Latest news with #GeneTraylor
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Extremely hurtful': WNBA player hits back at cheating allegations
Former Mercury forward Sophie Cunningham has denied allegations that she had an affair with Josh Bartelstein, the married CEO of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, which was mentioned in a lawsuit filed in May by Gene Traylor, the director of security for the Suns. The 28-year-old Cunningham, who was traded to the Indiana Fever in January, explained that she does not know Traylor and called the allegations 'untrue and extremely hurtful' in a statement posted to her social media, the NY Post reports. 'I am deeply saddened by the recent false accusation made against me by Gene Traylor, someone I do not know and have never met,' Cunningham said. 'Let me be clear his statements are untrue and extremely hurtful. '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. 'To the media who reported on this, I have always spoken the truth and been transparent with any press inquiry. In this instance it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for comment about the accusation before several clickbait stories went to print. 'I will not let untrue gossip take my focus away from what is most important to me which is basketball, my supportive team and my fans.' Cunningham played for the Mercury from 2019 until 2024. The franchise drafted her in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft. Traylor alleges in his lawsuit that Cornelius Craig, the Suns' vice president of security and risk management, claimed Bartelstein was engaged in an affair with Cunningham. Bartelstein, 35, who has yet to address the allegations, has been married to his wife, Sydney, for two years as of November 2024, according to Phoenix Mag. Traylor's lawsuit, first reported by ESPN, alleges discrimination, harassment and retaliation by the team. Traylor alleges in the lawsuit that the Suns hired Craig to get rid of him. The lawsuit claims the team demoted Traylor from his role as director of safety, security and risk management after he gave a presentation to management highlighting multiple incidents around the Suns and Mercury in 2023. Traylor also alleges the orgazniation discouraged him from taking protected leave after he was diagnosed with cancer. The Suns have denied Traylor's accusations. 'The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible,' Suns senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch said. Traylor is seeking undisclosed damages. 'We have seen the civil complaint filed Tuesday and will let the legal process take its course,' NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN.
National Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
WNBA star breaks silence on ‘hurtful' affair allegations with former team's CEO
After bombshell allegations of an affair with her former team's married CEO, Sophie Cunningham has fired back. Article content Article content The ex-Phoenix Mercury star is denying the claims made against her in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Gene Traylor, the director of security for the Suns. Article content In the lawsuit, it is alleged that Cunningham was engaged in an affair with Josh Bartelstein, the CEO of the Mercury and the NBA's Phoenix Suns. Article content Cunningham, who was traded to the Indiana Fever earlier this year, broke her silence on the claims with a statement posted Wednesday on social media, saying that the allegations are 'untrue and extremely hurtful' and that she doesn't even know Traylor. Article content 'I am deeply saddened by the recent false accusation made against me by Gene Traylor, someone I do not know and have never met,' Cunningham said. 'Let me be clear his statements are untrue and extremely hurtful. Article content — Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) May 21, 2025 Article content Article content '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. Article content Article content 'To the media who reported on this, I have always spoken the truth and been transparent with any press inquiry. In this instance it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for comment about the accusation before several clickbait stories went to print. Article content 'I will not let untrue gossip take my focus away from what is most important to me which is basketball, my supportive team and my fans. Article content The 28-year-old Cunningham played six seasons with the Mercury after the franchise selected her in the second round of the 2019 WNBA draft. Article content View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sophie Cunningham (@sophie_cham)
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Fever's Sophie Cunningham denies allegation of affair with WNBA team executive
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham addressed allegations she had a sexual relationship with Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein. The allegation was mentioned in a lawsuit filed by former Suns employee Gene Traylor, who is suing Suns Legacy Partners, LLC, for alleged discrimination, harassment and retaliation. The lawsuit said Traylor told Bartelstein that another employee was spreading gossip about the married executive having an affair with Cunningham. The former Mercury player released a statement Wednesday. "I am deeply saddened by the recent false accusations made against me by Gene Traylor, someone I do not know and have never met. Let me be clear, his statements are untrue and extremely hurtful," 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. "To the media who reported on this, I have always spoken the truth and been transparent with (a) press inquiry. In this instance it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for a comment about the accusation before several clickbait stories went to print. "I will not let untrue gossip take my focus away from what is most important to me which is basketball, my supportive team and fans." The Suns denied the affair in a statement from senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch, calling it "entirely false and morally reprehensible." The team blamed Traylor's attorney, Sharee, Wright for including "salacious lies and fabrications into her complaints." Wright called the Suns' statement "not only defamatory" but an "act of open retaliation against protected legal advocacy." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS WNBA star Sophie Cunningham breaks her silence on shocking claims she had an affair with Phoenix Suns CEO
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham has categorically denied claims she had an affair with the married CEO of the Phoenix Suns, calling the allegations 'untrue and extremely hurtful.' A senior team official accused Josh Bartelstein, the CEO of the Suns and Mercury, of having a relationship with Cunningham, now a teammate of Caitlin Clark at the Indiana Fever. That is according to a lawsuit filed by Gene Traylor, the Suns ' director of security, earlier in May. Bartelstein married his wife Sydney in 2022, while Cunningham joined the Fever in February following half a decade in Phoenix. The Suns branded the allegations 'morally reprehensible' and now Cunningham has broken her silence with a furious statement. 'I am deeply saddened by the recent false accusations made against me by Gene Traylor, someone I do not know and have never met. Let me be clear his statements are untrue and extremely hurtful,' she wrote on social media. '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. 'To the media who reported on this, I have always spoken the truth and been transparent with any press inquiry. In this instance it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for a comment about the accusations before several clickbait stories went to print. Cunningham did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment earlier this week. Her statement concluded: 'I will not let untrue gossip take my focus away from what is most important to me which is basketball, my supportive team and my fans.' Traylor accuses the Suns of racial discrimination and says they dismissed his safety concerns and it led to major breaches - such as when Britney Griner was harassed at an airport not long after her release from a Russian penal colony. However, the lawsuit also alleges that Traylor told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the Vice President of Security and Risk Management, was spreading 'damaging information about him that could jeopardize the organization.' Traylor recounts in the suit a conversation with Bartelstein where he claims that Craig had been telling people 'Josh Bartelstein is f***ing Sophie Cunningham.' On Tuesday, Suns spokesperson Stacey Mitch told Front Office Sports: 'The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible. 'Let's be absolutely clear about the origin of these claims.' The Suns last week also took aim at Sheree Wright, one of the attorneys representing Traylor along with Courtney Walters. 'The Supreme Court of Arizona has twice disciplined attorney Sheree Wright for committing numerous violations of the rules of professional conduct, and she is currently serving a two-year probation with the State Bar of Arizona,' a Suns spokeswoman said. 'This time, Ms. Wright and her client have made absurd accusations of misconduct surrounding the security department of the Phoenix Suns. These allegations are delusional and categorically false.' In a November 2024 interview with Phoenix Mag, Bartelstein, a former college basketball player, praised his wife Sydney's influence on his day-to-day life. '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,' he said. 'Me and Sydney have done it together, and she's a huge reason why I love what I get to do.' Cunningham has missed both of the Fever's games at the start of the 2025 WNBA season due to an ankle injury. Without her, the Fever enjoyed an emphatic 93-58 win against Chicago Sky on the opening day before losing 91-90 to the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Phoenix Suns address claims CEO had an affair with WNBA star Sophie Cunningham - who misses another Indiana Fever game
The Phoenix Suns have denied 'morally reprehensible' claims that the team's married CEO had an affair with WNBA star Sophie Cunningham. Daily Mail reported on Monday that a lawsuit alleges a senior team official told the claimant that Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein, who married his wife Sydney in 2022, was having a relationship with Cunningham, now a teammate of Caitlin Clark at the Indiana Fever. The lawsuit has been filed by Gene Traylor, a current employee of the Suns as their director of security at the organization, earlier in May. He accuses them of racial discrimination and says they dismissed his safety concerns and it led to major breaches - such as when Britney Griner was harassed at an airport not long after her release from a Russian penal colony. However, the lawsuit also alleges that Traylor told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the Vice President of Security and Risk Management, was spreading 'damaging information about him that could jeopardize the organization.' Traylor recounts in the suit a conversation with Bartelstein where he claims that Craig had been telling people 'Josh Bartelstein is f***ing Sophie Cunningham.' Neither Cunningham, who was traded from the Mercury to the Indiana Fever in January, nor Bartelstein have spoken publicly about the allegations or commented on whether or not they are true. However on Tuesday, Suns spokesperson Stacey Mitch told Front Office Sports: 'The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible. 'Let's be absolutely clear about the origin of these claims.' In response to ESPN last week the Suns also took aim at Sheree Wright, one of the attorneys representing Traylor along with Courtney Walters. 'The Supreme Court of Arizona has twice disciplined attorney Sheree Wright for committing numerous violations of the rules of professional conduct, and she is currently serving a two-year probation with the State Bar of Arizona,' a Suns spokeswoman said. 'This time, Ms. Wright and her client have made absurd accusations of misconduct surrounding the security department of the Phoenix Suns. These allegations are delusional and categorically false.' In a November 2024 interview with Phoenix Mag Bartelstein, a former college basketball player, praised his wife Sydney's influence on his day-to-day life. '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,' he said. 'Me and Sydney have done it together, and she's a huge reason why I love what I get to do.' It has been announced that Cunningham will miss the second game of the Fever's 2025 WNBA season on Tuesday due to an ankle injury sustained in a preseason game against Atlanta Dream on May 10. Without Cunningham, the Fever rampaged to an emphatic 93-58 win against Chicago Sky on Saturday, with Clark's ongoing rivalry with Angel Reese stealing the headlines. In the third quarter, Clark knocked Reese to the ground in a bid to stop her scoring an east two points - a move that referees upgraded to a flagrant foul. Reese was livid with Clark, with teammates on both sides intervening to hold her back while Clark walked away from the situation. Reese appeared to yell 'you crazy f***' in Clark's direction before she stepped away from the court to cool off.
