WNBA star Sophie Cunningham accused of having affair with Suns, Mercury CEO in bombshell lawsuit

Former Mercury star Sophie Cunningham is alleged to have had an affair with married Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein, according to a lawsuit, as detailed by the Daily Mail.Gene Traylor, the Suns’ director of safety, security and risk management, filed a lawsuit in May alleging racial discrimination and security issues within the franchises, in which he claims he told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the franchise’s VP of security and risk management, had been telling people that 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, per Awful Announcing.“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, played for the Mercury from 2019-24 after the franchise drafted her in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft.The franchise signed Cunningham to an extension through the 2025 season last September before trading her to the Fever this February.She did not play in the Fever’s controversial season-opening win over the Sky on Saturday, as she is dealing with an injury“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, at the time, said in a press release. “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 wife, Sydney, for two years as of November 2024, according to phoenixmag.com.He praised his wife for allowing him to “love” his job.“This job is incredibly demanding.It’s the best job ever, but it’s long hours, high-stress and -pressur...