Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has issued a firm denial regarding allegations tying her to a rumored affair with Phoenix Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein. The claims surfaced in a lawsuit filed by former Suns employee Gene Traylor, which alleged misconduct involving Cunningham during her tenure with the Phoenix Mercury.
Cunningham, 28, broke her silence on the matter with a powerful statement on her X (formerly Twitter) account, denouncing the accusations as “false” and “extremely hurtful.”
> “I am deeply saddened by the recent false accusations made against me by Gene Traylor, someone I do not know and have never met,” Cunningham wrote. “Let me be clear: His statements are untrue and extremely hurtful.”
The six-year WNBA veteran, recently traded to the Fever in January, emphasized that her focus remains solely on basketball and being a positive role model for young women.
> “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,” she added.
Cunningham also criticized the media’s handling of the story, calling out outlets that published allegations without seeking her side of the story.
> “In this instance, it feels irresponsible that I was never asked for a comment about the accusation before several clickbait stories went to print.”
She concluded her message with a strong statement of intent:
> “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.”
Cunningham, currently sidelined due to injury, has yet to make her Fever debut. Despite the swirling controversy, she remains committed to her career and values, signaling that she intends to rise above the noise and focus on the game she loves.
