San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan has responded after former club employees accused the NWSL team of fostering an environment that was detrimental to mental health.
Former Wave video and creative manager Brittany Alvarado released a lengthy statement on Wednesday accusing club president Jill Ellis of creating a culture of abuse at the club.
“[Ellis] has compromised countless lives to advance her narcissistic personal agenda, fostering an environment where abusive behaviors among her subordinates was allowed to flourish,” Alvarado said on X, formerly Twitter.
Jenny Chuang, another former Wave employee, responded to Alvarado’s post by saying she “begged for help while my mental health declined rapidly” during her time with the team.
In a statement, the Wave categorically denied the accusations, calling them “inaccurate and defamatory,” while adding that the club would be pursuing all legal avenues.
The NWSL also released a statement about the situation: “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.”
Morgan responded with a post on X. Morgan and Ellis have a long relationship, as the striker was a key player during the Englishwoman’s five-year tenure as U.S. women’s national team head coach. Ellis then made Morgan the Wave’s signature acquisition ahead of the club’s inaugural NWSL season in 2022.
Notably, Morgan appeared to concede that there were at least some problematic elements in the team’s culture, concluding by saying: “It is clear that there is so much work to be done.”
“I am disappointed to hear about the allegations made by multiple former Wave FC employees today,” Morgan said.
“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.”
