The San Diego Sirens, the independent supporters group for the San Diego Wave, said in a statement Wednesday they participated in meetings with club leadership and NWSL representatives and were told the NWSL investigated allegations against the Wave via a third-party legal representative between February and April 2024.

The investigation did not find any violations of law or NWSL policy, which is more expansive.

“The NWSL has previously received reports of misconduct in the San Diego front office,” an NWSL spokesperson said. “Those reports were investigated by an independent third party and we are satisfied with the results, including the finding that there was no violation of league policy in connection with the reported conduct. Our policy to prevent and eliminate workplace discrimination, harassment, and bullying can be found here.

“Due to the confidential nature of workplace reviews and investigations, and our commitment to everyone who participates, we are not making public those findings. We will continue to take any and every report of misconduct seriously, hire independent third parties to investigate those reports, and take all appropriate actions based on the investigative findings.”

The supporters group was also told an email posted by former Wave video and…

San Diego Wave president Jill Ellis has denied a former employee’s allegations of abuse at the club, saying Friday they are “false accusations” and “personally damaging.”

Former Wave video and creative manager Brittany Alvarado alleged on social media Wednesday the club “perpetuated discrimination against women and demonstrated a complete disregard for (employees’) long-term mental health.”

San Diego strongly denied the allegations, saying it was “aware of a recent social media post by a former employee that contains inaccurate and defamatory statements about the club” and it “intends to pursue all legal avenues available to appropriately address this matter.”

Former U.S. women’s national team coach Ellis added in a statement shared with The Athletic: “When allegations of mistreatment have been made, we have taken them seriously and investigated them thoroughly.

“In addition, when appropriate, independent third parties have assisted us in evaluating our workplace. At no time have those evaluations uncovered any wrongdoing by the club.

“The false accusations… are not only personally damaging but also take away from the incredible work and progress we’ve achieved together as a team. It’s important to address this information promptly and…

A former San Diego Wave employee has alleged on social media that the club “perpetuated discrimination against women and demonstrated a complete disregard for (employees’) long-term mental health.” The club has denied the allegations.

A post on former Wave video and creative manager Brittany Alvarado’s account on X alleged that, of more than 30 employees who were fired or quit since the team began operation, nearly 75% of them were women, and that the negative treatment of employees was part of an unhealthy work environment fostered by Wave president Jill Ellis.

The post called for the league to remove Ellis from her position at the Wave. Alvarado’s LinkedIn shows that she began working for the club in March 2023, with a follow-up post from Alvarado’s account stating that she resigned on June 7, 2024.

The Wave posted a response on their social media denying the allegations.

“San Diego Wave has been made aware of a recent social media post by a former employee that contains inaccurate and defamatory statements about the club,” the statement said.

The Wave added that they are reviewing the situation and “intends to pursue all legal avenues available to appropriately address this matter”.

For the first time in 16 years, forward Alex Morgan will not feature on a major tournament roster for the U.S. women’s national soccer team.

On Wednesday, coach Emma Hayes left Morgan off the 18-player roster for the Olympics this summer in Paris. In her absence, the U.S. will be without a previous gold medal winner, with the team’s last win from the London Games in 2012.

“It was a tough decision, of course, especially considering Alex’s history and record with this team,” Hayes said, “but I felt that I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players.”

Morgan’s absence can be considered in several ways. It is the end of an era for the USWNT. Some will see it as an overdue move to balance younger players alongside veterans. Others will argue that Hayes made a simple soccer decision. Above all, Wednesday’s move reminded us that no spot on any U.S. roster is guaranteed.

“Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage,” Morgan posted on social media following the announcement. “This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride any time I put on the crest.”

Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic…

San Diego Wave has parted company with head coach Casey Stoney.

The former England defender’s final game in charge was the weekend’s 0-0 draw with Houston Dash which left Wave ninth in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) 14 games into the regular season.

Stoney, 42, departs San Diego after three years in charge, having led the club to the NWSL Challenge Cup in 2024 and NWSL Shield in 2023.

Paul Buckle has been placed in interim charge.

Club president Jill Ellis said the change was “necessary” when taking into consideration the club’s performance this season and their ambition.

“We are immensely grateful to Casey for her commitment to our club and the positive impact she has had both on and off the pitch.” said Ellis. “Over the past seasons, Casey has guided us to significant milestones, and her contributions have been instrumental in laying a strong foundation on which to build.

“The decision to part ways was very hard and not made in haste, but given the ambition of this club, and where we are in our season, we felt a change was necessary at this time.” 

Wave FC announces the club has parted ways with Head Coach Casey Stoney.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Casey and wish her all the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/d3S7LonSut

— San Diego…

San Diego Wave forward and U.S. women’s national team star Alex Morgan suffered a left ankle injury during an NWSL matchup against the Orlando Pride on Friday, causing her to exit the game.

The incident occurred in a goal-line scramble, during which Morgan took a hard tackle. She then limped off the field.

The 34-year-old has appeared in four NWSL games this season but has yet to score a goal.

