Seattle Storm minority co-owner suspended 5 games after altercation with anti-trans fans
Celeste Keaton, a minority owner of the Seattle Storm, was suspended five game after allegedly cursing at two teenage fans who supported Sophie Cunningham, a player opposed to trans women in sports.
Mark
The WNBA fined Seattle Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton and suspended her five games for her actions in a courtside incident with two fans holding signs in support of the anti-trans stances of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham during Tuesday night’s Fever-Storm game in Seattle.
Keaton allegedly exchanged cross words with two fans, reported to be teenage girls, according to the conservative podcast “unDivided Podcast.” In an interview with the podcast’s host Brandi Kruse, both said that Keaton confronted and swore at them.
“She told us that we were effing insane,” one of the fans said. “I’ve never been yelled at like that. I mean I’ve had people hate on me on the internet but like it doesn’t really affect me as much because it’s just people online, but that just took me by surprise. I thought she was going to be nice and then she started like screaming at us and cussing at us.”
The fans in the incident were sporting T-shirts from XX-XY Athletics, the anti-trans athletic-wear brand started by former Team USA gymnast Jennifer Sey, who has stated support for a number of anti-trans advocacy and political groups.
In response, the Storm issued a statement apologizing for the incident. “We apologize that this happened,” Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in the 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.”
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Stefanie Dolson’s message to Sophie Cunningham: ‘Trans rights are human rights’
Seattle and Indiana played in the WNBA on Tuesday night and the argument over transgender athletes took center stage.
The player who has been integral in this issue took aim at the Storm co-owner just days after reaffirming her stance against transgender women competing in women’s sports.
“Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is,” Cunningham wrote on X. “Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe.”
Last week, Cunningham said she opposed trans women in women’s sports in an interview with ESPN. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” she said. “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.”
Prior to Tuesday’s guest, a pregame rally was organized as a “Support Sophie Cunningham Rally” by supporters of anti-trans ballot initiatives, including one that would ban transgender girls from girl’s scholastic athletics in Washington. The Washington’s ballot measure is one of three this November, along with Arizona and Colorado. A fourth state, Nebraska, is still pending.
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