09-19-2024
Andrea Trischan, former program manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion, filed a complaint of discrimination against the Phoenix Suns with the EEOC and Arizona civil rights division. The Suns hired Trischan in September 2022, right after its former owner was suspended and fined ten million based on an NBA investigation into the team’s workplace culture.
Trischan alleged she experienced racial discrimination and harassment during the ten months she worked for the team. She claims the team wrongfully terminated her and will seek $60 million in damages when she files a formal lawsuit (according to her lawyers). When she expressed concerns about the executives accused of misconduct on the new diversity council, she said the team punished her for it. Trischan said the head of HR told her the placements were to "reshape their image." The Suns allegedly told her to stop investigating claims of misconduct against those executives. She asserts Suns' employees made overtly racist comments, and the team did not address them after Trischan complained. The team placed her on a performance improvement plan in May 2023. All of the executives accused of misconduct in 2022, except the disgraced owner, continue to work for the team. The NBA investigation required the Suns to hire an outside firm to evaluate and make recommendations on its workplace issues, including fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace.
The Suns dispute Trischan’s allegations. The organization asserts that it terminated Trischan because she failed to fulfill her job duties. It further contended that she filed "a baseless charge with a state agency and is 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." In addition, the Suns say Trischan’s job was to listen to diversity data and information to further its DE&I commitment. She did not have any responsibility for investigations or employee relations.