Wave Owners Sue Jill Ellis for Alleged Broken Promises

San Diego Wave in the center of the legal controversy: The owners sue Jill Ellis

A new chapter opens in the history of the San Diego Wave, a NWSL team, with a lawsuit filed by its owners, Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine, against the former team president, Jill Ellis. The legal dispute arises from alleged broken promises and an unexpected departure that has generated a million-dollar conflict. Leichtman and Levine, owners of the private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, accuse Ellis of having deceived them by promising his continued presence in the team after the sale. However, Ellis resigned only two days after the deal was finalized. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in San Diego, seeks unspecified damages and is based on allegations of misrepresentation, concealment, and false promises. The plaintiffs argue that Ellis’s presence was a crucial factor in their decision to acquire the club and that they relied on his long-term commitment.

Ellis was a material reason why [they were] buying the club.

Statement by Leichtman and Levine in the lawsuit

The defense’s response was immediate. A lawyer representing Ellis called the lawsuit “baseless” and claimed it was retaliation for Ellis’s request to receive the deferred compensation he is entitled to. Jill Ellis, who led the United States women’s national team to win two World Cups, was the first president of the San Diego Wave, an NWSL expansion team in 2022.

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The sale of the San Diego Wave to Leichtman and Levine in 2024 was valued between $113 and $120 million, setting a record at the time for an NWSL team. Under Ellis’s presidency, Wave achieved a milestone by reaching the playoffs in their expansion season and winning the NWSL Shield the following year.

The lawsuit also states that Ellis’s departure to join FIFA, where she took on the role of director of football, had a negative impact on the team’s performance in the 2024 season, resulting in a tenth-place finish and estimated financial losses of at least 40 million dollars. In addition to the main claim, other unidentified defendants who allegedly participated in the false promises are mentioned. In response to the demand, a spokesperson for the San Diego Wave issued a statement emphasizing that the club is not part of the legal dispute and that its focus remains on the well-being of its players, fans, and the community. This is at least the third instance of litigation related to Ellis’s team and mandate. Last year, Ellis filed a defamation lawsuit against a former employee, while five other former employees sued Wave and NWSL, alleging discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination.