Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been suspended and fined for berating several young WNBA fans for believing in biological sex.
Keaton berated the young fans during a game Tuesday between the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever, the latter of which is home to Sophie Cunningham.
Cunningham recently went viral for saying she doesn’t believe men should be allowed to compete in women’s sports. These otherwise sensible remarks triggered immediate backlash from the transgender community.
In response, the girls at the game Tuesday wore XX-XY t-shirts and carried signs that thanked Cunningham “for speaking up for girls.” The t-shirts and signs deeply triggered Keaton.
Listen below to the girls describe how Keaton behaved toward them:
Last night, @seattlestorm co-owner Celeste Keaton cursed out two teen girls for wearing @xx_xyathletics shirts, calling them “f*cking insane.” One of them was left in tears. I tried to get security involved and was told I should email the front office. pic.twitter.com/Qi8TcfRtYB
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) July 29, 2026
“We were just sitting there with our signs … just watching the game,” the girls said. “We hadn’t said anything to anyone else; we were being super respectful, we were just holding our signs and cheering for both teams, and this lady, older lady, comes up to us … and she asks, like, what are you guys doing.”
The lady was an enraged Keaton, who proceeded to remind the girls that “Jesus loves everyone” before telling them that she hopes he can forgive them for standing up for young women’s rights.
“She’s like, oh, I hope Jesus can forgive you for what sin you’ve done … and then she told us that we were effing insane,” the girls explained. “She’s like, you better stop this sh*t, and stop pulling this [nonsense].”
Keaton’s harsh attacks made at least one of them cry.
“I’ve never been yelled at like that,” one of the girls said. “I’ve had people hate on me on the internet, but it doesn’t really affect me as much, because it’s just people online. But that just caught me by surprise because I thought she was going to be nice, and she started screaming at us, and cussing at us.”
But as bad as the backlash against Cunningham was for speaking the truth, the backlash against Keaton has been 10 times harsher and more furious.
Indeed, the backlash has been so intense that the WNBA eventually suspended Keaton for five home games and fined her an undisclosed amount, according to the New York Post. Meanwhile, the Storm issued a public apology.
“We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game. We apologize that this happened,” Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in a statement. “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 also responded to the controversy by posting a cheery tweet in which she praised the young girls for standing up for her:
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… https://t.co/gIVWhEHi3Q
— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) July 30, 2026
Meanwhile, support for Cunningham continues to grow.
A crowd of several dozens gathered outside the game Tuesday evening in Seattle “to both support Cunningham and promote statewide initiatives IL26-638 and IL26-001, which would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics at Washington schools,” according to ESPN.
Sophie Cunningham supporters line the streets outside Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena holding “Save Women’s Sports” signs and chanting in support of the Indiana Fever star after her comments on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
Counter-protesters gather nearby,… pic.twitter.com/Dul3KArLFB
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 29, 2026
In an ESPN interview, Cunningham, for her part, disputed the narrative from the delusional, irrational left that she hates transgender people.
“I never once said that,” she insisted. “I think that I am here to extend love.”
She then added. “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.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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