San Diego Wave President Jill Ellis has taken legal action against former team employee Brittany Alvarado for defamation. This lawsuit comes in response to Alvarado’s public allegations of a toxic work environment under Ellis’ leadership. Alvarado, who previously worked as the video and creative manager for the team, posted on social media accusing Ellis of promoting abusive behaviors and fostering a negative workplace climate that significantly impacted the mental health of employees.
Ellis swiftly denied the allegations, labeling them as false and harmful on a personal level. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in San Diego, asserts claims of defamation and intentional interference with contractual relations. Ellis claims to have suffered economic and emotional damage, including harm to her reputation and severe distress, as a result of Alvarado’s statements.
Seeking an injunction to prevent Alvarado from making further defamatory remarks, Ellis detailed in the lawsuit that Alvarado had lodged a complaint with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) earlier this year. The league’s subsequent investigation reportedly found no infractions of the law or league policies, and Alvarado resigned from her position soon after.
Amidst the legal battle, Alvarado’s attorney, Casey Hultin, has yet to provide a comment on the matter. Ellis, known for her successful tenure as the coach of the U.S. women’s national soccer team from 2014 to 2019, where she led the team to victory in two World Cup tournaments, has vowed to address the defamation issue through the judicial system.
The lawsuit sheds light on a contentious legal dispute within the San Diego Wave organization, raising questions about workplace dynamics and allegations of misconduct in the realm of professional women’s soccer.
