Sophie Cunningham, a forward for the Indiana Fever, has publicly denied claims that she had an affair with Josh Bartelstein, the CEO of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. On Wednesday, Cunningham took to social media to address these ’extremely hurtful’ rumors, which she believes are being aided by the media’s dissemination of false information.

Cunningham’s Statement

Here is the full statement from Cunningham:

“I am deeply saddened by the recent false accusations made against me by Gene Traylor, someone I do not know and have never met. Let me be clear: his statements are untrue and extremely hurtful. I am here to compete, play basketball at the highest level and win for my team and my fans, while inspiring other women that they can do or be anything they ever dream of becoming. I hold myself to the highest integrity and my values are what guide me on and off the court. To the media who reported on this, I have always spoken the truth and been transparent with any press inquiry. In this instance it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for a comment about the accusation before several clickbait stories went to print. I will not let untrue gossip take my focus away from what is most important to me, which is basketball, my supportive teams, and my fans.”

Gene Traylor, the director of safety, security, and risk management for the Suns, filed a lawsuit earlier this month alleging racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliationing after he presented to management. Buried in the lawsuit were claims that another Suns employee had propagated rumors about Cunningham and Bartelstein.

The Suns issued a statement to Front Office Sports denying these claims. “The recent reports concerning Josh Bartelstein and Sophie Cunningham are entirely false and morally reprehensible,” the statement read.

Cunningham’s journey in the WNBA began in 2019 when she was selected by the Mercury. In February, she joined the Fever as part of a significant trade deal among ten teams. Due to an ankle injury during a preseason game, she has not yet debuted for the Fever, but she is expected to return shortly. Fever coach Stephanie White emphasized the importance of caution regarding her recovery.

“I think the biggest thing is perspective, right? We don’t want to do anything that will set her back.”