WNBA star Sophie Cunningham accused of having affair with Suns, Mercury CEO in bombshell lawsuit
Gene Traylor, the Suns' 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's VP of security and risk management, had been telling people that Bartelstein allegedly was having an affair with Cunningham.
'Plaintiff also shared with Bartelstein that Craig had been spreading damaging information that could jeopardize the organization,' the lawsuit reads, per Awful Announcing.
'When Bartelstein asked Plaintiff to reveal what Craig was saying, Plaintiff explained that Craig had been telling others, 'Josh Bartelstein is f–king Sophie Cunningham.''
5 Cunningham celebrates while with the Mercury in 2022.
Getty Images
5 Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein.
Getty Images
Cunningham, 28, played for the Mercury from 2019-24 after the franchise drafted her in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft.
The franchise signed Cunningham to an extension through the 2025 season last September before trading her to the Fever this February.
She did not play in the Fever's controversial season-opening win over the Sky on Saturday, as she is dealing with an injury
'Phoenix has become my home away from home, and I am so thrilled to be in the Valley and continue to get to play in front of the best fans in the W – the X-Factor,' Cunningham, at the time, said in a press release. 'The investments (owner) Mat (Ishbia) is making in our organization are unmatched and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of what we are building here, on the court and in the community.'
5 Sophie Cunningham was traded in February.
@sophie_cham/Instagram
5 Sophie Cunningham (8) next to Caitlin Clark.
NBAE via Getty Images
Bartelstein, 35, has been married to his wife, Sydney, for two years as of November 2024, according to phoenixmag.com.
He praised his wife for allowing him to 'love' his job.
'This job is incredibly demanding. It's the best job ever, but it's long hours, high-stress and -pressure, and public-facing. And I travel a lot,' Bartelstein told phoenixmag.com. 'Me and Sydney have done it together, and she's a huge reason why I love what I get to do.'
5 Josh Bartelstein (r) and his wife, Sydney, in a photo from August 2022.
@stellairbeauty/Instagram
Bartelstein played basketball for Michigan and officially joined the Suns and Mercury as CEO in April 2023 following eight years working for the Pistons.
A press release detailed his job duties as overseeing the business operations for the franchises.
'Josh understands our culture and values and shares our strategic vision for the Suns and Mercury,' Ishbia said in a statement two-plus years ago. 'His proven leadership abilities and deep experience in both the business and basketball sides of an organization makes him uniquely positioned to transform the teams into the best basketball franchises on and off the court.'
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