Jill Ellis, president of San Diego Wave F.C. and former U.S. women's national team coach, has filed a defamation lawsuit against ex-employee Brittany Alvarado following allegations of a toxic work environment. Alvarado accused Ellis of fostering abusive behavior and causing significant harm to employees' mental health in social media posts on July 3. In response, Ellis claims the accusations are false and malicious, alleging that Alvarado's statements, which included purported fake emails, have damaged her reputation and led to lost speaking engagements. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, seeks an injunction against Alvarado from making further defamatory statements. Ellis' legal team argues that Alvarado's allegations have caused her emotional distress and economic harm, while Alvarado's attorney maintains that the claims are an exercise of First Amendment rights aimed at promoting change within the organization. The NWSL had previously investigated a workplace misconduct complaint filed by Alvarado but found no violations.