Seattle Storm sorry for co-owner berating fans of Sophie Cunningham

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The hot button issue of transgender athletes in sports continues to make headlines.

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The Seattle Storm, a WNBA team, had to apologize Wednesday for a co-owner confronting two fans of the Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham’s anti-trans-in-sports stance, reports ESPN.com.

It all began during a demonstration outside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle where the Storm suffered a 105-95 home loss to the Fever after a few dozen gathered to support Cunningham’s stance barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports in an ESPN article published last week.

The protest was also to promote a statewide ballot initiative that would prevent transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics at Washington schools.

While the Storm didn’t offer details about the incident or say which Storm co-owner was involved, Brandi Kruse. of unDividedPod.com, reported it was co-owner Celeste Keaton.

Kruse had an interview with the two fans, who were at the protest and sat courtside for the game while wearing T-shirts depicting the XX and XY chromosomes, who claimed Keaton swore at them for a sign that thanked Cunningham “for speaking up for girls.”

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“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,” Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in a statement released Wednesday.

“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.”

Fox 13 Seattle’s Lauren Helmbrecht said the WNBA had since fined Keaton and suspended her from attending the Storm’s next five home games following the fan confrontation, according to the New York Post.

A day later Cunningham, who was not made available post-game, went on X to denounce Keaton’s actions.

“I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY,” she wrote on X. “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.”

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Fans allege Storm co-owner called them ‘insane’

The two fans alleged to Kruse that Keaton told them, “I hope Jesus can forgive you for what sin you’ve done,” before calling them “f—ing insane” while pointing at her head and adding, “God can save you,” leaving one of the fans in tears, according to the New York Post.

“I’ve never been yelled at like that,” one of the girls told Kruse. “I’ve had people hate on me on the internet, but it doesn’t really affect me as much, because it’s people online. But that just caught me by surprise because I thought she was going to be nice, and she started screaming at us, and cussing at us.”

The girls also said they felt unwelcome during the game.

“The whole time we were kind of on edge,” one of them said. “I was like, should we put our sign down? I don’t know. The lady sitting right across from us, and the two people sitting beside us, were turning their backs and trying to sit as far away from us.”

Post-game when Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White was asked about the rally and Cunningham’s recent comments, a public relations rep intervened with the following statement: “Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers. Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission.”

Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson also wore a “trans rights” t-shirt prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Indiana Fever which read: “Trans rights are human rights.”

Dolson came out publicly in 2016 as a member of the LGBTQ community.

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