environment across our organization for both players and staff,” Morgan continued. “Equality in the workplace is something I have always advocated for and will continue to advocate for. I want to be proud of what we’re building at the Wave, but it’s clear we have a lot of work to do.”
The Wave, currently 10th in the NWSL, will take on the Portland Thorns on Friday night.
