Latest news with #Bartelstein
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham accused of having affair with Suns, Mercury CEO in bombshell lawsuit
Former Mercury star Sophie Cunningham is alleged to have had an affair with married Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein, according to a lawsuit. Gene Traylor, a Suns employee and former director of safety, security and risk management, alleges he told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the franchises' vice president of security and risk management, had been telling people that Bartelstein allegedly was having an affair with Cunningham. Advertisement Traylor's lawsuit alleges of racial discrimination and harassment, unlawful retaliation and security issues. 'Plaintiff also shared with Bartelstein that Craig had been spreading damaging information that could jeopardize the organization,' the lawsuit filed this month against Suns Legacy Partners, LLC reads. 'When Bartelstein asked Plaintiff to reveal what Craig was saying, Plaintiff explained that Craig had been telling others, 'Josh Bartelstein is f–king Sophie Cunningham.'' Cunningham celebrates while with the Mercury in 2022. Getty Images The Suns denied the allegation in a fiery statement provided to The Post from senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch. Advertisement 'The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible,' Mitch said. Sophie Cunningham at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. NBAE via Getty Images Cunningham, 28, played for the Mercury from 2019-24 after the franchise drafted her in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft. The Mercury signed Cunningham to an extension through the 2025 season last September before trading her to the Fever this February. She did not play in the Fever's controversial season-opening win over the Sky on Saturday, as she is dealing with an injury. 'Phoenix has become my home away from home, and I am so thrilled to be in the Valley and continue to get to play in front of the best fans in the W – the X-Factor,' Cunningham said in a press release about her extension. 'The investments (owner) Mat (Ishbia) is making in our organization are unmatched and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of what we are building here, on the court and in the community.' Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein. Getty Images Sophie Cunningham was traded in February. @sophie_cham/Instagram Bartelstein, 35, has been married to his wife, Sydney, for two years as of November 2024, according to Advertisement He praised his wife for allowing him to 'love' his job. '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,' Bartelstein told 'Me and Sydney have done it together, and she's a huge reason why I love what I get to do.' Sophie Cunningham (8) next to Caitlin Clark. NBAE via Getty Images Josh Bartelstein (r) and his wife, Sydney, in a photo from August 2022. @stellairbeauty/Instagram Bartelstein played basketball for Michigan and officially joined the Suns and Mercury as CEO in April 2023 following eight years working for the Pistons. A press release detailed his job duties as overseeing the business operations for the franchises. Sophie Cunningham hustles for a loose ball during a preseason game against the Mystics on May 3, 2025. Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'Josh understands our culture and values and shares our strategic vision for the Suns and Mercury,' Ishbia said in a statement two-plus years ago. 'His proven leadership abilities and deep experience in both the business and basketball sides of an organization makes him uniquely positioned to transform the teams into the best basketball franchises on and off the court.' Advertisement The Suns allege that this lawsuit is an attempt by attorney Sheree Wright to 'coerce' them into a settlement. Wright and Courtney Walters are representing Traylor. Phoenix has been sued four times in the last seventh months by current or former employees, according to the outlet. Sophie Cunningham shows off her Indiana Fever jersey at media day. Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'Let's be absolutely clear about the origin of these claims,' Mitch's statement said. 'Attorney Sheree Wright, a personal injury and immigration lawyer, currently serving a two year probation with the Arizona State Bar for violating the rules of professional conduct, sees an opportunity because of the reports about previous ownership. Ms. Wright has now filed four separate lawsuits against the organization, seeking over $140 million dollars in compensation. To date, her cases have been dismissed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Arizona Civil Rights Division or voluntarily withdrawn. Advertisement 'She continues to insert salacious lies and fabrications into her complaints—knowing that the media may report them as fact, as happened yesterday—she hopes to coerce the Phoenix Suns into settling. Sheree Wright will not extort our organization and never see a single dollar. 'We will pursue all available legal avenues and hold those accountable for participating in the spread of misleading and false narratives.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Phoenix Suns CEO Accused Of Affair With Former Mercury Player In Lawsuit
