Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein lands in deep trouble with added allegations of an illegal affair with Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham

The team of thePhoenix Suns finds itself surrounded by a bunch of allegations that have turned into serious lawsuits against the CEO, Josh Bartelstein. While initially the allegations revolved around the issues of racial discrimination and management-related complaints, they have now also included a newly revealed allegation of an illegal affair involving the married CEO and the Indiana Fever shooting guard Sophie Cunningham.The Phoenix Suns, which was once expected to change the dynamics of the sport, are now being pointed at by legal lawsuits from all sides. These allegations are not minor ones, but instead some really serious ones involving racial discrimination, mismanagement of resources and now the recently developed issue of sexual misconduct. All of these started in November 2024 with the team’s director of safety, security and risk management, Gene Traylor, first launching the legal attacks on the CEO. Security failure formed a major reason for these lawsuits, particularly mentioning the incident when Brittney Griner was harassed at an airport during her return from Russia. The latest development in the form of sexual misconduct allegations has now taken the community and its members by storm. According to the lawsuit, the vice president of the franchise, Cornelius Craig, was the one who spread the rumors of the possible affair between Josh Bartelstein and player Sophie Cunningham. The lawsuit exclusively states, “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’”Having recently transitioned to the Indiana Fevers, the allegation could pose a serious threat to the young athlete’s career. For now, Cunningham has been sidelined from the matches owing to a serious ankle injury. But the legal debacle might indefinitely put a pause on the player’s career. Also read: Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball candidly reveals off-court relationship with brother LaMelo Ball - “We talk more about life”Until now, neither the CEO nor the player has released any statement on the allegations made. While the community perceived Cunningham as someone who would be ouspoken and fearless, many believe that the silence is self-explanatory. The issues with these allegations started in 2022 under the ownership of Robert Sarver, who was accused of fostering a toxic workplace environment.