Keaton confronted the teenagers during the game and called them “f—ing insane” for supporting girls sports.
The WNBA has suspended Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton from attending the team's next five home games and fined her after she allegedly cursed at two 16-year-old girls who attended Tuesday night's game to support Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and thank her for speaking out in defense of women's sports.
The disciplinary action was first reported by Fox News Digital's Jackson Thompson, who wrote on X: "The WNBA has confirmed to me that Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been suspended from attending the team's next five home games and has been fined."
The league announced the discipline on the same day the Storm publicly apologized for Keaton's conduct.
The incident occurred during Tuesday night's Fever matchup against the Storm at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena, where the two teenagers wore XX-XY Athletics apparel and held a handmade sign reading, "Thank you, Sophie, for speaking up for girls!" The clothing brand has become closely associated with advocacy for preserving women's sports for biological females.
UnDivided host Brandi Kruse, who attended the game and accompanied the girls, said Keaton confronted the teenagers during the game and called them "f—ing insane." The girls also alleged Keaton told them they were being "un-Christian" during the exchange. One of the teenagers was reduced to tears and put away her sign following the confrontation.
The altercation came after supporters of Cunningham gathered outside Climate Pledge Arena before tipoff to celebrate the Fever player's recent public defense of female-only sports. A smaller group of demonstrators supporting transgender inclusion also assembled outside the arena.
Additional video later circulated online showing Storm fans hurling verbal insults at the teen girls inside the arena.
Kruse has also said she attempted to alert arena security about the confrontation but was reportedly directed to contact the Storm front office by email instead.
On Wednesday, Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder issued a public apology on behalf of the organization. "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. 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."
The controversy quickly spread online, with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has been outspoken in support of sex-based protections for women, among the prominent figures amplifying the girls' account on social media.
Late Wednesday, Cunningham publicly addressed the controversy by reposting coverage of the incident on X, praising the girls for standing by their beliefs while criticizing Keaton's conduct. "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."
Cunningham has become one of the WNBA's most prominent voices advocating for restricting women's sports to biological females.
The WNBA's decision to suspend and fine Keaton marks one of the league's most significant disciplinary actions against a team owner.
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