The Phoenix Suns have sued by a former employee claiming discrimination and wrongful termination and is seeking $60 million in damages, according to a 25-page statement from August 2024 that was obtained by ESPN.
Andrea Trischan, who was the Suns' program manager of diversity, equity and inclusion, filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona Attorney General's office's civil rights division, which is investigating the matter.
"Ms. Trischan filed a formal complaint ... due to ongoing racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliation she experienced while employed with the Phoenix Suns," Trischan's attorney, Sheree Wright, wrote in an email to ESPN. "Specifically, Ms. Trischan endured overt racist comments and a hostile work environment that went unaddressed despite being reported to HR and executive leadership."
Trischan was hired by the Suns on Sept. 19, 2022, six days after the NBA announced that then-owner Robert Sarver was suspended one year and fined $10 million following an NBA investigation into his conduct and the team's workplace culture during Sarver's 18-year tenure as the team's majority owner. Trischan's role was aimed at helping address issues that current and former Suns employees had described to ESPN as existing under Sarver.
Trischan was terminated in July 2023 after she placed on a performance improvement plan in late May.
Trischan and the Suns, who are working with an outside law firm, have discussed mediation to settle the dispute, but, to date, no agreement has been reached.