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Indiana Fever -vagt Sophie Cunningham treated claims that she had a sexual relationship with Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein.
The claim was mentioned in a trial filed by former Sun’s employee Gene Traylor, who sues Sun’s Legacy Partners, LLC, for alleged discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
The trial said Traylor told Bartelstein that another employee spread gossip about the married director with an affair with Cunningham.
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Indiana Fever-Guard Sophie Cunningham responds during the third quarter to Brazil national team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, May 4, 2025. (Jeffrey Becker/Imag- Pictures)
The former Mercury player released a statement on Wednesday.
“I am deeply saddened by the recent false accusations against me of 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’m here to compete, play basketball at the highest level and win for my team and my fans while inspiring other women as they can do or be all they ever dream of becoming. I stick to the highest integrity and my values is what guides me to and off the field.
“To the media that reported this, I have always spoken the truth and been transparent to (a) press investigation. In this case, it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for a comment on the accusation until more clickbait stories went to print.
Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein during the first half of a game between Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., May 17, 2025 (Joe Camporeale/Imag images)
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“I don’t want to let untrue gossip take my focus away from what’s most important to me, which is basketball, my supportive team and fans.”
Suns denied the affair in a statement from Senior Vice President of Communication Stacey Mitch and called it “completely false and morally reprehensible.”
The team accused Traylor’s lawyer, Sharee, Wright of having included “Salacious Lies and Festive in her complaints.”
Sophie Cunningham speaks to members of the media at player 15 HQ in Phoenix September 26, 2024. (Diannie Chavez/The Republic/USA Today Network via Imag images)
Wright called Sun’s’ statement “not only defamatory,” but an “act of open retaliation against protected legal advocacy.”
