The Seattle Storm apologized Wednesday for an interaction involving a team co-owner during Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Fever. The team did not specify what the exchange was, but podcast host Brandi Kruse shared a video Tuesday night of two teenage girls wearing shirts depicting XX and XY chromosomes saying Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton approached them, cursed and called them insane.
The game between the Storm and Fever was Indiana’s first since guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN article that it’s “common sense” to bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
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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.
In addition to the apology, the WNBA suspended Keaton from attending the Storm’s next five home games and fined the team 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.”
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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.”
The social media post was Cunningham’s first comment since the publication of the ESPN article. 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.”
Devon Henderson contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever, WNBA
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