Suns accuse lawyer of fabricating Sophie Cunningham affair in $140 million shakedown

The Suns lashed out against the allegations that CEO Josh Bartelstein, who also serves in the same capacity for the WNBA’s Mercury, had an affair with former Mercury star Sophie Cunningham, as alleged in a May lawsuit by a member of the organization.Gene Traylor, the plaintiff and a Suns employee and former director of safety, security and risk management, alleges that a colleague had been telling people that Bartelstein allegedly was having an affair with CunninghamA fiery statement by Suns senior vice president of communications Stacey Mitch called out attorney Sheree Wright, who is one of two lawyers representing Traylor in the lawsuit.Traylor is quoted in the lawsuit as having overheard that a colleague had been telling people that the married Bartelstein “is f–king Sophie Cunningham.”“The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible.

Let’s be absolutely clear about the origin of these claims,” Mitch said in a statement.“Attorney Sheree Wright, a personal injury and immigration lawyer, currently serving a two year probation with the Arizona State Bar for violating the rules of professional conduct, sees an opportunity because of the reports about previous ownership.Ms.

Wright has now filed four separate lawsuits against the organization, seeking over $140 million dollars in compensation.To date, her cases have been dismissed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Arizona Civil Rights Division or voluntarily withdrawn. “She continues to insert salacious lies and fabrications into her complaints — knowing that the media may report them as fact, as happened yesterday — she hopes to coerce the Phoenix Suns into settling. Sheree Wright will not extort our organization and never see a single dollar.

 “We will pursue all available legal avenues and hold those accountable for participating in the spread of misleading and false narratives.”The Suns released their...