The Seattle Storm have issued a statement apologizing for a co-owner’s allegedly profane comments to two Sophie Cunningham fans during Tuesday night’s game against the Fever.
The incident in question occurred as two women sat courtside at Climate Pledge Arena holding a sign thanking Cunningham “for speaking up for girls” following the Fever guard’s recent remarks suggesting that transgender women should not be permitted to play in women’s sports. The Cunningham supporters told Undivided host Brandi Kruse that a woman told them they were “effing insane.” Kruse identified the woman who confronted them as Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton.
“We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game,” Storm Majority Owner Ginny Gilder told Front Office Sports in a statement. “We apologize that this happened. 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.”
According to The Seattle Times, the WNBA has suspended Keaton from attending the team’s next five home games and fined the Storm an undisclosed amount. Spokespeople for the NBA and WNBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As news of the verbal confrontation and Keaton’s suspension spread on Wednesday, Cunningham took to social media to address the situation.
“I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men,” she wrote. “Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon.”
Cunningham added: “Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.”
In a profile published by ESPN’s Hallie Grossman last week, Cunningham said that she was not afraid to comment about how to “protect women’s sports.”
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” Cunningham said. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Cunningham has since doubled down on her comments, which received both public backlash and praise. A number of Storm fans booed Cunningham at the game Tuesday night, and one fan who was also sitting courtside held up a sign that said, “No hate in these United States.”
