There has not been one peaceful day that goes by in the WNBA that we don’t have any controversial news in the recent weeks. Along with the multilayered controversy involving Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, we had another news story pop up that Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham was in a relationship with the married CEO of the Suns and Mercury, Josh Bartelstein, according to a lawsuit.

Gene Traylor, the Suns’ former head of safety and security, dropped a lawsuit that’s turning heads. He’s accusing the organization of racial discrimination and throwing in some serious claims about shady behavior behind the scenes.

Traylor’s lawsuit, filed on May 13, 2025, primarily focuses on racial discrimination and workplace retaliation, alleging he was demoted after raising concerns about security failures, such as incidents where weapons were smuggled into the arena during security tests. The affair claim is a smaller piece of a broader case against the Suns’ leadership under owner Mat Ishbia, who’s faced multiple lawsuits since taking over in 2022.

One of the wildest parts? Traylor says Cornelius Craig, vice president of security and risk management for the Suns, has been out here telling folks about an alleged relationship between exec Josh Bartelstein and Cunningham. 

Now the player herself has spoken out. Cunningham posted a statement addressing these claims after practice denying any truth to the allegations.

In her post on X, Cunningham wrote,

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 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.“

She also mentioned that the media did not reach out to her regarding any sort of statement from her and just ran with their stories. She further asserted that she only wants to play basketball at the top level and not be involved in any controversies. 

Even Josh Bartelstein has denied these allegations. “The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible,” Suns spokesperson Stacey Mitch told Front Office Sports.

The affair is not even the main point of the lawsuit. Traylor wanted to say that Craig had been behaving erratically and damaging the organization. To demonstrate the point, he recounts in the suit a conversation with Bartelstein where he claims that Craig had been telling people, “Josh Bartelstein is f***ing Sophie Cunningham.”

But somehow that became the thing that went viral on social media over the last few days and it doesn’t seem to get defused any time soon. Now starring for the Fever, Cunningham spent five seasons with the Mercury after being selected by the franchise in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft. Phoenix showed its commitment by signing her to an extension through the 2025 season last September, but plans quickly shifted. 

Just a few months later, in February, the Mercury traded her to Indiana, marking a new chapter in her career. The four-team trade brought Cunningham to a Fever squad looking to build a contender around Clark and Boston, with her three-point shooting and relentless energy seen as key assets.

The allegation, though unproven, raises tough questions about power dynamics in the WNBA. Bartelstein was Cunningham’s boss at the Mercury, so even a rumored relationship could start talk of conflicts of interest. The Suns faced similar scrutiny under former owner Robert Sarver for workplace issues, and this lawsuit keeps those concerns alive, especially for a league where players like Cunningham and Clark face constant public pressure.

Cunningham has missed both of the regular season games so far with an ankle injury but when will she debut in Fever colors?

Sophie Cunningham still not completely fit

Coming back to her on-field status, she was carried off the court after she rolled her ankle during their last preseason game against the Dream. She is still recovering since then, missing both of their opening matches. 

They especially missed her in their second game against the Dream when they desperately needed a scoring outlet off the bench with DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard both not in form. The management is still taking things cautiously, as she needs to be in perfect health to come back to the court. 

“It felt a little bit different without Sophie out there, just because she brings so much energy, and she’s like this big bright light that comes in,” White had said.

The recovery is going on steadily, according to the coach, as she told the media before the Atlanta game. On Monday, head coach Stephanie White explained that she wanted to take care of the guard.

 “She’s progressing well, and we see her every day with her movement,” the coach told reporters. “Every day we see her more confident, a little more balanced. I’m sure Sophie [Cunningham] wants to play tomorrow, but she has to go through more tests to see if she will be ready.”

However desperate she might be. The coach is prioritizing her health as the long-term prospects take priority. She has been participating in shooting drills and moving without much issue but there is still enough there to bother the management. With the away leg to Atlanta just a couple of days away. We don’t know whether she will be able to make it to that game but the team needs her ability to provide another threat to the opposition.