UPDATE: 5/21/25 at 2:27 p.m. ET — Sophie Cunningham has launched a press release denying she had an affair with Phoenix Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein.
“I’m deeply saddened by the latest false accusations made towards me by Gene Traylor, somebody I have no idea and have by no means met,” she wrote via X. “Let me be clear his statements are unfaithful and intensely hurtful.”
She continued: “I’m right here to compete, play basketball on the highest degree and win for my crew and my followers, whereas inspiring different ladies that they will do or be something they ever dream of changing into. I maintain myself to the best integrity and my values are what information me on and off the court docket.To the media who reported on this, I’ve at all times spoken the reality and been clear with any press inquiry. On this occasion it feels irresponsible that I used to be by no means requested for a remark in regards to the accusation earlier than a number of clickbait tales went to print.”
Cunningham concluded, “I can’t let unfaithful gossip take my focus away from what’s most necessary to me, which is basketball, my supportive crew and my followers.”
Authentic story:
The Phoenix Suns have denied a declare that crew CEO Josh Bartelstein had an affair with the Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham.
The Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury share possession, and Cunningham, 28, performed for the Mercury from 2019 to 2024.
“The latest experiences regarding Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are solely false and morally reprehensible,” Suns spokesperson Stacey Mitch informed Front Office Sports in a narrative printed Tuesday, Might 20. “Let’s be completely clear in regards to the origin of those claims.”
The report got here from a lawsuit filed by Gene Traylor, the Suns’ former director of safety, towards the crew, by which he accused the Suns of racial discrimination and claimed the franchise ignored main safety issues. Traylor’s go well with alleged that the crew’s vp of safety and danger administration, Cornelius Craig, was employed to eliminate him.
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As an example Craig’s alleged erratic conduct, Traylor claimed that Craig was telling folks, “Josh Bartelstein is f***ing Sophie Cunningham.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Cunningham for remark.
Mitch added that Sheree D. Wright, the lawyer behind the lawsuit, can be representing the plaintiffs in three further fits towards the Suns.
In a separate assertion to ESPN on Might 15, a Suns spokesperson referred to as the allegations towards the group “delusional and categorically false.”
Many Hollywood marriages have overcome allegations of infidelity over time. Former Vanderpump Guidelines stars Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor labored by way of Taylor’s dishonest previous — he was caught hooking up with former costar Religion Stowers throughout season 6 — earlier than getting married in June 2019. “I see him each single day making efforts and […]
“The Supreme Courtroom of Arizona has twice disciplined lawyer Sheree Wright for committing quite a few violations of the principles {of professional} conduct, and he or she is at present serving a two-year probation with the State Bar of Arizona,” the assertion learn.
Wright and Courtney Walters, the opposite lawyer representing Traylor, responded to the assertion by accusing the Suns of resorting “to private and defamatory assaults” towards Wright in a “clear and calculated try to shift the general public narrative, discredit the attorneys concerned, and keep away from accountability for their very own misconduct.”
Mitch informed Entrance Workplace Sports activities that Wright is making an attempt to “coerce” the group into settling.
“Sheree Wright is not going to extort our group and by no means see a single greenback,” she mentioned.
Hope Solo and Jerramy Stevens have weathered many storms throughout their romance — together with a number of arrests between them — however they’re nonetheless going sturdy. The previous Group USA goalkeeper and the retired NFL participant first crossed paths whereas they have been each pupil athletes on the College of Washington. After reconnecting in fall 2012, the duo […]
The Mercury drafted Cunningham with the thirteenth total choose within the 2019 WNBA Draft. A constant contributor for Phoenix throughout her six seasons with the membership, she wound up in Indiana through a four-team commerce in February that despatched All-Star Satou Sabally to the Mercury.
Now taking part in alongside Caitlin Clark, Cunningham informed Us in March that she is concentrated on empowering the ladies of the WNBA because the league continues to develop.
“To me, it’s not about competitors,” she mentioned. “I’m all about empowering different ladies. I’m about serving to my teammates be their greatest selves. I’m all about being my greatest self. And I simply really feel like that if we are able to do this collectively, then nice issues are gonna occur.”