Brittney Griner Controversy Spells More Trouble For Phoenix Mercury CEO After Sophie Cunningham Affair Accusation

Things haven’t been going well if you’re a Phoenix Mercury fan. Diana Taurasi has retired, and key players like Sophie Cunningham and Brittney Griner have moved on. The team lost four of its five starters from last season, with Kahleah Copper being the lone starter still around. While the on-court outlook seems shaky, the off-court situation might be even worse. CEO Josh Bartelstein is currently facing all kinds of trouble.

As reported by Front Office Sports, former Phoenix Suns Director of Security Gene Traylor filed a lawsuit against the franchise and its affiliated companies, citing racial discrimination and a failure to implement proper security protocols. In one part of the lawsuit, Traylor claimed that Cornelius Craig, the team’s Vice President of Security and Risk Management, demoted him on his very first day.

Traylor also said he raised concerns to CEO Josh Bartelstein about Craig’s conduct, as he felt Craig was intentionally targeting him. But that wasn’t all! Traylor claims he told CEO Josh Bartelstein that Craig had been spreading rumors about Bartelstein allegedly having an affair with Sophie Cunningham.

While the affair allegation has certainly become a topic of discussion on online forums, it’s also crucial to focus on the deeper concerns raised in the lawsuit. Gene Traylor didn’t just bring up rumors–he pointed to serious lapses in security that, in his view, led to Brittney Griner being harassed by a YouTuber at an airport in 2023. That troubling incident ultimately resulted in Griner receiving clearance to travel via charter flights. But Traylor believes the whole situation could’ve been avoided if his warnings had been acted upon earlier.

In an email to Front Office Sports, Stacey Mitch, the team’s Senior Vice President of Communications, responded to the lawsuit by calling the latest allegations “delusional and categorically false.” But this isn’t the first time the franchise has come under fire. The team has been sued multiple times in federal court over claims of workplace mismanagement–ranging from racial discrimination and retaliatory firings to se-ual har-ssment. In fact, four separate lawsuits have been filed since November of last year, all occurring after Mat Ishbia took over ownership in December 2022.

The alleged interaction between Traylor and Bartelstein reportedly happened on October 10, 2024. Not long after, Sophie Cunningham was traded to the Indiana Fever in January 2025. Coincidence? That’s exactly what some conspiracy theorists on social media are questioning. According to them, the timing is too neat–Cunningham received a significant two-year contract extension before being included in a four-team trade that sent her to Indiana. To them, it looks like a textbook case of a workplace affair followed by a quiet exit to avoid further rumors and speculation.

But for Cunningham, this controversy is just one of the many hurdles she’s dealing with right now. She’s also in the middle of recovering from an ankle sprain, which has kept her off the court. Coach White now has some updates regarding her status.

Coach White gives Sophie Cunningham an injury update

Sophie Cunningham picked up an ankle sprain during Indiana’s final preseason matchup against the Atlanta Dream on May 10. The injury sidelined her for the season opener against the Chicago Sky. However, there’s been a bit of good news since–she was spotted participating in the open portion of team practice. Head coach Stephanie White has now shared an update on Cunningham’s injury status.

“She continues to be day-to-day,” White said. “Every 24 hours, she continues to make great progress. It’s a long season, so we want to make sure we’re making the best long-term decisions when it comes to her health and wellness and her ability to produce for our team.”

It’s still early in the season, and the Fever will be cautious not to jeopardize Cunningham’s long-term health by bringing her back too soon. As for the lawsuit, how it all unfolds remains uncertain. The allegations are serious, but Cunningham has yet to comment publicly. Right now, her main focus is on recovery and getting back on the court, doing what she does best–hooping.

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