SAN DIEGO — The president of San Diego Wave women's soccer team is responding to allegations of abuse and harassment by a former employee. President Jill Ellis said the accusations posted on social media are false, even as more employees post additional claims online.
“When allegations of mistreatment have been made, we have taken them seriously and investigated them thoroughly... At no time have those evaluations uncovered any wrongdoing by the club,” Ellis wrote in a statement to the news media.
“What we do is all about fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and excellence. The false accusations in (Wednesday’s) post are not only personally damaging but also take away from the incredible work and progress we've achieved together as a team. It's important to address this information promptly and effectively,” Ellis wrote.
This in response to a storm of media attention following posts on social media Wednesday by former team videographer, Brittany Alvarado, urging that Ellis be fired.
"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, “ Alvarado posted.
Alvarado also included a screen shot of an email she claimed a Wave FC manager sent her, calling her "pathetic" after she resigned last month.
San Diego Wave fired its coach last month after a scoring drought on the field. “I don't think there's ever a perfect time to let someone go. Currently we are 17 points off of first place and we are actually over halfway through the season,” Ellis said during a news briefing at the time.
Wave FC posted the following response on "X" calling the harassment claims defamatory and threatening legal action:
“San Diego Wave FC has been made aware of a recent social media post by a former employee that contains inaccurate and defamatory statements about the club. Not only does the post contain a fabricated email, but the claims made therein are categorically false, including the ones directed at our president Jill Ellis. San Diego Wave FC currently is reviewing this situation and it intends to pursue all legal avenues to appropriately address this matter.”
Former team photographer, Jenny Chuang, also posted on “X” that she was “placed on suicide watch during my tenure with the Wave in 2022. I begged for help while my mental health declined rapidly, but was pressured to resign instead." Chuang added, “the individuals who made me suffer no longer work at the Wave.”
Then came a post from the team's star striker, Alex Morgan:
“I am disappointed to hear about the allegations made by multiple former Wave FC employees today. 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 are creating that environment for both players AND staff throughout the entire organization. Equity in the workplace is something I have and will continue to advocate for. 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.”
Alvarado, the former videographer, did not respond to a CBS 8 request for comment.
The National Women’s Soccer League emailed CBS 8 the following statement:
“The safety, health, and well-being of everyone associated with our league is our highest priority. We take seriously 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. We encourage anyone with information of potential wrongdoing to report that misconduct to the League Safety Officer. Alternatively, individuals may report anonymously via Real Response, by texting 872-259-6975.”
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