All About Undercover Audit of $4.3 Billion Franchise Phoenix Suns That Revealed Alarming Security Risk for Fans

The Phoenix Suns have found themselves in major hotwaters after another employee filed a lawsuit against them.

All About Undercover Audit of $4.3 Billion Franchise Phoenix Suns That Revealed Alarming Security Risk for Fans

Mat Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns (Image by FirstSportz)

The Phoenix Suns have found themselves in all sorts of problems lately. Not only have they performed at their lowest in this 2024-25 NBA campaign, but they are tackling legal issues as well. ESPN reported on May 15 that the Suns are being sued for claimed retaliation, harassment, and discrimination. The case also throws light on security concerns at PHX Arena.

As per ESPN, the Suns’ employee, Gene Traylor‘s attorneys, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Arizona on Tuesday. In January 2023, Traylor joined the Suns as director of risk management, safety, and security. He claims that he was demoted after members of the organization retaliated against him over a security presentation he made to management that year.

The Suns also failed several venue security tests, according to Traylor’s lawsuit. It claims that during tests in 2023 and 2024, the Homeland Defense Bureau of the Phoenix Police Department demonstrated that plainclothes police could successfully smuggle firearms into the arena.

Notably, this was not the first time a Suns employee filed a lawsuit against their own franchise. Another employee, Andrea Trischan, filed a lawsuit against the team in November 2024, claiming that she was fired as a result of unlawful retribution and racial discrimination. For roughly ten months between 2022 and 2023, Trischan served as the team’s previous manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

These are not good signs for a team participating in the NBA. For the time being, the Suns have not made any major comments on this situation, nor has the NBA and its commissioner, Adam Silver. All attention now moves onto the league’s handling of this situation. It also remains to be seen how the Suns handle this sensitive situation in the coming days.

Not the FIRST time the Suns had a lawsuit filed against them by their employee

No fan would want their favorite NBA team to have various allegations and lawsuits filed against it. Unfortunately for the Suns fans, that has been the case lately. To make matters worse, this has been the fourth time the Suns have faced a lawsuit against them. This does not showcase a good image of a decorated franchise like them.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona received a complaint against the team on April 18 from an unnamed former employee. The worker, who is only named Jane Doe in the complaint, alleges that she was subjected to s*x and Hispanic discrimination by the team. She specifically claims that other Suns employees s**ually harassed her and made offensive remarks, and that she was denied chances due to her color.

Attorneys Sheree Wright and Cortney Walters filed the lawsuit on the woman’s behalf. They are also defending two other plaintiffs, Jason Cope and Andrea Trischan, in previous federal employment lawsuits against the Suns.

In addition to this, former owner Robert Sarver was forced to sell the Suns in 2022 after the team was the focus of a scathing ESPN report into their terrible working culture. According to Wright and Walters’ three lawsuits, not much has changed since Mat Ishbia became the team’s new owner in December 2022.

Former Suns owner had allegations of racism and misogyny during his tenure

The Suns have a huge history of harnessing a ‘terrible and toxic’ work culture. This has been the case since former Suns owner Robert Sarver. Sarver had allegations of racism and misogyny against him and his side.

Throughout Sarver’s 17-year tenure, interviews with over 70 current and former Suns employees reveal a hostile and poisonous work environment. He has frequently used racially offensive words in the workplace, according to others who spoke to the media outlet.

Employees recalled conduct they felt was improper and misogynistic. According to some, the longtime owner created an atmosphere where workers felt like his property. Fast-forward to this date, under Ishbia’s ownership, not much has changed.

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