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Associated Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Employee who sued Suns for discrimination and retaliation is fired by organization
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have fired an employee who filed a lawsuit against the team in May that alleges discrimination, harassment based on race and unlawful retaliation. The Suns confirmed on Monday that Gene Traylor — who was hired by the Suns in January 2023 as the director of safety, security and risk management — is no longer with the organization. 'While the organization typically does not comment on internal personnel matters, Mr. Traylor, or his attorney, Sheree Wright, apparently opted to publicize his termination,' Stacey Mitch, the Suns' senior vice president of communications, said in a statement. 'Mr. Traylor was terminated from his position as a security manager because an independent, outside investigation concluded that he violated company policies with respect to confidential information about security operations and he was intentionally untruthful with the investigator.' One of the lawyers representing Traylor — Cortney Walters — responded that her client's firing was not part of a 'legitimate investigation.' 'It was a retaliatory act disguised as policy enforcement,' Walters said in a statement. 'It is part of a broader pattern of discrimination and retaliation that we have outlined in this lawsuit and in several others we have filed. The Suns have cultivated a workplace culture that silences employees who raise concerns, punishes those who speak up, and protects those in power. We will continue to confront this toxic culture and stand by our client to hold the Suns accountable.' ESPN first reported that Traylor had been fired. In the May lawsuit, Traylor alleges that a security presentation he gave to management led to retaliation by members of the organization, and that he was eventually demoted. Traylor's suit also says that the Suns failed multiple arena security tests. It alleges that the Phoenix Police Department's Homeland Defense Bureau conducted tests in 2023 and 2024 and plainclothes officers were able to smuggle weapons into the arena. Traylor's suit is the latest of multiple legal actions against the Suns and WNBA team Phoenix Mercury, which are both owned by Mat Ishbia. In November, Andrea Trischan sued the team, alleging racial discrimination and unlawful retaliation that led to her termination. Trischan was the team's former manager of diversity, equity and inclusion for about 10 months in 2022 and 2023. Earlier this month, former Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging unequal treatment based on race and gender, unequal pay based on race and that her employment was terminated in retaliation for complaints about unequal treatment. ___ AP NBA:
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Former Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue accuses team in lawsuit of racial and gender discrimination
PHOENIX — Lawyers for former Phoenix Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue have filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging unequal treatment based on race and gender, unequal pay based on race and that her employment was terminated in retaliation for complaints about unequal treatment. Former Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue accuses team in lawsuit of racial and gender discrimination The suit was filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Arizona. Blue, who is Black, was hired in 2022 as an assistant coach and was named the team's interim coach in June 2023 after Vanessa Nygaard was fired midseason. Blue had a 7-21 record in the interim role. Blue was not retained after the season. The Mercury hired Orlando Magic assistant Nate Tibbets, who is white. The suit claims that Blue was paid $250,000 in her interim role, which was less than the $375,000 that Nygaard, who is white, was making. Tibbets is reportedly making more than $1 million per season. Blue also claims that the Mercury organization set her up to fail, making roster decisions in 2023 that made the team noncompetitive. 'Despite her exemplary record and professionalism, Ms. Blue was cast aside, demeaned, and denied the opportunity to lead,' the law firm Mesidor PLLC, co-counsel on the case, said in a statement. 'This lawsuit is not just about one woman's career — it's about the pervasive, institutional disrespect for Black women in sports leadership.' One of Blue's lawyers is Sheree Wright, who has filed other suits against the NBA's Phoenix Suns and the Mercury in recent seasons. 'This is the fifth lawsuit brought against the organization by Sheree Wright, an attorney who has been disciplined twice by the Supreme Court of Arizona for committing numerous violations of the rules of professional conduct — including making false and unsupported allegations of racial bias against a judge," Suns and Mercury senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch said in a statement. "Like Ms. Wright's other cases, this case is completely meritless. Ms. Blue was interviewed and considered for the head coach position, but didn't get the position based on her performance as interim head coach, as well as her limited professional coaching experience. 'Sheree Wright's continued abuse of the legal system for financial gain is unethical.' WNBA: /hub/wnba-basketball This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
San Francisco Chronicle
04-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Former Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue accuses team in lawsuit of racial and gender discrimination
PHOENIX (AP) — Lawyers for former Phoenix Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue have filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging unequal treatment based on race and gender, unequal pay based on race and that her employment was terminated in retaliation for complaints about unequal treatment. The suit was filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Arizona. Blue, who is Black, was hired in 2022 as an assistant coach and was named the team's interim coach in June 2023 after Vanessa Nygaard was fired midseason. Blue had a 7-21 record in the interim role. Blue was not retained after the season. The Mercury hired Orlando Magic assistant Nate Tibbets, who is white. The suit claims that Blue was paid $250,000 in her interim role, which was less than the $375,000 that Nygaard, who is white, was making. Tibbets is reportedly making more than $1 million per season. Blue also claims that the Mercury organization set her up to fail, making roster decisions in 2023 that made the team noncompetitive. 'Despite her exemplary record and professionalism, Ms. Blue was cast aside, demeaned, and denied the opportunity to lead,' the law firm Mesidor PLLC, co-counsel on the case, said in a statement. 'This lawsuit is not just about one woman's career — it's about the pervasive, institutional disrespect for Black women in sports leadership.' One of Blue's lawyers is Sheree Wright, who has filed other suits against the NBA's Phoenix Suns and the Mercury in recent seasons. 'This is the fifth lawsuit brought against the organization by Sheree Wright, an attorney who has been disciplined twice by the Supreme Court of Arizona for committing numerous violations of the rules of professional conduct — including making false and unsupported allegations of racial bias against a judge," Suns and Mercury senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch said in a statement. "Like Ms. Wright's other cases, this case is completely meritless. Ms. Blue was interviewed and considered for the head coach position, but didn't get the position based on her performance as interim head coach, as well as her limited professional coaching experience. 'Sheree Wright's continued abuse of the legal system for financial gain is unethical.'
