WNBA star accused of having affair with former team's CEO

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The temperature is rising for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury after a team exec has been accused of having an affair with a former star player.

According to a lawsuit filed earlier this month, Josh Bartelstein, the CEO of the WNBA team and the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, is alleged to have had an affair with former Mercury star Sophie Cunningham.

Cunningham played the first five years of her career with the Mercury before being traded to the Indiana Fever this past off-season.

The lawsuit was filed by Gene Traylor, the Suns’ director of safety, security and risk management, who alleges racial discrimination and security issues within the franchises and claims he told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig — the franchise’s v-p of security and risk management — had been spreading word that the married Bartelstein allegedly was engaged in an affair with Cunningham.

“Plaintiff also shared with Bartelstein that Craig had been spreading damaging information that could jeopardize the organization,” the lawsuit said, 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***ing Sophie Cunningham.’”

The 35-year-old Bartelstein has been married to his wife, Sydney, for more than two years, according to phoenixmag.com.

He joined the Suns and Mercury as CEO in April 2023 following eight years working for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.

“This job is incredibly demanding. It’s the best job ever, but it’s long hours, high-stress and -pressure, and public-facing. And I travel a lot,” Bartelstein told the outlet. “Me and Sydney have done it together, and she’s a huge reason why I love what I get to do.”

Bartelstein and Cunningham – who missed the Fever’s season-opener this past weekend due to injury – have yet to comment on the affair allegations or the lawsuit.