Andrea Trischan, who served as the program manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) for the Phoenix Suns from September 2022 to July 2023, 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 is alleging wrongful termination and seeking $60 million in damages.
Allegations of Misconduct
The backdrop to these legal proceedings includes serious allegations of misconduct within the Phoenix Suns organization. Trischan claims she endured overt racist comments and a hostile work environment during her tenure with the Suns. She also expressed concerns about the organization's decision to appoint several executives accused of misconduct to a newly established diversity council. Her concerns were communicated to Kim Corbitt, the head of HR for the Suns.
In late May 2023, Trischan was placed on a performance improvement plan, and by July 2023, she was terminated. Her attorney, Sheree Wright, has been vocal about the alleged injustices faced by her client. "… [Trischan] endured overt racist comments and a hostile work environment that went unaddressed despite being reported to HR and executive leadership," Wright stated.
Response from the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns have categorically denied any wrongdoing. Stacey Mitch, the senior vice president of communications for the Suns and Mercury, has been at the forefront of the organization’s response. "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," Mitch said.
Mitch went on to comment on the nature of the claim, stating, "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."
The Suns organization has been quick to highlight their confidence in the judicial process. "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," Mitch asserted.
Past Organizational Turmoil
The Phoenix Suns have been under scrutiny ever since the NBA suspended the team's former owner, Robert Sarver, due to findings of inappropriate workplace conduct. This action precipitated significant changes within the organization, including the resignation of Jason Rowley, the former team president and CEO, in February 2023, and the subsequent purchase of the team by Mat Ishbia in the same month.
Despite these efforts to turn a new leaf, the allegations brought forth by Trischan have stirred old controversies. The establishment of a diversity council, which includes the entire executive team and other organizational leaders, was intended to reinforce the team's DE&I commitments. However, Trischan has been critical of its composition, leading to further disputes. A spokesperson for the Suns responded to this criticism by stating, "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."
Ongoing Reviews and Future Implications
The Phoenix Suns have committed to participating in the ongoing review by the Arizona Civil Rights Division (ACRD). A spokesperson for the Suns expressed confidence in the outcome of these reviews, stating, "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."
As the story unfolds, the legal proceedings and investigations will likely shed more light on the conditions within the Phoenix Suns organization and either substantiate or refute the claims made by Andrea Trischan. The trajectory of this case will be closely followed by those both within the sports community and beyond.