SEATTLE STORM CO-OWNER SUSPENDED AFTER COURTSIDE INCIDENT WITH TEENAGE FANS

Seattle Storm minority co-owner Celeste Keaton has been suspended from attending the next five home games and fined by the WNBA following a courtside confrontation on 28 July. The incident occurred during the Storm's home loss to the Indiana Fever at Climate Pledge Arena, where two teenage girls seated courtside wore XX-XY Athletics shirts and held signs thanking player Sophie Cunningham for her stance on transgender athletes in women's sports. According to reports, Keaton confronted the teenagers with expletive language, leaving them distressed. Majority owner Ginny Gilder issued a formal apology through team channels on 29 July.

Cunningham responded publicly to the incident on social media, describing Keaton's behaviour as "truly embarrassing" and stating that it reflected poorly on her leadership. Cunningham wrote that "there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY" including "biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men," and praised the teenagers for standing firm in their beliefs. She emphasised that disagreement should be possible "and still be kind" and should not escalate into aggression, particularly toward minors. Cunningham had previously stated publicly that she opposes transgender women competing in female sports, a position she reaffirmed through the phrase "I said what I said."

Independent journalist Brandi Kruse, who reported the confrontation and interviewed the two girls, has argued that the Storm's apology was insufficient. Cunningham indicated that further action or statement from her was forthcoming, stating "You'll be hearing from me soon" in her social media post. The incident has drawn attention to debates over transgender participation in women's sports within professional sports organisations.