San Diego Wave owners file lawsuit against former team president Jill Ellis | OneFootball

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The owners of the National Women’s Soccer League side San Diego Wave have filed a lawsuit against former president Jill Ellis.

Ellis, currently a chief football officer of FIFA, co-founded the Wave with billionaire businessman Ron Burkle in 2021.

She left the role in December 2024 to take the role at FIFA.

Before that, she won two World Cups as head coach of the United States Women’s National Team in 2015 and 2019.

The Athletic has reported that an attorney representing Ellis has described the lawsuit as ‘meritless’.

Why have the San Diego Wave filed a lawsuit against Jill Ellis?

According to The Athletic, San Diego Wave FC’s owners, billionaire couple Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, have filed a lawsuit against former club president Jill Ellis through a related holding company.

The suit, filed on September 30, 2025, in San Diego Superior Court, alleges that Ellis misrepresented her intentions to remain with the club during last year’s purchase negotiations.

The complaint accuses Ellis and other unnamed defendants of alleged intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, concealment, and false promise, claiming these actions led to a loss of at least $40 million (£29.7m) in enterprise value for the club.

It is claimed that the owner’s decision to purchase the club was largely influenced by Ellis’ role at the club. Leichtman and Levine are said to have first befriended Ellis during her role at UCLA between 1999 and 2010.

The lawsuit goes on to allege that Ellis and her co-defendants assured the would-be owners that she would continue to guide the team ‘for many years’. It is not specified if those assurances were made in writing or verbally.

Leichtman and Levine purchased the Wave outright from Ron Burkle in October 2024 in a two-part sale that valued the team between $113 million and $120 million (£84-£89m).

The lawsuit alleges that Ellis resigned from her role two days later, with her new position at FIFA announced two months later.

How has Jill Ellis responded to the lawsuit?

Douglas Silverstein, an attorney for Ellis, reportedly told The Athletic: “This meritless lawsuit is retaliation against Jill Ellis for asking the current owners of San Diego Wave to pay the deferred compensation she is owed under her employment agreement and California wage laws.

“Ms. Ellis attempted in good faith to work out these financial matters directly with the owners, but she was rebuffed. Ms. Ellis was then forced to retain counsel, who last week requested in writing that she be paid. This lawsuit is a direct result of that written demand.”

As per ESPN, Ellis has claimed she is allegedly owed over $1.23 million (£914,000) in total deferred payments and penalties.

In the 2025 NWSL season, San Diego Wave sit seventh in the standings. The Kansas City Current last month sealed the NWLS Shield with a victory over Seattle Reign.