Former Phoenix Suns Employee Files Complaint Alleging Wrongful Termination and Seeks $60 Million in Damages

In a significant development for the Phoenix Suns organization, a former employee, Andrea Trischan, has officially filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona attorney general's office's civil rights division. Trischan, who served as the program manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) for the Suns, is alleging wrongful termination and seeking $60 million in damages.

Background and Complaint

Andrea Trischan’s tenure with the Suns spanned from September 2022 to July 2023. Her role began just weeks after the NBA suspended the team’s former owner, Robert Sarver, due to findings of inappropriate workplace conduct. Trischan is now spotlighting a series of troubling incidents that she claims led to her dismissal.

According to Trischan, she expressed concerns about the organization’s decision to appoint several executives accused of misconduct to a newly established diversity council. These concerns were reportedly communicated to Kim Corbitt, the head of HR for the Suns. Trischan alleges that her efforts to address discriminatory behavior within the team were met with retaliation, culminating in her being placed on a performance improvement plan in late May 2023 and ultimately being fired in July 2023.

Allegations of Workplace Misconduct

Trischan’s attorney, Sheree Wright, provided further context to the claims, stating that Trischan endured overt racist comments and a hostile work environment during her stint with the Suns. These issues, according to Wright, went unaddressed despite being reported to HR and executive leadership on multiple occasions.

In her statement, Wright emphasized the severity of the situation, claiming, "… [Trischan] endured overt racist comments and a hostile work environment that went unaddressed despite being reported to HR and executive leadership."

Response from the Suns Organization

In response to these allegations, the Phoenix Suns have categorically denied any wrongdoing. Stacey Mitch, senior vice president of communications for the Suns and Mercury, stated, "A former employee who last worked for the organization in 2023 was terminated after less than 10 months due to repeated failure to perform her job duties."

Additionally, Mitch addressed the monetary demands and the nature of Trischan’s claims, asserting, "This individual filed a baseless charge with a state agency and is now trying to use ESPN reporting from 2022, specific to previous ownership, to make egregious claims in order to support her ridiculous demand for $60 million from the Suns organization."

Highlighting the organization's stance, Mitch added, "To be clear, this individual is making false claims in an attempt to gain tens of millions of dollars. We are confident the courts will find no merit to these claims and quickly resolve this matter. The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury are creating a world-class organization for every employee. We will not let opportunists succeed in their attempts to manipulate the media and use years old reporting to seek financial gain."

A spokesperson for the Suns provided additional clarification regarding Trischan’s role and the diversity council. "Ms. Trischan's claims regarding the diversity council are misleading. The purpose of the diversity council, which is comprised of the entire executive team and other leaders in the organization, is to listen to the diversity data and information on DE&I initiatives to continue to further the organization's DE&I commitment," explained the spokesperson.

Internal Dynamics and Broader Implications

The Sun’s organizational dynamics have been under scrutiny since the NBA's investigation into Robert Sarver. Jason Rowley, the former team president and CEO, resigned in February 2023, coinciding with Mat Ishbia's purchase of the team being finalized. Despite these internal shifts, Trischan's allegations suggest lingering issues within the executive team.

Corbitt, who Trischan claims was aware of the situation, allegedly told her that the executives accused of misconduct were placed on the diversity council to "reshape their image." Aside from Rowley, all executives implicated in ESPN’s 2022 story continue to hold their positions within the Suns.

Current Status and Outlook

The Suns have committed to participating in the ongoing review by the Arizona Civil Rights Division (ACRD). "The Suns continue to participate in the [Arizona Civil Rights Division] review in good faith. We are confident that after the ACRD completes its review of Ms. Trischan's charge, the ACRD will confirm that Ms. Trischan's claims are factually and legally baseless," stated a Suns spokesperson.

Trischan's complaint could have wide-reaching implications not just for the Suns but also for the broader scope of how NBA teams handle internal misconduct and diversity initiatives. As the legal proceedings continue, the sports world will be watching closely to see how this matter unfolds and what it could mean for the future of workplace culture in professional basketball.