Sophie Cunningham’s off-court drama is overshadowing her on-court debut with the Indiana Fever , after a bombshell lawsuit alleged she had an affair with a married NBA and WNBA executive.
The accusation comes in a broader legal complaint filed earlier this month that also includes claims of racial discrimination, security failures, and workplace misconduct within the Phoenix Suns and Mercury organizations.
Gene Traylor, the Phoenix Suns‘ current director of security, filed the lawsuit claiming he warned Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein about a damaging rumor being spread internally.
According to Traylor, he told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the Vice President of Security and Risk Management, was telling others that “Josh Bartelstein is f***ing Sophie Cunningham.”
Neither Cunningham, who joined the Fever in January after being traded from Phoenix, nor Bartelstein has addressed the allegations publicly.
Cunningham‘s absence in the Fever‘s opening game on Saturday due to an ankle injury now seems like a footnote in a story rapidly drawing national attention.
The team, meanwhile, has not commented on the lawsuit or the affair allegation, but was quick to distance itself from the controversy when approached by media outlets.
Suns respond forcefully as lawsuit airs multiple accusations
The Phoenix Suns issued a firm rebuttal last week in response to inquiries from ESPN.
In their statement, the team shifted focus toward Sheree Wright, one of Traylor’s attorneys, suggesting that her professional history calls the lawsuit’s credibility into question.
“The Supreme Court of Arizona has twice disciplined attorney Sheree Wright for committing numerous violations of the rules of professional conduct, and she is currently serving a two-year probation with the State Bar of Arizona,” a Suns spokesperson said.
“These allegations are delusional and categorically false.”
The team further called Traylor‘s broader claims “absurd” and “misconduct accusations surrounding the security department” unfounded.
As for Bartelstein, his personal life is now under public scrutiny. Married in 2022 to Sydney Bartelstein, the Suns executive had previously spoken glowingly of his wife in an interview with Phoenix Magazine.
“This job is incredibly demanding. It’s the best job ever, but it’s long hours, high-stress and pressure, and public-facing. And I travel a lot,” he said. “Me and Sydney have done it together, and she’s a huge reason why I love what I get to do.”
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