The Phoenix Suns are facing another messy lawsuit. This time, the story involves WNBA player Sophie Cunningham and a wild accusation that she had an affair with Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein. But the claim didn’t come from her — it came from a senior Suns executive allegedly trying to stir up drama inside the organization.
Cunningham has recently garnered attention after “defending” Indiana Fever teammate, Caitlin Clark, a moment that sent her jersey sales soaring and put her in the national spotlight.
What is the Sophie Cunningham Allegation?
Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has been named in the latest lawsuit against the Suns.
She’s accused of having an AFFAIR with the team’s CEO… who’s still married. 😳
A thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/tF2AAPZPPi
— Kicks (@kicks) May 19, 2025
This started with a lawsuit filed by Gene Traylor, the former head of security for the Suns. In the filing, Traylor says that Suns VP of security Cornelius Craig spread a rumor that Bartelstein was “f—ing Sophie Cunningham.” At the time, Cunningham played for the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA team owned by the same group as the Suns.
Traylor says he reported the alleged comment to team leadership, including Bartelstein, who is married. Not long after, Traylor was fired. He’s now suing for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Cunningham was recently trending again after a hard foul late in an Indiana Fever game against the Connecticut Suns. Cunningham was praised in some quarters for coming to the defense of Caitlin Clark. Afterwards, her jersey sold out, and her popularity is on the rise. But that spike in visibility has also brought renewed attention to the Suns lawsuit and its use of her name.
Have Sophie Cunningham or Josh Bartelstein Responded?
No. As of now, neither Sophie Cunningham nor Josh Bartelstein has said anything publicly about the lawsuit or the alleged rumor. There’s no evidence the relationship ever existed. The entire claim is about what one Suns exec allegedly said, not what actually happened.
Suns Call Allegations “False and Morally Reprehensible”
The Suns called the accusations “entirely false and morally reprehensible.” They also attacked Traylor’s lawyer, Sheree Wright, saying she has a disciplinary history with the state bar and has filed several lawsuits against the organization that they claim are part of a “$140 million shakedown.”
They’re accusing her of making up the Sophie Cunningham affair rumor to embarrass the team and force a payout.
Did the Sophie Cunningham and Suns CEO Affair Happen?
There’s no proof that anything happened between Cunningham and Bartelstein. The lawsuit doesn’t present any evidence of a relationship — it just repeats what one person allegedly said. Until either of them speaks or hard evidence surfaces, it looks like this was a rumor that got dragged into a bigger legal mess.
Why This Matters for Everyone Involved
- The Suns are already under scrutiny for workplace issues, and this adds fuel to that fire.
- Sophie Cunningham’s name is being used in a high-profile case with no input or comment from her.
- It raises questions about how the Suns handle internal complaints and retaliation.
This is part of a legal fight with millions at stake, reputations on the line, and the Suns front office under more pressure than ever.
