Yet another Phoenix Suns employee is suing the team alleging discrimination, harᴀssment and retaliation. However, the team says they are being ‘extorted’ by the lawyer representing the worker.

Gene Traylor, the team’s director of safety, security, and risk management filed a suit against the Suns to become the fourth current or former employee to sue the franchise in the last seven months.

Per Traylor’s complaint, obtained by DailyMail.com, he claims he was demoted from his job after submitting a presentation to Suns management highlighting his concerns about potential security threats.

The lawsuit says that after the presentation, Traylor’s security concerns grew, specifically mentioning two incidents: 1) A ‘disgruntled subject’ interrupted a pH๏τo-op with team executives in April 2023 and 2) A political influencer ‘harᴀssed’ former Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in June 2023 – which delayed the team’s flight several hours

Traylor says in the filings that giving this presentation led to ‘retaliation’ from team management and a later demotion. He also claims the team discouraged him from taking protected leave after he was diagnosed with cancer, according to the complaint.

Moreover, the lawsuit highlights multiple occasions where the security measures at the Footprint Center in Phoenix failed field tests.

A Phoenix Suns employee is suing the team over alleged harᴀssment and discrimination

Pictured: Phoenix Suns owners Justin Ishbia (L) and Mat Ishbia (R) in February 2023

This is the fourth lawsuit filed against the Suns by current or former employees in 7 months

According to the lawsuit, Phoenix police conducted a test in December 2023 where plainclothes police officers tried entering the arena with valid tickets, but carried concealed weapons. Two officers were able to enter with concealed knives, the lawsuit says.

Almost one year later, officers from the same police department managed to smuggle in two handguns and a knife in another field test, the lawsuit says.

The suit also says that an NBA audit of the arena’s security in February 2025 came back as a failure. Three other team sources told ESPN that the team failed multiple league security audits since 2024.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Suns for comment on this matter. In a statement to ESPN, the Suns disputed the allegation regarding the audits – saying they’ve never failed a security audit. 

‘Guest safety is our top priority,’ the Suns told ESPN on Thursday. ‘We continue to meet and exceed safety expectations. 

‘We regularly conduct security tests, which is standard across the industry. We have used these proactive measures to ensure we are operating at the highest level of safety and preparedness.’ 

In addition to Traylor, the Suns are subject to three other lawsuits made by former employees.

Back in November, the Suns’ program manager of diversity, equity and inclusion – Andrea Trischan – filed a lawsuit alleging harᴀssment, racial discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She is seeking $60million in damages.

This latest suit details a presentation given about failed security measures, including theft and harᴀssment of former Mercury star Brittney Griner. The employee says they were demoted.

The suit also details failed security audits two separate occasions where plainclothes police were allegedly able to smuggle weapons past security checkpoints at the Footprint Center

In March, Jason Cope – who had worked for the team’s SunsVision department for over a decade – sued the team saying he was misclassified as an independent contractor. This denied him benefits and overtime. Cope is alleging age discrimination, claiming that half-a-dozen other Suns employees were transferred to contractor status while the franchise hired multiple younger employees as full-time staff.

Finally, last month, an anonymous former employee – identified as Jane Doe – alleged racial and gender discrimination, Sєxual harᴀssment, and retaliation by a former Suns executive.

Traylor is being represented by attorneys Sheree Wright and Cortney Walters. In a statement to DailyMail.com, the Suns denounced Wright – claiming that she has a vendetta against the team.

‘The Supreme Court of Arizona has twice disciplined attorney Sheree Wright for committing numerous violations of the rules of professional conduct, and she is currently serving a two-year probation with the State Bar of Arizona,’ read a statement provided by Suns Senior VP of Communications Stacey Mitch.

‘The Court noted that the State Bar of Arizona and Ms. Wright agreed that she suffered from “inexperience in the practice of law” and “personal or emotional problems.” But neither inexperience nor probation stopped Ms. Wright from leveling false allegations against the Phoenix Suns.

‘This time, Ms. Wright and her client have made absurd accusations of misconduct surrounding the security department of the Phoenix Suns. These allegations are delusional and categorically false. Ms. Wright initially filed these ridiculous claims with regulators but voluntarily withdrew them.

‘The Suns will not be extorted and will seek to hold Ms. Wright and her accomplices fully responsible for their actions.’

The Suns have been in something of a transition since being sold by Robert Sarver

Ishbia bought a controlling 57 percent stake in the Suns back in 2023

In a blistering statement provided to DailyMail.com, Wright accused the Suns of ‘defamatory attacks’ and claimed ‘powerful insтιтutions often try to discredit those who challenge them—especially when those challengers are Black women.’

She said: ‘We are proud to represent multiple individuals, both current and former employees of the Phoenix Suns, who have courageously stepped forward to share their experiences of discrimination, harᴀssment, and retaliation within the organization.

‘These are not vague accusations. They are specific, detailed, and backed by witnesses, documentation, and corroborating evidence.

‘Rather than engage with the substance of these credible claims, the Suns have resorted to personal and defamatory attacks against Attorney Sheree Wright. This is a transparent and calculated attempt to shift the public narrative, discredit the attorneys involved, and avoid accountability for their own misconduct.

‘Unfortunately, these tactics are not new. Powerful insтιтutions often try to discredit those who challenge them—especially when those challengers are Black women. We saw this same approach when the Suns publicly demeaned Andrea Trischan, a plaintiff in a separate lawsuit.

‘The organization attempted to mock her, undermine her credibility, and silence her voice. Now they are doing the same to Ms. Wright. The pattern is clear: when confronted with truth, the Suns choose character attacks over self-reflection.’

The statement continued: ‘It is telling that instead of allowing these matters to proceed through discovery and trial, where facts are tested and truth emerges, the Suns are choosing to litigate in the media. They are issuing baseless accusations, distorting the record, and attempting to intimidate those who are standing up to them. What they describe as recruitment is in reality a growing wave of individuals independently coming forward, finding strength in knowing they are not alone. That is not manipulation. That is justice in motion.

‘We will not be distracted by personal attacks. We will not be intimidated by billion-dollar organizations. We will continue to pursue justice for our clients with integrity, determination, and the full force of the law. We trust the legal process. The truth will come out in court, not in press statements designed to bully and deflect.’

The Suns have been in something of a transitory state in their front office since being sold by former owner Robert Sarver in 2023.

Mat Ishbia, a former Michigan State basketball player and the current CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, bought a 57 percent stake in the Suns for over $2billion.