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.

“Plaintiff also shared with Bartelstein that Craig had been spreading damaging information that could jeopardize the organization,” the lawsuit states.

Denials and Corporate Pushback

The Suns swiftly denied the allegations in a strongly worded statement. Stacey Mitch, senior vice president of communications, dismissed the affair claims as false and harmful:

“The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible,” Mitch said in a statement to The New York Post.

The organization also claimed that the lawsuit is part of a larger campaign led by attorney Sheree Wright, who is currently on probation with the Arizona State Bar for professional misconduct.

According to the team, Wright has filed four separate lawsuits in recent months against Suns Legacy Partners, LLC, seeking over $140 million in total.

“Let’s be absolutely clear about the origin of these claims,” said Mitch.

“Ms. Wright has now filed four separate lawsuits against the organization. To date, her cases have been dismissed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Arizona Civil Rights Division or voluntarily withdrawn.”

The People Involved

Sophie Cunningham, 28, played with the Phoenix Mercury from 2019 to 2024 and was a fan favorite.

In September 2023, she signed an extension to remain with the team through 2025. However, in February 2024, she was traded to the Indiana Fever. She is currently sidelined with an injury and did not play in the Fever’s season-opening win.

In the press release about her extension, Cunningham said:

“Phoenix has become my home away from home… I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of what we are building here, on the court and in the community.”

Bartelstein, 35, joined the Suns and Mercury as CEO in April 2023 after eight years with the Detroit Pistons. He has often spoken highly of his wife, Sydney, whom he married in November 2022.

In an interview with Phoenix Magazine (source), he credited her support for his professional success.

“Me and Sydney have done it together, and she’s a huge reason why I love what I get to do,” Bartelstein said.

His official job duties, according to the NBA press release, include overseeing all business operations for the Suns and Mercury.

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Legal Fallout and Organizational Turmoil

The lawsuit, which can be read in full here, highlights not just personal drama but also broader allegations of racial discrimination, harassment, and unlawful retaliation within the organization.

It adds to a troubling trend, with the Suns facing multiple lawsuits seeking over $140 million dollars from Ms. Wright in the past year. To date, her cases have been dismissed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Arizona Civil Rights Division or voluntarily withdrawn.

As the case develops, both the NBA and WNBA will be watching closely, especially as public trust and league image hang in the balance.