Andrea Trischan, the former program manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) for the Phoenix Suns, has taken significant legal steps against her ex-employer. Trischan has filed a complaint with both the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona Attorney General's office's civil rights division. She is seeking $60 million in damages, alleging wrongful termination and a hostile work environment during her tenure with the NBA team.
Role and Responsibilities
Trischan served at the Suns from September 2022 to July 2023, a period marked by transformative changes within the organization. Notably, the transition included the suspension of the team’s former owner, Robert Sarver, following findings of inappropriate workplace behavior. This turbulence set the stage for Mat Ishbia’s acquisition of the team in February 2023 and the resignation of former team president and CEO Jason Rowley that same month.
In her complaint, Trischan claims that her concerns about the organization were ignored. She pointed specifically to the appointment of several executives accused of misconduct to a newly established diversity council. Trischan voiced these concerns to Kim Corbitt, head of HR for the Suns, but alleges that the issues remained unaddressed. In her view, the council was not fulfilling its intended purpose.
Claims of Hostile Environment
Trischan asserts that she encountered overt racist comments and a hostile work environment during her stint with the team. Despite reporting these instances to HR and executive leadership, she contends that no actions were taken to rectify the situation. Her attorney, Sheree Wright, has echoed these accusations, noting that Trischan endured a workplace marred by discrimination and hostility.
By late May 2023, Trischan was placed on a performance improvement plan, which she claims was a pretext for her eventual termination in July 2023. She argues that her firing was retaliatory and tangled with her attempts to address the workplace issues.
Team’s Response
The Phoenix Suns have categorically denied any misconduct regarding Trischan's termination. Stacey Mitch, the senior vice president of communications for the Suns and Mercury, issued a pointed rebuttal, stating, "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 described Trischan’s allegations as baseless, accusing her of leveraging old reports to bolster her claims and extract an exorbitant sum from the organization.
"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 added. "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."
The organization has expressed confidence in its DE&I initiatives and the efficacy of its diversity council. A spokesperson for the Suns commented, "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."
Ongoing Review
The Suns are currently engaged in a review by the Arizona Civil Rights Division (ACRD). The team has committed to participating fully in the investigation. A spokesperson affirmed, "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."
As the legal process unfolds, the Phoenix Suns maintain their stance of non-wrongdoing and emphasize their commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. Trischan, on the other hand, stands firm in her allegations, seeking a resolution and compensation for what she believes was a vindictive and detrimental termination.