The Phoenix Suns and their sister WNBA franchise, the Phoenix Mercury, are facing a firestorm of controversy after a bombshell lawsuit accused CEO Josh Bartelstein of having an improper relationship with former Mercury player Sophie Cunningham. The accusation, embedded within a broader legal case involving racial discrimination and workplace misconduct, has sent shockwaves through the NBA and WNBA communities. The allegation was made by Gene Traylor, the Suns' former director of safety, security, and risk management, who filed a federal lawsuit in May 2025. Traylor claimed that Bartelstein was the subject of damaging internal rumors, specifically one spread by Cornelius Craig, the organization's VP of security. According to the court filing, Craig allegedly told employees that 'Josh Bartelstein is f**king Sophie Cunningham.' Traylor says he reported this to Bartelstein directly, citing it as a major reputational risk for the organization. Neither Bartelstein nor Cunningham has publicly responded to the accusations. However, if proven true, the implications are serious, particularly because Bartelstein oversees both the Suns and Mercury, making any intimate involvement with a player under his organizational purview a potential conflict of interest. Cunningham, 28, played for the Mercury from 2019 to 2024 before being traded to the Indiana Fever this past February. She had recently signed a contract extension through 2025 and was widely considered a fan favorite in Phoenix. In a prior statement, she had praised Suns owner Mat Ishbia's leadership and called Phoenix her 'home away from home.' Her sudden departure is now under renewed scrutiny. Bartelstein, a former Michigan basketball player and the son of longtime NBA agent Mark Bartelstein, was hired as CEO in 2023 following Ishbia's $4 billion acquisition of the Suns and Mercury. Married since 2022, Bartelstein publicly lauded his wife, Sydney in interviews as the backbone of his demanding executive role, adding yet another layer of personal and professional complexity to the scandal. This lawsuit is just the latest in a growing list of legal troubles for the Suns franchise. Traylor's suit joins three other federal lawsuits filed against the team since November 2024, all alleging a toxic workplace environment, racial discrimination, retaliatory demotions, and security negligence. Traylor, who is Black, also alleged that he was marginalized for raising security concerns, including vulnerabilities that were later confirmed by Phoenix Police during undercover testing, some involving the smuggling of weapons into the arena. The organization has fiercely denied all accusations. The Suns' senior VP of communications called the lawsuits 'delusional and categorically false' and accused Traylor's attorney, Sheree Wright, of attempting to extort the franchise. They highlighted Wright's probationary status with the State Bar of Arizona as evidence of her supposed lack of credibility, a counterattack Wright called a deflection from the franchise's systemic failings. The lawsuit adds to growing skepticism over Ishbia's promised 'new era' of professionalism, especially following the Robert Sarver scandal that led to the team's sale. What was supposed to be a clean slate under new ownership is now being stained by scandal, legal turmoil, and allegations of misconduct at the highest levels.
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham accused of having affair with Suns, Mercury CEO in bombshell lawsuit
Former Mercury star Sophie Cunningham is alleged to have had an affair with married Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein, according to a lawsuit, as detailed by the Daily Mail. Gene Traylor, the Suns' director of safety, security and risk management, filed a lawsuit in May alleging racial discrimination and security issues within the franchises, in which he claims he told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the franchise's VP of security and risk management, had been telling people that Bartelstein allegedly was having an affair with Cunningham. 'Plaintiff also shared with Bartelstein that Craig had been spreading damaging information that could jeopardize the organization,' the lawsuit reads, per Awful Announcing. 'When Bartelstein asked Plaintiff to reveal what Craig was saying, Plaintiff explained that Craig had been telling others, 'Josh Bartelstein is f–king Sophie Cunningham.'' 5 Cunningham celebrates while with the Mercury in 2022. Getty Images 5 Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein. Getty Images Cunningham, 28, played for the Mercury from 2019-24 after the franchise drafted her in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft. The franchise signed Cunningham to an extension through the 2025 season last September before trading her to the Fever this February. She did not play in the Fever's controversial season-opening win over the Sky on Saturday, as she is dealing with an injury 'Phoenix has become my home away from home, and I am so thrilled to be in the Valley and continue to get to play in front of the best fans in the W – the X-Factor,' Cunningham, at the time, said in a press release. 'The investments (owner) Mat (Ishbia) is making in our organization are unmatched and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of what we are building here, on the court and in the community.' 5 Sophie Cunningham was traded in February. @sophie_cham/Instagram 5 Sophie Cunningham (8) next to Caitlin Clark. NBAE via Getty Images Bartelstein, 35, has been married to his wife, Sydney, for two years as of November 2024, according to He praised his wife for allowing him to 'love' his job. '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,' Bartelstein told 'Me and Sydney have done it together, and she's a huge reason why I love what I get to do.' 5 Josh Bartelstein (r) and his wife, Sydney, in a photo from August 2022. @stellairbeauty/Instagram Bartelstein played basketball for Michigan and officially joined the Suns and Mercury as CEO in April 2023 following eight years working for the Pistons. A press release detailed his job duties as overseeing the business operations for the franchises. 'Josh understands our culture and values and shares our strategic vision for the Suns and Mercury,' Ishbia said in a statement two-plus years ago. 'His proven leadership abilities and deep experience in both the business and basketball sides of an organization makes him uniquely positioned to transform the teams into the best basketball franchises on and off the court.'
