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Ever since Mat Ishbia bought the Suns and Mercury from Robert Sarver in 2023, he's faced several controversies regarding the culture of his organizations.
Most recently, the Phoenix teams are facing a lawsuit from their former director of safety, security, and risk management regarding racial discrimination and lack of care regarding safety concerns. In that lawsuit is an allegation involving Sophie Cunningham, the former Mercury player who was traded to the Fever in the offseason.
Both Cunningham and the organization have denied those allegations, calling them "false" and "morally reprehensible."
Here's a breakdown of the Sophie Cunningham controversy so far.
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Sophie Cunningham controversy, explained
On May 13th, former Phoenix Suns and Mercury director of safety, security, and risk management Gene Traylor sued the organization for racial discrimination and failing to address "urgent" safety concerns that he brought up to management.
As part of the lawsuit, Traylor alleges that Suns CEO Josh Bartlestein had an affair with Cunningham while Cunningham played for the Mercury. Traylor claims that the organization hired Cornelius Craig as the vice president of security and risk management as his eventual replacement, but Craig's behavior was unstable, which included Craig telling people about Bartlestein and Cunningham's alleged relationship.
Both Cunningham and the Mercury have denied those allegations since the lawsuit came to light.
"The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible," Suns spokesperson Stacey Mitch said, via Front Office Sports. "Let's be absolutely clear about the origin of these claims."
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A day later, Cunningham released her own statement on the matter.
"I am deeply saddened by the recent false accusations made against me by Gene Traylor, someone I do not know and have never met," she said. "I am here to compete, play basketball at the highest level and win for my team and my fans, while inspiring other women that they can do or be anything they ever dream of becoming. I hold myself to the highest integrity and my values are what guide me on and off the court."
MORE: Why Suns are facing multiple allegations of workplace mismanagement, sexual harassment
Cunningham also criticized the media for not approaching her about the allegations before reporting about the lawsuit.
"To the media who reported on this, I have always spoken the truth and been transparent with any press inquiry," she said. "In this instance, it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for a comment about the accusation before several clickbait stories went to print."
— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) May 21, 2025Cunningham was drafted by the Mercury in 2019 and spent the first six season of her career with the team before Phoenix traded her to the Fever in the offseason.
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