Sophie Cunningham and Josh Bartelstein (Photo Via Imagn Images)
Sophie Cunningham isn’t here for the drama but to play basketball. The Indiana Fever guard is pushing back hard against explosive claims made in a lawsuit filed earlier this month, denying any romantic involvement with Phoenix Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein.
Court documents by ex-Suns and Mercury employee Gene Traylor mention Cunningham’s name. He linked her to an alleged affair with Bartelstein. This incident occurred during Cunningham’s time with the Phoenix Mercury. But Cunningham isn’t just brushing it off. She denied the accusations and said she had never even heard of the man behind them.
Cunningham Responds To Allegations
Sophie Cunningham (Grace Smith/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The allegations surfaced through Traylor’s legal filing. It also named Cornelius Craig, the VP of security and risk management, the rumor’s source. According to Traylor, Craig informed him of the supposed relationship, but Cunningham says the whole thing came out of nowhere.
On Wednesday, she issued a statement that made her position crystal clear.
“I am deeply saddened by the allegations and have no idea who Gene Traylor even is,” Cunningham said. “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.”
Sophie’s Instagram story (Photo Via Instagram/@sophie_cham)
She didn’t hold back her frustration with how the media handled the story, either. Cunningham called out several outlets for publishing reports without giving her a chance to respond.
“To the media who reported on this, I have always spoken the truth and been transparent with any press inquiry,” she added. “In this instance it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for a comment about the accusation before several clickbait stories went to print.”
TMZ Sports noted that they reached out to her camp on Tuesday but didn’t receive a response before running their coverage.
Despite the noise, Cunningham made it clear she’s staying locked in on what matters to her most: basketball. “I will not let untrue gossip take my focus away from what is most important to me which is basketball, my supportive team and my fans.”
The Phoenix Suns and Mercury organizations also weighed in, calling the lawsuit’s claims “delusional and categorically false.” For now, Cunningham is letting her words, and her game speak for herself.