Former Suns employee sues organization, seeks $60 million for alleged harassment and retaliation

There’s no question about it: Andrea Trishan was hired by the Phoenix Suns in September 2022 as the franchise’s program manager for diversity, equity and inclusion. She was hired after the NBA gave then-Suns owner Robert Sarver “slap on the wrist” — a one-year suspension and a $10 million fine — after a report revealed nearly 18 years of racist and misogynistic behavior by Sarver as an owner. However, by July 2023, Trishchan was released.

Trishan is now suing for $60 million in damages, alleging harassment, racial discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. story broken down by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.

This lawsuit was not Trishchan’s first step, it was earlier filed a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney Generallooking for the same amount of money. The Arizona attorney general’s office dismissed the complaint 10 days ago, saying “the information received is insufficient to establish violations.”

Here’s what lawyers for both sides say said ESPN.

“Andrea’s case is built on substantial evidence that establishes a clear and undeniable pattern of discrimination within the Suns organization,” attorney Trishan Sheri Wright wrote in a statement to ESPN. “Key evidence includes her quarterly and annual performance reviews, which consistently highlight her exceptional performance, and email correspondence documenting instances of bias and exclusion. This evidence paints a stark picture of a workplace culture rife with discriminatory practices where concerns raised by employees were systematically ignored or dismissed.”

“RS. Trishan’s case was dismissed by the Arizona Attorney General’s office earlier this week,” Stacey Mitch, senior vice president of communications for the Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, wrote in a statement to ESPN. now this lawsuit, in which she is seeking $60 million, is based on the same claims that were just dismissed. We have every confidence that the courts will find that her story is completely fabricated.”

In her complaint and lawsuit, Trishan says she was prevented from doing her job and harassed when she did. For example, Trishan said in her complaint that some executives accused of misconduct were included on the club’s new diversity board. Trishan claims she began investigating the men but was told by Suns HR to stop doing so (the Suns say the investigation was not part of her job description and she had no authority to do so within the organization). Trishan points to these and other things as signs of a hostile work environment and that those in power wanted things to stay as they were.

Under pressure, Sarver sold the Phoenix Suns to Matt Ishbia in December 2022.

This case will take years to go through the court system unless a settlement is reached.