Former Suns DE&I Manager Files $60M Wrongful Termination Claim
Andrea Trischan, who served as the program manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) for the Phoenix Suns, has filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona Attorney General's civil rights division. Trischan, who was with the organization from September 2022 to July 2023, is alleging wrongful termination and is seeking $60 million in damages.
The filing comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Phoenix Suns' workplace culture. The organization has already seen significant upheaval this year, including the suspension of its former owner, Robert Sarver, due to findings of inappropriate workplace conduct, and the resignation of former team president and CEO, Jason Rowley, in February 2023. Mat Ishbia completed his purchase of the team the same month.
Trischan’s claims against the Suns include enduring overt racist comments and a hostile work environment during her tenure. She expressed concerns about the organization's decision to appoint several executives accused of misconduct to a newly established diversity council. Trischan communicated her concerns to Kim Corbitt, the head of HR for the Suns, but alleges that those concerns fell on deaf ears.
According to Trischan, she was placed on a performance improvement plan in late May 2023 and ultimately fired in July 2023. Trischan’s attorney, Sheree Wright, emphasized the severity of the hostile environment, citing that it "went unaddressed despite being reported to HR and executive leadership."
The Phoenix Suns have categorically denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that Trischan's termination was due to inadequate job performance. Stacey Mitch, the 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." Mitch further characterized Trischan's lawsuit as an attempt to leverage past issues within the organization for financial gain, saying, "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."
Mitch went on to assert, "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 also addressed Trischan’s claims about the diversity council, 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."
The Suns are actively 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," said a spokesperson for the Suns.
As the review process unfolds, the case against the Phoenix Suns will likely garner significant attention, contributing to the broader narrative about workplace culture and ethics within professional sports organizations. Whether Trischan's claims hold up under further scrutiny remains to be seen, but the ongoing legal battle underscores the challenges sports teams face as they strive to maintain a balance between performance and a healthy, inclusive work environment.