Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was suspended and fined after allegedly yelling expletives at two teenage girls during a WNBA game against the Indiana Fever.
The young girls wore XX-XY Athletic shirts and held a sign supporting Fever’s Sophie Cunningham courtside that read “Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls” and “We love you Sophie.”
The sign is in regard to Cunningham’s comments in an ESPN interview about her feelings on transgender athletes in female spaces and sports.
“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,” she previously said. “I think it’s kind of common sense. ... I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. And so I stand on what I said, and I always believe that.”
The teenage girls said they were “on edge” the whole night and nervous to show their sign when Keaton apparently approached the girls and asked what they were doing.
The girls then said Keaton told them that “Jesus loves everyone” and that she hoped Jesus would forgive them for the sin they had committed, followed by her allegedly telling the two girls that they were “(expletive) insane” and “you better stop pulling this (expletive).”
Independent Seattle-based journalist Brandi Kruse, who accompanied the girls, said she tried to get security to help but was told to “email the front office.”
All-American swimmer-turned-activist Riley Gaines reacted to the alleged comments made by Keaton.
“Nothing inspires young girls to play sports like an owner of a professional women’s team cursing them out for acknowledging there are only two sexes and each is worthy of equal opportunities,” she said on X.
Following the incident with Keaton, more video footage online showed the young girls being ridiculed by others in the stands, including a grown man who appeared to refer to the girls as “trash,” saying, “Security, take the trash out.”
Keaton will be barred from attending the next five games, Fox News confirmed. Seattle Storm’s majority owner Ginny Gilder responded to the incident in a public statement.
“We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game,” the statement read. “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.”
Cunningham and others react
Following the incident, Cunningham gave her reaction to the incident on X:
“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. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon yay for gifts. Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.”
Outspoken women’s rights activist J.K. Rowling applauded the young girls.
“These young women are heroines,” she said on X. “They’re peacefully protesting against the grotesque unfairness of men playing in women’s sport. The only people who are “(expletive) insane” here are those making a mockery of fair sport for women and trying to bully girls like this into silence.”
Prior to the WNBA game on Tuesday, a rally supporting Cunningham was held outside the arena.
U.S. national gymnastics champion and XX-XY Athletics founder and CEO Jennifer Sey said she would be in attendance at the next rally on Sunday in Minnesota when the Indiana Fever play the Minnesota Lynx.