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yesterday

Phoenix Suns CEO Denies Affair Allegations in Lawsuit by Former Security Director

Gene Traylor's lawsuit accuses Josh Bartelstein of misconduct, racial discrimination, and retaliation, claims the Suns organization refutes as false and defamatory.

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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in action during the game against Brazil National Team at Carver-Haweye Arena.

Overview

  • Gene Traylor, a former Suns security director, filed a lawsuit alleging an affair between CEO Josh Bartelstein and WNBA player Sophie Cunningham, alongside claims of racial discrimination and workplace retaliation.
  • The lawsuit accuses Suns VP Cornelius Craig of spreading rumors about the alleged affair, which Traylor claims he reported to Bartelstein as damaging to the organization.
  • The Suns and Mercury, through Senior VP Stacey Mitch, have categorically denied the affair allegations, calling them false and morally reprehensible.
  • The organization has announced plans to pursue legal action against those propagating what they describe as misleading narratives.
  • Cunningham, a former Phoenix Mercury player, was traded to the Indiana Fever in February 2025, while Bartelstein has been married to his wife, Sydney Cox, since 2022.