Former Suns DE&I Manager Files Complaint, Alleging Wrongful Termination
Andrea Trischan, who held the position of program manager for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) with the Phoenix Suns, has officially lodged a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona attorney general's office's civil rights division. Trischan, who was employed by the Suns from September 2022 until July 2023, is alleging wrongful termination and is seeking $60 million in damages.
At the core of Trischan's complaint is her contention that the organization maintained a hostile work environment that included overt racist comments. Trischan also raised concerns regarding the appointment of several executives accused of misconduct to a newly established diversity council, expressing these reservations directly to Kim Corbitt, the team's head of HR.
According to Trischan, these apprehensions were not received well, leading to what she describes as a retaliatory sequence of events. She claims she was placed on a performance improvement plan in late May 2023 and was ultimately dismissed from her role just two months later.
Management's Response and Denial of Allegations
The Phoenix Suns have firmly denied any wrongdoing in this matter. In a statement, Stacey Mitch, senior vice president of communications for the Suns and Mercury, asserted, "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 criticized Trischan's claims, describing them as "baseless" and suggesting that the former DE&I manager is leveraging past reports to bolster her case. "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 stated.
The Suns have expressed confidence that the courts will dismiss Trischan's claims. "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 added.
Context of Wider Organizational Changes
Trischan's allegations come in the wake of significant upheaval within the Suns organization. In February 2023, Jason Rowley, the former team president and CEO, tendered his resignation. Concurrently, Mat Ishbia finalized his purchase of the team, signaling a new era of ownership.
Adding further context to Trischan's claims, Robert Sarver, the former owner of the Suns, was suspended by the NBA following findings of inappropriate workplace conduct. This background has sparked intense scrutiny of the team's internal governance and has, according to Trischan, contributed to a challenging environment for DE&I initiatives.
Addressing Trischan’s specific concerns about the diversity council, a spokesperson for the Suns defended the council's composition and intentions. "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," explained the spokesperson.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Review
Trischan's legal representation, attorney Sheree Wright, reiterated the severity of the allegations, stating that Trischan "endured overt racist comments and a hostile work environment that went unaddressed despite being reported to HR and executive leadership."
Meanwhile, the Suns have committed to cooperating fully with 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 Suns spokesperson.
As both parties prepare for what promises to be a rigorous legal battle, the scrutiny intensifies over the internal dynamics and management practices of the Phoenix Suns organization. The outcome of Trischan's claims could have significant implications not only for her but also for future DE&I efforts within professional sports teams. The sports world will undoubtedly be watching closely as this case unfolds.