Washington Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Former Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue accuses team in lawsuit of racial and gender discrimination
PHOENIX — Lawyers for former Phoenix Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue have filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging unequal treatment based on race and gender, unequal pay based on race and that her employment was terminated in retaliation for complaints about unequal treatment. The suit was filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Arizona. Blue, who is Black, was hired in 2022 as an assistant coach and was named the team's interim coach in June 2023 after Vanessa Nygaard was fired midseason. Blue had a 7-21 record in the interim role. Blue was not retained after the season. The Mercury hired Orlando Magic assistant Nate Tibbets, who is white. The suit claims that Blue was paid $250,000 in her interim role, which was less than the $375,000 that Nygaard, who is white, was making. Tibbets is reportedly making more than $1 million per season. Blue also claims that the Mercury organization set her up to fail, making roster decisions in 2023 that made the team noncompetitive. 'Despite her exemplary record and professionalism, Ms. Blue was cast aside, demeaned, and denied the opportunity to lead,' the law firm Mesidor PLLC, co-counsel on the case, said in a statement. 'This lawsuit is not just about one woman's career — it's about the pervasive, institutional disrespect for Black women in sports leadership.' One of Blue's lawyers is Sheree Wright, who has filed other suits against the NBA's Phoenix Suns and the Mercury in recent seasons. 'This is the fifth lawsuit brought against the organization by Sheree Wright, an attorney who has been disciplined twice by the Supreme Court of Arizona for committing numerous violations of the rules of professional conduct — including making false and unsupported allegations of racial bias against a judge,' Suns and Mercury senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch said in a statement. 'Like Ms. Wright's other cases, this case is completely meritless. Ms. Blue was interviewed and considered for the head coach position, but didn't get the position based on her performance as interim head coach, as well as her limited professional coaching experience. 'Sheree Wright's continued abuse of the legal system for financial gain is unethical.' ___ AP WNBA:
Winnipeg Free Press
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue accuses team in lawsuit of racial and gender discrimination
PHOENIX (AP) — Lawyers for former Phoenix Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue have filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging unequal treatment based on race and gender, unequal pay based on race and that her employment was terminated in retaliation for complaints about unequal treatment. The suit was filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Arizona. Blue, who is Black, was hired in 2022 as an assistant coach and was named the team's interim coach in June 2023 after Vanessa Nygaard was fired midseason. Blue had a 7-21 record in the interim role. Blue was not retained after the season. The Mercury hired Orlando Magic assistant Nate Tibbets, who is white. The suit claims that Blue was paid $250,000 in her interim role, which was less than the $375,000 that Nygaard, who is white, was making. Tibbets is reportedly making more than $1 million per season. Blue also claims that the Mercury organization set her up to fail, making roster decisions in 2023 that made the team noncompetitive. 'Despite her exemplary record and professionalism, Ms. Blue was cast aside, demeaned, and denied the opportunity to lead,' the law firm Mesidor PLLC, co-counsel on the case, said in a statement. 'This lawsuit is not just about one woman's career — it's about the pervasive, institutional disrespect for Black women in sports leadership.' One of Blue's lawyers is Sheree Wright, who has filed other suits against the NBA's Phoenix Suns and the Mercury in recent seasons. 'This is the fifth lawsuit brought against the organization by Sheree Wright, an attorney who has been disciplined twice by the Supreme Court of Arizona for committing numerous violations of the rules of professional conduct — including making false and unsupported allegations of racial bias against a judge,' Suns and Mercury senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch said in a statement. 'Like Ms. Wright's other cases, this case is completely meritless. Ms. Blue was interviewed and considered for the head coach position, but didn't get the position based on her performance as interim head coach, as well as her limited professional coaching experience. 'Sheree Wright's continued abuse of the legal system for financial gain is unethical.' ___ AP WNBA:
