Suns Slam Shocking Affair Allegations Against CEO Josh Bartelstein as ‘Morally Reprehensible’ and Baseless

Oh, boy… just when you think the drama on and off the court couldn’t get any thicker, the Phoenix Suns have thrown gasoline on the fire. On Tuesday, the franchise blasted outright a claim that CEO Josh Bartelstein was involved in an alleged affair with former Mercury star Sophie Cunningham — and let me tell you, their response was anything but subtle. Delivered through a sharp statement by Stacey Mitch, the Suns didn’t just deny the rumor; they called it “morally reprehensible,” making it crystal clear where they stand on this explosive accusation swirling around a lawsuit filed by their former security director, Gene Traylor.

This isn’t just some tabloid fluff. The lawsuit itself dives into serious allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, stemming from Traylor’s claims about security cracks at PHX Arena — including, get this, plainclothes cops smuggling in weapons during tests. Now, mixed into all that is the incendiary whisper about Bartelstein and Cunningham. Although it’s not the hotspot of the suit, the rumor’s caught fire in the media, spotlighting the complicated relationships inside the Suns’ organization — especially considering Bartelstein is married and Cunningham was under his professional watch as CEO, before being traded overseas.

With neither party addressing the rumors publicly, and attorney Sheree Wright (who’s behind a string of lawsuits against the franchise) caught in a war of words with the Suns’ communications team, the saga just keeps unfolding. It’s a tangled web of legal battles, whispered allegations, and an organization scrambling to defend its integrity—raising more questions than answers as we watch closely.

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AdvertisementThe Phoenix Suns issued a scathing denial on Tuesday in response to a claim that CEO Josh Bartelstein had an affair with former Mercury player Sophie Cunningham.

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The lawsuit accuses Craig of erratic behavior and cites a meeting between Traylor and Bartelstein in which Traylor allegedly told Bartelstein that Craig had been telling others that “Josh Bartelstein is f***ing Sophie Cunningham.”Traylor, a current employee of the Suns, sued the team last week, alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation. ESPN first reported the lawsuit. The claim of an affair between Bartelstein and Cunningham is mentioned in passing but is not the focus of the lawsuit.

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“The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible,” the statement reads. “Let’s absolutely be clear about the origins of these claims.”

“Ms. Wright and her client have made absurd accusations of misconduct surrounding the security department of the Phoenix Suns,” Mitch’s statement reads. “These allegations are delusional and categorically false.”

Cunningham played six seasons with the Suns from 2019 to 2024. The Suns traded Cunningham in the offseason to the Indiana Fever. Bartelstein is married and was Cunningham’s professional superior as the CEO of both the Suns and Mercury.