The Phoenix Suns, once believed to be on the brink of a new era of professionalism and progress following their record $4 billion acquisition by mortgage mogul Mat Ishbia in 2022, are now mired in a quagmire of lawsuits that paint a harrowing picture of workplace dysfunction, racial discrimination, and sexual scandal.
And now, a shocking new lawsuit has ignited yet another PR firestorm accusing Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein of an improper sexual relationship with former Phoenix Mercury star Sophie Cunningham as part of a broader claim of racial discrimination and retaliatory demotion.
“Josh Bartelstein Is F*ing Sophie”: The Messy Allegation at the Center of It All
The bombshell allegation surfaced in a federal complaint filed by Gene Traylor, the Suns’ former director of safety, security, and risk management. In his lawsuit, Traylor recounts a disturbing conversation with Suns executive Dan Craig, in which Craig allegedly told others that Bartelstein was romantically involved with Cunningham. When Bartelstein pressed Traylor for details, Traylor quoted Craig directly:
“Josh Bartelstein is f**ing Sophie Cunningham,” according to court documents obtained and reported by Front Office Sports.
Neither Bartelstein nor Cunningham has responded publicly to the accusation, but the implications are severe. As a senior executive, Bartelstein’s alleged entanglement with a player from the organization’s sister team raises ethical red flags about conflicts of interest and abuse of power especially given the Mercury’s ownership under the same Ishbia-led regime.
The Suns Are Being Sued Left and Right
Traylor’s claim is the fourth federal lawsuit filed against the Suns organization since November 2024, and like the others, it arrives packed with allegations of racial discrimination, hostile work environments, retaliatory employment practices, and in this case, gross security negligence.
In his complaint, Traylor, who is Black, describes an arena “highly vulnerable” to security breaches. According to the lawsuit, Traylor repeatedly warned leadership about glaring safety risks, only to be ignored, sidelined, and ultimately demoted.
His concerns were later validated, the lawsuit says, by Homeland Defense field tests conducted by the Phoenix Police Department. Undercover officers were reportedly able to sneak concealed weapons including knives and handguns past arena security. The venue remained uncorrected and unprepared, according to Traylor, despite incidents like the airport harassment of WNBA icon Brittney Griner.
Traylor claims his demotion was not based on performance but because of his identity:
“An educated, accomplished Black professional who is respected in his field—qualities that intimidated Defendant and their leadership,” the lawsuit states.
The Other Lawsuits Aren’t Pretty Either
Traylor’s lawsuit joins three others already filed in Arizona federal court, each backed by attorney Sheree D. Wright of IBF Law Group.
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In April, a Hispanic female employee (referred to as Jane Doe) filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation, discrimination, and a hostile work environment.
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In March, a 46-year-old video engineer claimed he was forced to switch to contractor status and made to work in unsafe, unsanitary conditions.
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The first shot came in November, from the Suns’ former head of diversity, equity, and inclusion, who said nothing improved after Sarver left.
Wright, in a statement to Front Office Sports, said all of the lawsuits reveal a toxic through line:
“Credible, detailed, and independently corroborated testimony of multiple current and former Suns employees—across departments, races, and roles—who allege a culture of racial discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environments, and systemic failures in accountability.”
She added that more lawsuits are likely on the way.
The Suns Say It’s All Lies And That the Lawyer Is the Problem
The Suns have gone on offense, painting Wright’s campaign of lawsuits as a scheme for attention or worse.
Stacey Mitch, the team’s senior vice president of communications, called the allegations:
“Delusional and categorically false.”
She went further, accusing Wright of trying to “extort” the team and promising they’d fight back:
“The Suns will not be extorted and will seek to hold Ms. Wright and her accomplices fully responsible for their actions.”
To undermine Wright’s credibility, the Suns dug into her professional history, highlighting that she’s currently on two years of probation with the State Bar of Arizona over minor violations, like missing filing deadlines and slow client communication.
Wright didn’t deny the facts but said the team is using them to distract from its misconduct:
“When organizations are unable to disprove the truth, they often attack the truth-teller,” she said. “That is exactly what’s happening here.”
So Much for a “New Era” in Phoenix
This wasn’t supposed to happen. When Mat Ishbia took over from disgraced owner Robert Sarver, who was suspended for a year and fined $10 million after an investigation revealed racist, sexist, and abusive behavior, fans hoped the franchise would be reborn.
Instead, the lawsuits are stacking up, the leadership is under fire, and now a sex scandal threatens to drag down two public figures.
Mitch insisted that Ishbia has made real change and said the organization has come a long way from the Sarver era. But for many current and former employees, those claims don’t hold water.
If Wright’s prediction is accurate, more lawsuits are coming, and with each one, the facade of reform under Ishbia crumbles just a little bit more.
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