Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was suspended and fined by the WNBA after an exchange with two teenage girls wearing shirts depicting XX and XY chromosomes, who said Keaton approached them, cursed and called them insane during Tuesday night’s game against the Indiana Fever. The game was Indiana’s first since Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN article that it’s “common sense” to bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
The Storm apologized Wednesday for the interaction after podcast host Brandi Kruse shared the video of the girls on Tuesday night. Kruse also shared a photo of the girls holding up a sign courtside that read, “Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls.” Before the game, a small group of fans gathered outside Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena holding signs in support of Cunningham, according to The Associated Press.
“Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome, and we remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect,” Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in the team’s apology.
Keaton was suspended from attending the Storm’s next five home games and fined an undisclosed amount, the league confirmed Thursday.
In response to a post about the apology, Cunningham wrote on X late Wednesday: “Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.”
She added: “I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind.”
After Indiana won Tuesday’s game, the team did not make Cunningham or star guard Caitlin Clark available to speak with reporters.
“Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers,” the Indiana Fever said in a statement. “Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission.”
Annie Costabile and Devon Henderson contributed to this report.
Correction: A earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Sophie Cunningham’s social media post was her first public comment since the ESPN article. She spoke to reporters before a game last week.
