San Diego Wave Owners Sue Ex-President Jill Ellis

Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine, through Levine Leichtman Family Office/Sports Holdings, sued former San Diego Wave president Jill Ellis in San Diego Superior Court, filing an 11-page complaint that says Ellis resigned two days after the sale closed in October 2024 after telling the buyers she would stay. The complaint accuses Ellis of intentional and negligent misrepresentation, concealment and making a false promise, says those assurances were a material reason the buyers paid roughly $113–$120 million for the club, and seeks unspecified damages while alleging at least $40 million in lost enterprise value. Ellis, a two-time World Cup-winning former U.S. coach who is now FIFA’s chief football officer, is defended by attorneys who call the suit “meritless” and say it was filed in retaliation after she sought more than $1.2 million in deferred compensation via a demand letter. The San Diego Wave organization is not a party to the litigation and says it remains focused on on-field matters as the legal dispute proceeds.