International Business Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- International Business Times
Sophie Cunningham: WNBA Star Accused of Having Affair with Married Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein
WNBA player Sophie Cunningham has been named in a new lawsuit, alleging her of having an affair with the married CEO of both the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury. A top team official told the claimant that Josh Bartelstein was having relationship with Cunningham, who currently plays alongside Caitlin Clark, the lawsuit claims. Bartelstein married Sydney in 2022. The legal complaint was filed in May by Gene Traylor, the Suns' current director of security. Traylor accuses them of racial discrimination and claims they ignored his safety concerns, which resulted in major security breaches— including when Brittney Griner was harassed at an airport after her release from a Russian prison. Bombshell Claims The lawsuit also alleges that Traylor told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the Vice President of Security and Risk Management, was spreading harmful rumors about him that could put the organization at risk. In the complaint, Traylor describes a conversation with Bartelstein during which he says Craig had been telling others, "Josh Bartelstein is f***ing Sophie Cunningham." Neither Cunningham, who was traded from the Mercury to the Indiana Fever in January, nor Bartelstein have made any public statements regarding the accusations or addressed their accuracy. In response to ESPN last week, the Suns took aim at Sheree Wright, one of the lawyers representing Traylor alongside Courtney Walters. "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 spokeswoman said. "This time, Ms. Wright and her client have made absurd accusations of misconduct surrounding the security department of the Phoenix Suns. These allegations are delusional and categorically false." Maintaining a Happy Married Life In a November 2024 interview with Phoenix Mag, Bartelstein, a former college basketball athlete, spoke highly of his wife Sydney's impact on his everyday life. "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." Cunningham missed the Indiana Fever's opening game of the 2025 WNBA season on Saturday due to an ankle injury she suffered during a preseason matchup against the Atlanta Dream on May 10. Despite Cunningham's absence, the Fever dominated with a commanding 93-58 win over the Chicago Sky, with Caitlin Clark's ongoing rivalry with Angel Reese grabbing the spotlight. In the third quarter, Clark knocked Reese to the floor while trying to prevent her from scoring an easy two points—a play that the referees later upgraded to a flagrant foul. Reese was furious at Clark, and players from both teams had to step in to restrain her as Clark walked away from the confrontation. Reese was heard shouting, "you crazy f***" at Clark before she left the court to calm down. Clark and the Fever will return to the court on Tuesday night to face Atlanta, now with Brittney Griner on their roster.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein Accused of Affair with Former Mercury Star Sophie Cunningham in Explosive Lawsuit
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. 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. 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. Traylor's lawsuit joins three others already filed in Arizona federal court, each backed by attorney Sheree D. Wright of IBF Law Group. In April, a Hispanic female employee (referred to as Jane Doe) filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation, discrimination, and a hostile work environment. 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. 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 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.' 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. The post Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein Accused of Affair with Former Mercury Star Sophie Cunningham in Explosive Lawsuit appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
