Former Mercury star Sophie Cunningham is alleged to have had an affair with married Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein, according to a lawsuit. <\/p>\n
Gene Traylor, the Suns\u2019 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\u2019s VP of security and risk management, had been telling people that Bartelstein allegedly was having an affair with Cunningham.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaintiff also shared with Bartelstein that Craig had been spreading damaging information that could jeopardize the organization,\u201d the lawsuit reads, per Awful Announcing<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Bartelstein asked Plaintiff to reveal what Craig was saying, Plaintiff explained that Craig had been telling others, \u2018Josh Bartelstein is f\u2013king Sophie Cunningham.’\u201d<\/p>\n Cunningham celebrates while with the Mercury in 2022. Getty Images<\/p>\n Cunningham, 28, played for the Mercury from 2019-24 after the franchise drafted her in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft.<\/p>\n The franchise signed Cunningham to an extension through the 2025 season last September before trading her to the Fever this February.<\/p>\n Sophie Cunningham at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n She did not play in the Fever\u2019s controversial season-opening win over the Sky<\/a> on Saturday, as she is dealing with an injury.<\/p>\n \u201cPhoenix has become my home away from home, and I am so thrilled\u00a0to be in the Valley and continue to get to play in front of the best fans in the W \u2013 the X-Factor,\u201d Cunningham, at the time, said in a press release<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cThe investments (owner) Mat (Ishbia) is making in our organization are unmatched and I couldn\u2019t be more excited to be a part of what we are building here, on the court and in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein. Getty Images<\/p>\n Sophie Cunningham was traded in February. @sophie_cham\/Instagram<\/p>\n Bartelstein, 35, has been married to his wife, Sydney, for two years as of November 2024, according to phoenixmag.com.<\/p>\n