Wave FC President led U.S. National Team to World Cup victories in 2015, 2019
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2022) – San Diego Wave Fútbol Club’s Jill Ellis has been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame and will be inducted as a member of the 2023 class at a ceremony on May 6, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Ellis’s 17-year-old daughter, Lily Stevenson-Ellis, surprised her with the news this afternoon, Nov. 30, at the San Diego Wave FC Holiday Party.
Ellis was elected from the Builder ballot and joins DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan and Lauren Cheney Holiday in the Class of 2023. Builders are listed in three categories: referees, coaches, and owners and administrators. Based on the rotation established in 2020, only coaches were considered for the Class of 2023.
The Wave FC President guided the U.S. Women’s National Team to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019 and is the only two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winning manager. Ellis led the USWNT for seven years to a remarkable 106-7-19 record and also coached the U.S. team at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010.
The former National Team Manager (2014-2019) led the United States to eight tournament titles and earned honors as the FIFA World Women’s Coach of the Year (2015, 2019) and the CONCACAF Women’s Coach of the Year (2015).
Prior to her time coaching the National Team, Ellis was the Women’s Development Director of the USSF for six years.
Ellis also coached collegiately at Illinois and UCLA as one of the most successful managers in Women’s College Soccer history. A 2000 NSCAA National Coach of the Year winner, Ellis helped UCLA to six-consecutive Pacific-10 Conference titles and eight NCAA Women’s College Cups.
Jill Ellis was announced as President of the San Diego women’s soccer team in June 2021, and the club has already seen substantial success in its short history. In its inaugural 2022 season, San Diego broke the record for both the NWSL Playoff attendance record and the NWSL regular-season record, with 26,215 and 32,000 fans. Wave FC also made history in 2022 as the first expansion team to make the playoffs before advancing to the NWSL Semi-Final.
Don’t miss a moment of Wave FC’s 2023 campaign by making your Season Ticket deposit today. Season Ticket members enjoy a one-of-a-kind game day experience at the new Snapdragon Stadium with an array of benefits like exclusive events, gifts, discounts and more. Supporters should stay tuned on club social media and at sandiegowavefc.com for additional player updates and information on the upcoming season.
Complete information about the Hall of Fame’s election and eligibility procedures is available at NationalSoccerHOF.com. The election process is administered by National Soccer Hall of Fame staff under election and eligibility guidelines established by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
About San Diego Wave Fútbol Club
San Diego Wave Fútbol Club is the 12th and newest member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The club’s vision is to be a force for good through the game of football and is led by President Jill Ellis, former head coach of the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) and two-time World Cup champion. Together with Head Coach Casey Stoney, the club is bringing the highest level of world-class, professional soccer to San Diego. USWNT standouts Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper were two of the first players signed to the club, which consists of athletes representing five international soccer federations, including the US, Canada, Sweden, England and Australia. The new Snapdragon stadium serves as Wave FC’s permanent home, where San Diego broke the record for both the NWSL Playoff attendance record and the NWSL regular-season record, with 26,215 and 32,000 fans. Wave FC also made history in 2022 as the first expansion team to make the playoffs before advancing to the NWSL Semi-Final. Learn more about the club and players at www.SanDiegoWaveFC.com.
About The National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium opened to the public in Frisco, Texas, on Nov. 2, 2018, after calling Oneonta, N.Y., its home from 1983 through 2010. The Hall of Fame marries artifacts — including all four FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophies won by the U.S. National Team — with technology such as facial recognition powered by NEC and virtual reality to deliver the most personalized experience in sports.
Established in 1950, the NSHOF is dedicated to growing the sport of soccer in America by celebrating its history, preserving its legacy, inspiring its youth and honoring its heroes for generations to come. The National Soccer Hall of Fame is powered by NEC and additionally sponsored by Major League Soccer, Heineken, Pepsi, Gallagher and WinStar World Resort and Casino.
