The Golden State Warriors are facing a lawsuit from two former employees who allege they experienced gender and racial discrimination, workplace harassment and retaliation during their time with the organization.
Former associate general counsel Lisa Shelley, professionally known as Lisa Meyer, and former vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion Jennifer Vasquez filed the lawsuit on August 25 in San Francisco County Superior Court, according to San Francisco Chronicle Warriors beat reporter Luca Evans.
The lawsuit alleges the workplace culture behind the scenes was “marked by discrimination, hostility and retaliation.”
“Plaintiffs were drawn to the GSW, in part, because San Francisco is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, and a national bastion for human rights,” the lawsuit states. “The culturally responsible, family-oriented environment that Plaintiffs Vasquez and Shelley expected when they joined GSW was far from what they endured.”
Shelley joined Golden State in 2021, while Vasquez was hired in January 2022. The complaint alleges Vasquez later experienced a “climate of isolation and intimidation in which her ideas were routinely dismissed.”
Both women also raised concerns surrounding then-senior vice president of people and culture Erin Dangerfield. Shelley was fired in December 2025 after recommending an outside investigation into Dangerfield’s conduct, while Vasquez was later told the Warriors were eliminating their DEI function and her position, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit also alleges a broader pattern involving the treatment of female employees.
“Plaintiff Shelley was aware throughout her employment,” the complaint states, “that female employees’ bodies, weight, clothing, attractiveness, and appearance were routinely scrutinized and discussed at GSW. Female employees reported such conduct directly to Plaintiff Shelley.”
Golden State has strongly denied the accusations.
“The lawsuit filed by two former employees contains allegations that are false, misleading, and unsupported by credible evidence. Many of the allegations have been previously reviewed or investigated and found to be without merit,” the Warriors said in a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The franchise added that it intends to “vigorously defend against these baseless claims.”
Shelley and Vasquez are seeking damages tied to emotional distress and lost wages, along with injunctive relief aimed at preventing future discrimination within the organization.
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