Lindsey Wasson, Associated Press
Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was suspended and fined after allegedly yelling expletives at two teenage girls during a WNBA game against the Indiana Fever.
The young girls wore XX-XY Athletics shirts and held a sign supporting Fever's Sophie Cunningham courtside that read "Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls" and "We love you Sophie."
Cunningham had previously made comments in an ESPN interview about her feelings on transgender athletes in female spaces and 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," she said.
Independent Seattle-based journalist Brandi Kruse, who accompanied the girls, said she tried to get security to help but was told to "email the front office."
Keaton allegedly told the girls that "Jesus loves everyone" and that she hoped Jesus would forgive them for the sin they had committed, followed by her allegedly telling the two girls that they were "(expletive) insane" and "you better stop pulling this (expletive)."
The girls said they were "on edge" the whole night and nervous to show their sign.
Seattle Storm's majority owner Ginny Gilder responded to the incident in a public statement. "We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night's game," the statement read. "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."
WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham reacted to the incident on X. "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."
Outspoken women's rights activist J.K. Rowling applauded the young girls. "These young women are heroines," she said on X. "They’re peacefully protesting against the grotesque unfairness of men playing in women's sport. The only people who are “(expletive) insane” here are those making a mockery of fair sport for women and trying to bully girls like this into silence."
U.S. national gymnastics champion and XX-XY Athletics founder and CEO Jennifer Sey said she would be in attendance at the next rally on Sunday in Minnesota when the Indiana Fever play the Minnesota Lynx.
Source: Yahoo Sports