Leading this special edition of NWSL News of Note is the surprise departure of San Diego Wave President Jill Ellis for a new position with FIFA.
The NWSL’s other Southern California club, Angel City, also has a front office vacancy due to general manager Angel Hucles Mangano “part[ing] ways” with the club.
Racing Louisville is looking for a new general manager after Ryan Dell left to pursue another opportunity.
Additionally, both the Wave and the Houston Dash have empty head coach offices. For the Wave, Landon Donovan “has conclude[d] his tenure”, while Ricky Clarke and the Dash “agreed to part ways”.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the new Boston franchise announced that it has hired FC Barcelona’s Domènec “Domè” Guasch as its first general manager.
San Diego Wave: Jill Ellis departs for FIFA position
On Tuesday, FIFA announced that the organization hired San Diego Wave president Jill Ellis to serve as its “Chief Football Officer”, which is a new position. From the FIFA press release:
In her new role, Ellis will work alongside Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, and her responsibilities will encompass key technical areas connected to the development of the game across the world.
Also, on Tuesday, the Wave confirmed in a statement that Ellis will be leaving the Wave “effective immediately”. The Wave’s statement gave no indication of a timeline for finding a new club president.
In October, the Wave organization was sued by five former employees . Some of the allegations directly involve improper conduct by Ellis.
Angel City: Angela Hucles Mangano out as general manager
On Thursday, Angel City announced that the club and Angela Hucles Mangano, who had served as general manager since mid-2022, “have mutually agreed to part ways” (press release).
Hucles Mangano and club president Julie Uhrman were both sanctioned by the league in October due to rules violations related to undisclosed player compensation.
Per the press release, “Assistant General Manager Matt Wade will assume the role of interim General Manager”. Wade had been handling player transactions during Hucles Mangano’s league-imposed partial suspension.
Hucles Mangano was a member of the United States Women’s National Team from 2002 to 2009, earning 109 caps and scoring 13 goals. She won Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008. For the 2008 Olympics, Hucles Mangano led the team — who were without Abby Wambach due to injury — with four goals, three of which were scored during the knockout stage.
San Diego Wave: The Landon Donovan era is over
On November 18th, the Wave posted a short statement on its website stating that the club…
is nearing the final stages of their search for a permanent head coach as interim head coach Landon Donovan concludes his tenure with the club.
Donovan finished his tenure with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses in 10 league matches (10 points out of a possible 30). Before she was fired in June, Casey Stoney had a record of 3 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses (15 points out of a possible 36) for the first 12 matches of the 2024 regular season.
Houston Dash: Ricky Clarke departs after serving as interim head coach
On Wednesday, the Houston Dash and Ricky Clarke announced on Instagram (Dash’s post, Clarke’s post) that Clarke is leaving the Dash organization. Clarke was originally hired as an assistant coach in the spring of 2023 (press release). Clarke had served as interim head coach of the Dash since late June during Fran Alonso’s absence and after Alonso’s subsequent departure.
Clarke joined the Dash during the tenure of head coach Sam Laity, who was fired in September 2023 (press release) after less than a full season. Previously, Clarke and Laity briefly served as assistant coaches together with the then OL Reign.
Prior to joining the Dash, Clarke was an assistant coach with Georgia State’s women’s soccer program. He has also had other positions in Georgia as well as California. (LinkedIn profile)
Racing Louisville: Ryan Dell departs as general manager
On November 26th (press release), Racing Louisville announced that the club’s first general manager, Ryan Dell, is leaving to “pursue[] another opportunity in the soccer industry”. Dell’s departure was “mutual”.
Dell was hired in March 2023 and was previously team manager for the United States Women’s National Team. (March 2023 press release)
Boston 2026: Domè Guasch hired as first general manager
Over a full year before the Boston expansion franchise kicks off its inaugural season, the team currently known as “BOS Nation FC”, has its first general manager: Domènec “Domè” Guasch (Instagram).
Guasch was previously “Head of Management for Women’s Football” with Barcelona FC, a position he held from May 2023 to November 2024. Guasch had been with Barcelona since 2011, where he has most held positions related to overseas Barça Academy, including over five years in New York City. (LinkedIn profile)
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