Outside of Footprint Center on Friday, former Phoenix Suns program manager of diversity, equity and inclusion Andrea Trischan had a news conference as she is seeking $60 million in damages for the franchise allegedly discriminating against her character and wrongful termination.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The news conference was hosted by the National Action Network Phoenix Metro as Trischan, her attorney Sheree Wright and others rallied around her when she spoke on her plans to file a formal complaint to the U.S. District Court of Arizona. Wright told the Arizona Republic they plan to file it by Nov. 1, according to Suns insider Duane Rankin.
“When I landed my role with the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, I understood I was there to help them change and complete the mandates that were handed down by the NBA. As I continued to do my job and get to know other people within the organization to establish relationships and understand where we needed to start, I heard nothing but grievances,” Trischan said at the news conference. “I saw a lot of tears, I saw a lot of anger, frustration and sadness that there seems to be no accountability from the Suns’ executives.”
Per ESPN‘s Baxter Holmes on Sept. 10, Trischan filed a complaint for wrongful termination and discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the civil rights division of the Arizona attorney general’s office.
She was originally hired by the Suns on Sept. 19, 2022, less than a week after then-owner Robert Sarver received a one-year suspension and fined $10 million by the NBA after the league underwent an investigation into his conduct and the environment of the team’s workplace during his 18 years as majority owner. Trischan was fired in 2023.
Current Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia bought both teams from Sarver for $4 billion in February 2023 and despite the positive changes he has made since taking ownership, Trischan claims the same toxic culture still stands.
“The last year has been a roller coaster ride of emotions,” Trischan said. “For the last year, the Phoenix Suns and Mercury have had an opportunity to drag my name through the mud, assassinate my character and stand by the negative, toxic, racist, sexist, misogynistic behaviors that are still there despite Robert Sarver having to sell the team, despite the old CEO [Jason Rowley] being fired.
“Nothing else happened. All of the other senior-level executives still work in this building. They are still allowing the same behaviors that have always been there and the mandates that the NBA handed down were ignored.”
Time will tell with how this saga plays out, but there will be more information as it carries on. Stay tuned to Burn City Sports for the latest updates on this situation.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
