Former Mercury star Sophie Cunningham is alleged to have had an affair with married Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein, in keeping with a lawsuit.
Gene Traylor, a Suns worker and former director of security, safety and threat administration, filed a lawsuit this month in opposition to Suns Legacy Companions, LLC wherein he claimed he advised Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the franchises’ vp of safety and threat administration, had been telling those who 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.
“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.’”
Cunningham, 28, performed for the Mercury from 2019-24 after the franchise drafted her within the second spherical of the 2019 WNBA Draft.
The Mercury signed Cunningham to an extension via the 2025 season final September earlier than buying and selling her to the Fever this February.
She didn’t play within the Fever’s controversial season-opening win over the Sky on Saturday, as she is coping with an damage.
“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 mentioned in a press launch about her extension. “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.”
Bartelstein, 35, has been married to his spouse, Sydney, for 2 years as of November 2024, in keeping with phoenixmag.com.
He praised his spouse for permitting 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 advised phoenixmag.com. “Me and Sydney have done it together, and she’s a huge reason why I love what I get to do.”
Bartelstein performed basketball for Michigan and formally joined the Suns and Mercury as CEO in April 2023 following eight years working for the Pistons.
A press launch detailed his job duties as overseeing the enterprise operations for the franchises.
“Josh understands our culture and values and shares our strategic vision for the Suns and Mercury,” Ishbia mentioned in a press release two-plus years in the past. “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.”
