WNBA Co-Owner’s Tirade At Sophie Cunningham Fans Ends In Fallout

After cursing out teen girls supporting female-only sports, Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been fined and suspended from attending the WNBA team’s next five home games.

The punishment was confirmed by the WNBA on Wednesday evening, according to Fox News. The same day, Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder apologized in a statement for Keaton’s actions at the Fever vs. Storm game.

“We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game,” the statement said. “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.”

Keaton allegedly hurled a series of expletives at the two teen girls who showed up to Tuesday’s game sporting XX-XY Athletics gear and holding signs in support of Fever star Sophie Cunningham. Keaton called the girls “f*cking insane” and left one of the teens in tears, according to reporting from independent journalist Brandi Kruse.

The girls were also harassed by Storm players and adult fans, Fox News reported. One male fan said the girls were “trash” that needed to be “taken out” by the security guard. 

Some WNBA players and fans have been outraged that Cunningham is speaking out publicly about supporting girls’ sports. She said last week that she will never cower from her position and said biological males do not belong in female locker rooms or athletics.

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” Cunningham told ESPN, referring to her position on women’s 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.”

After she received backlash, Cunningham doubled down, calling her stance “common sense” and bluntly stating, “I said what I said.”

Credit: Brandi Kruse

Cunningham responded to the incident involving the teens late Wednesday night. She applauded the teen girls for “standing up” for their beliefs and said they would be hearing from her soon. As for Keaton, she called the fiasco “truly embarrassing” for the co-owner, adding that the incident “shows the type of leader she is.”

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