Overview

• Lawsuit filed Monday in San Diego Superior Court by the Levine Leichtman Family Office accuses Ellis of giving assurances she would remain president during 2024 sale negotiations.
• The complaint cites intentional and negligent misrepresentation, concealment and false promise, alleging losses equating to at least $40 million in enterprise value.
• Plaintiffs say Ellis pledged to guide the club for years, then informed them of her resignation two days after the October closing to take a FIFA role announced in December 2024.
• Ellis’ attorney calls the suit meritless and links it to a Sept. 23 demand letter seeking roughly $1 million in deferred pay plus more than $236,000 in interest and waiting-time wages.
• A San Diego Wave spokesperson says the club is not a party to the dispute, which sits alongside ongoing litigation including Ellis’ defamation case and ex-employees’ lawsuit against the team and the NWSL.