A new WNBA lawsuit filed on May 13 is making waves across professional basketball after it alleged that Phoenix Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein had an affair with WNBA star Sophie Cunningham.
The lawsuit was brought by Gene Traylor, a former director of safety, security, and risk management for the Suns. It claims workplace discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct at the executive level, and includes bombshell personal allegations involving key team figures.
Affair Allegation at the Center of Lawsuit
According to the lawsuit reported by MSN, Traylor told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the vice president of security and risk management for the Suns and Mercury, had been spreading damaging rumors.
The most explosive allegation Craig allegedly made was that “Josh Bartelstein is f–king Sophie Cunningham.”
The lawsuit argues that this accusation, if true, has serious implications for the workplace environment and the integrity of the organization.
Traylor claims that instead of addressing the concern, he faced retaliation for reporting the misconduct.