Any serious injury to Morgan’s ankle would put her involvement in the USWNT’s 2024 Olympic campaign in doubt. That tournament kicks off in France in just under 100 days, and any structural damage or even a severe sprain could mean Morgan will either miss the tournament outright, or at least face a race against time to get match fit before the tournament.

GO DEEPER

USWNT Olympic roster prediction after the SheBelieves Cup

At the very least, it will make Morgan a potential doubt for the next USWNT international window, which will be the first under new manager Emma Hayes. That window begins in just over a month on May 28, and will see the U.S. play two games against South Korea in their final tune-ups ahead of the Olympics.

Morgan has continued to be an influential figure for the U.S. as it transitions to a new era featuring a number of younger players ahead of Hayes’ arrival. The…

The Houston Dash have traded María Sánchez to the San Diego Wave for an undisclosed return.

Earlier this week, Sánchez publicly stated on her social media that she had requested a trade in late March. The NWSL trade window closes on April 19 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

A source briefed on the transaction said that there was more than one offer for Sánchez’s rights. According to a report by Theo Lloyd-Hughes at Pro Soccer Wire, Houston will receive a transfer fee but no players from the Wave.

Thank you, everyone, for the outpouring of kindness and support. pic.twitter.com/gcnN7dhCJU

— Maria Sanchez (@Maria17_7) April 19, 2024

Sánchez signed a blockbuster $1.5 million contract with the Dash in December 2023 that was supposed to keep her in Houston through 2026, with an option to extend through 2027. But after four games with the Dash in which Sánchez played 348 minutes, generating one assist and two shots, she will leave for the Wave, who are currently in seventh place and were last year’s NWSL Shield winners.

Sánchez’s contract is technically with the league, so the Wave must take on the remainder of that $1.5M contract, which counts total compensation including bonuses and an exercised fourth-year option.

Sánchez has played as a left winger for the Dash with varying degrees…

The NWSL will spend its break during the 2024 Olympics playing a tournament with teams from Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil, the leagues announced today.

The NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup will feature all 14 NWSL clubs and six Liga MX Femenil teams with the highest points earned in the 2023 Apertura and Clausura tournaments.

It will feature a group stage commencing on July 19 with a semifinal round ending the week of Aug. 4. The championship match will take place on the weekend of Oct. 25.

The tournament will feature five groups, with the top four teams in terms of points advancing to the semifinals.

A quick look at the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup tournament groups and format. pic.twitter.com/TztnU0udEO

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 20, 2024

How does this impact the NWSL schedule?

Analysis by Meg Linehan

We always knew the NWSL was planning a summer tournament to overlap with this summer’s Olympic Games, and while the league deserves credit for tapping crossover appeal with Liga MX Femenil, the Summer Cup definitely feels like the 1.0 version of a standalone summer tournament.

To be fair, this has been in the works before CONCACAF announced its new qualifiers for the first FIFA Club World Cup, but three NWSL teams are about to have to pull double…

Alex Pfeiffer became the youngest goalscorer in NWSL history in a thriller Saturday, finishing the KC Current’s fifth goal in the team’s inaugural match at its new stadium., a dramatic 5-4 win over the Portland Thorns.

Pfeiffer came on as a second-half substitute and pounced on a chested-down layoff at the top of the box in the 68th minute to make the score 5-1 Kansas City.

At 16 years, 3 months and 20 days old, Pfeiffer beats the previous record for youngest goalscorer set by the Thorns’ Olivia Moultrie in 2022 by about five months.

Another bit of history today

Alex Pfeiffer becomes the youngest goalscorer in league history at 16 years, 4 months! pic.twitter.com/XgjQmumn7t

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 16, 2024

“It’s huge for any player in her generation,” Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski said after the game. “She’s proved that it’s possible, we proved that all together that it’s possible.”

Portland made things very interesting in the closing stages, scoring three unanswered to make things 5-4, but KC was able to hold on.

Who is Alex Pfeiffer?

A native of St. Louis, Mo., Pfeiffer became the fourth-youngest player to sign in the NWSL when she joined the Current last year, inking her deal at 15 years and 338 days old.

She came to…

By Jeff Rueter, Meg Linehan, Melanie Anzidei and Steph Yang

Welcome to the 2024 season of the National Women’s Soccer League. This season, which kicks off with four matches on Saturday, is different from its predecessors in a few ways — primarily with the addition of two expansion teams, and the league’s biggest broadcast deal to date. The Olympics are also happening, which has prompted the league to take a midseason break and host an international club tournament while the U.S. women’s national team competes in Paris.

How you can watch the NWSL is changing in a major way this season, too. So we’ve put together this preview with everything you’ll need ahead of the regular season kickoff (and Friday night’s Challenge Cup match) from how to watch to major storylines, plus the USWNT and international connections across the 14 teams.

To keep following The Athletic’s NWSL coverage, don’t forget to follow the league and your team(s) of choice by managing your feed. And to make sure you don’t miss any of our coverage, subscribe to our women’s soccer newsletter Full Time. It’s our biggest stories paired with Full Time exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox every week. With the season starting, we’ll be sending out each edition on Monday to make…