Andrea Trischan Files Complaint Against Phoenix Suns, Alleges Wrongful Termination
Andrea Trischan, the former program manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) for the Phoenix Suns, has officially filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona attorney general's office's civil rights division, alleging wrongful termination and seeking $60 million in damages.
Trischan's tenure with the organization lasted from September 2022 to July 2023. She contends that her firing was a consequence of voicing concerns about the organization’s decisions, specifically regarding the appointment of several executives accused of misconduct to a newly established diversity council. Trischan communicated these concerns to Kim Corbitt, the head of Human Resources for the Suns.
According to Trischan, her efforts to address what she perceived as overt racist comments and a hostile work environment went unheeded despite being reported to HR and executive leadership. She claims she was placed on a performance improvement plan in late May 2023, which she views as a pretext for her eventual termination in July of the same year.
Representing Trischan is attorney Sheree Wright, who stated, "… [Trischan] endured overt racist comments and a hostile work environment that went unaddressed despite being reported to HR and executive leadership."
The allegations come on the heels of a tumultuous period for the Phoenix Suns. The NBA suspended the team’s former owner, Robert Sarver, due to findings of inappropriate workplace conduct. Following this, several leadership changes occurred: Jason Rowley, the former team president and CEO, resigned in February 2023, and Mat Ishbia's purchase of the team was finalized around the same time.
In response to Trischan's claims, the Phoenix Suns have categorically denied any wrongdoing. Stacey Mitch, the senior vice president of communications for the Suns and Mercury, described the termination as being due to "repeated failure to perform her job duties" and characterized the allegations as baseless.
"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 stated. She further added, "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 strongly pushed back against 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 asserted.
A spokesperson for the Suns also addressed Trischan's concerns regarding the diversity council, emphasizing the council's role in advancing the organization’s DE&I efforts. "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 spokesperson explained.
The Suns have committed to participating in the ongoing review by the Arizona Civil Rights Division. "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," the spokesperson added.
As this legal battle unfolds, it brings to light the challenges and complexities surrounding workplace culture and governance within sports organizations. Trischan's allegations and the Suns' staunch denial highlight the ongoing struggle to ensure a safe and equitable workplace for all employees.
With both sides entrenched in their positions, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the Phoenix Suns and potentially set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in professional sports organizations going forward.