Former employees claim there is a “toxic work environment” at San Diego Wave FC; club denies everything

The management of the San Diego Wave is defending itself against allegations of a toxic work environment after at least three former employees criticized the NWSL club and its president Jill Ellis.

No players are criticized or attacked.

The heated debate began Wednesday with social media posts from Brittany Alvarado, a former videographer, followed by statements from freelance photographer Jenny Chuang and Bernadette O’Donnell, the club’s former chief spokesperson.

O’Donnell said she “had no hope for her life and most of the time didn’t want to be alive anymore.”

Chuang defended Alvarado, saying she was on “suicide watch” throughout her time with the Wave in 2022 due to a deterioration in her mental health.

The Wave initially responded to Alvarado’s posts on X and Instagram – but not to the other two.

The Wave called Alvarado’s allegations “categorically false, including those directed at our President Jill Ellis.”

The Wave article said the matter was being reviewed and that they “intend to pursue all available legal options.”

At X Team superstar Alex Morgan said she was disappointed by the allegations made by several former Wave FC employees.

“As players, we have worked hard to build a team that is surrounded by an inclusive, positive and safe environment,” she wrote.

“But it’s important to me that we create that environment for both players and employees across the organization. Equality in the workplace is something I have championed and will continue to champion.”

She concluded: “I want to be proud of what we are building at Wave, but it is clear that there is still a lot of work to be done.”

In a lengthy post, Alvarado praised former head coach Casey Stoney, who was fired after a poor start to the season.

“Casey was an influential leader who always looked out for others, dominated the locker room and inspired me as an LGBTQ+ member. The team welcomed me wholeheartedly and built a deep bond of trust as we navigated the triumphs and challenges of the 2023 season together,” Alvarado said, adding.

“San Diego Wave was supposedly founded on the foundation of equality by promoting women and minorities in leadership positions and prioritizing mental health and wellness. However, the reality for me and many others who work for this club is in stark contrast to these claims. Despite their public statements, the organization has often perpetuated discrimination against women and has shown complete disregard for their long-term mental health.

“Since the team’s inception, over 30 members of staff have been made redundant or resigned, almost 75% of whom were women, underscoring the deep-seated issues within the club. Unfortunately, many of these staff are reluctant to speak publicly about their experiences, reflecting the widespread fear surrounding these issues.

“Despite the NWSL’s repeated efforts to raise these widespread issues, the league has consistently failed to take meaningful action and has instead ignored a pattern of deeply harmful behavior. Its investigations into these matters have been downright lax, further exacerbating its disregard for the well-being of those affected.

“On behalf of my former colleagues and myself, I would like to say that the treatment we endured under Club President Jill Ellis was nothing short of life-altering and devastating to our mental health. She put countless lives at risk in pursuit of her narcissistic personal goals and created an environment where abusive behavior could thrive among her subordinates.”

Alvarado called on the National Women’s Soccer League to remove Ellis from both the San Diego Wave and the league as a whole “to finally protect the staff and players they have neglected and ignored for far too long.”

In response to questions from the Times of San Diego, the Wave released a statement from Ellis:

“Mental health is a priority for everyone at our club and we have support measures in place to help those in need. Our staff and I will always respect how someone is feeling. Over time, we have actively responded to staff who have demonstrated or expressed needs related to their mental health. I would like to stress that Wave FC has a robust Employee Assistance Program in place which is presented to staff on a regular basis.

“I will continue to protect the confidentiality of former and current employees. When allegations of mistreatment have been raised, we have taken them seriously and investigated them thoroughly. In addition, when necessary, we have had independent third parties assist us in evaluating our workplace. At no time have these evaluations revealed any wrongdoing by the club.

“Our work is about fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity and excellence. The false allegations in today’s post are not only personally damaging, but also diminish the incredible work and progress we have achieved together as a team. It is important to address this information promptly and effectively.”

Ellis’ statement ended with the words:

“Our focus remains on moving forward and continuing to build a strong, united club.”

In her original post, Alvarado said the league had “failed to fully consider and implement the recommendations of the Sally Yates report and the NWLSPA’s 2022 joint investigation.”

“Every day of inaction reinforces the dangerous illusion that the NWSL has properly addressed the pervasive problem of abusive leadership behavior. Jill Ellis has no place in this game and she has been excused for far too long.”

Alvorado added:

“Despite my unwavering dedication to my profession and the sport of women’s football, I was trapped in an environment that relentlessly compromised my mental health.

“It became painfully clear to me that to protect my wellbeing, I had no choice but to leave my dream job at Wave FC. Resigning was not just a professional decision; it was a heartbreaking personal sacrifice where I put my mental health ahead of the career path I had put my heart and soul into.