The Phoenix Suns, under scrutiny following a report about former owner Robert Sarver’s nearly 18 years of racist and misogynistic behavior, made efforts to improve their corporate culture by hiring Andrea Trischan as a program manager for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This hire came just days after Sarver received a one-year suspension and a $10 million fine from the NBA for his conduct. However, Trischan has now filed a legal complaint against the organization, seeking $60 million for “discrimination and wrongful termination,” citing ongoing racial discrimination and harassment during her tenure.
Trischan’s attorney, Sheree Wright, stated that despite Trischan reporting overt racist comments and a hostile work environment to both HR and executive leadership, her concerns were ignored.
The Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury have denied these allegations, asserting that Trischan’s termination in 2023 was due to her “repeated failure to perform her job duties” after less than 10 months of employment.
The Suns’ senior vice president of communications, Stacey Mitch, labeled the claims as baseless, accusing Trischan of leveraging the 2022 ESPN report on Sarver’s misconduct to justify her demand for $60 million in damages.
Trischan claims she faced harassment and obstacles in her role, particularly when attempting to investigate executives who had been named in the 2022 ESPN story for misconduct but were now part of the Suns’ newly formed diversity council.
According to Trischan, when she raised concerns about these individuals, her superior, head of Human Resources Kim Corbitt, instructed her to cease the investigation, further solidifying the hostile environment she experienced. The Suns have countered by stating that Trischan’s job duties did not involve investigating past issues.
Trischan’s complaint has been filed with both the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Arizona Attorney General’s civil rights division, initiating an official investigation. The Suns have expressed their willingness to cooperate, maintaining that the investigation will ultimately prove her claims unfounded. Trischan’s legal battle underscores the ongoing tensions within the organization, despite Sarver’s departure.
Sarver eventually sold the team following mounting pressure from sponsors and fellow NBA owners, who were concerned about financial losses linked to the controversy. Mat Ishbia led the group that purchased the franchise for $4 billion.
Despite the ownership change, Trischan’s lawsuit suggests that deeper issues within the organization may persist. The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched as the Suns attempt to navigate the fallout from these allegations.
