Brenda Tracy, who accused former Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker of sexual harassment, is suing United Wholesale Mortgage and CEO Matt Ishbia.
The lawsuit, first reported by Crain’s Detroit Business, accuses UWM and Ishbia of interfering with an investigation into Tucker’s alleged behavior.
As part of a USA TODAY investigation, Tracy in 2023 accused Tucker of sexual harassment related to a December 2021 phone call. According to Tracy, a professional advocate for sexual assault victims, Tucker masturbated over the phone without Tracy’s consent, even though Tucker said the phone sex was consensual.
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Tucker was fired shortly after the USA Today story was released. Tracy later sued Tucker for defamation, but the case against Tucker was dismissed by an Ingham County judge in January. Tucker filed suit against MSU for wrongful termination, arguing that he was owed back pay; That case is still pending.
This new lawsuit adds to the list of legal complaints related to the Tucker saga, and adds a new complaint against Ishbia and UWM.
Tracy accuses Ishbia of interfering
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker, right, returns an autographed football to fans during the spring game Saturday, April 16, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. At left is Honorary Captain Brenda Tracy, Sexual Violence Prevention Educator.
Tracy accused Ishbia and UWM executives of using “donor-connected outreach and alignment advice.” [to insert] could involve themselves in a matter that was none of their business.” The lawsuit contains nine separate allegations, including invasion of privacy and violation of Michigan’s Consumer Protection Act, accusing Ishbia of keeping tabs on the investigation to help protect the state of Michigan’s brand.
Ishbia, who has been UWM’s CEO since 2013, was a walk-on on Michigan State’s 2000 national championship team, graduated from Michigan State in 2002 and is a longtime donor to MSU’s athletic program. He is also the majority owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, which he purchased in 2022 in a $4 billion deal.
The lawsuit alleges that UWM’s former general counsel, David Jacques, received information from Tucker’s attorneys via email about Tucker’s investigation.
“Ishbia and UWM had a direct corporate stake in communications sent to or through Zacks because the emails and related electronic records belonged to UWM and were created, received, maintained, or routed through UWM systems while Zacks was serving as UWM’s general counsel,” the lawsuit reads. Tracy accused Ishbia of using information obtained by Jax to “influence the process from the outside.”
Jacques died on May 10, 2024 at 67.
Tracy seeks a jury trial and damages in excess of $25,000. A UWM statement to Crain’s called the lawsuit “completely fabricated and unfounded.”
Mat Ishbia Lawsuits
Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia discusses the future of the club and the firing of coach Mike Budenholzer at PHX Arena on April 17, 2025 in Phoenix.
This is not the only major issue that Ishbia is currently facing.
In August 2025, two Sun minority owners sued Ishbia for financial mismanagement, accusing Sun of using Sun as their “personal piggy bank”. While Ishbia has denied the allegations, the two owners and Ishbia have agreed to settle the case in private arbitration.
On April 1 Ishbia was called to testify in the UWM lawsuit against Atlantic Trust Mortgage, which UWM lawyers are trying to block. Judge Terence Berg has threatened UWM with contempt of court if Ishbia does not testify in the case.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Matt Ishbia sued by Brenda Tracy, former MSU coach Mel Tucker’s accuser
