Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been fined and suspended from attending the team's next five home games by the WNBA after an altercation with two teenage fans of WNBA star Sophie Cunningham, the league announced.
The incident occurred during a game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. According to independent journalist Brandi Kruse, who was present, Keaton approached the two girls — who were sitting court-side wearing XX-XY Athletics gear — and allegedly called them 'f---ing insane.' Kruse said the girls had been celebrating Cunningham's support for saving women's sports.
Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.
Kruse told Fox News Digital that one of the girls broke down in tears after the exchange. 'They were so excited for those seats, like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,' she said. Kruse said she pressed security to confront Keaton, arguing that the conduct violated the arena's code of conduct, which prohibits abusive or obscene language.
Seattle Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder issued a statement apologizing for Keaton's comments. 'We apologize that this happened. Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome,' Gilder said. Author J.K. Rowling amplified the girls' account of the incident on social media.
The Indiana Fever organization, for which Cunningham plays, distanced itself from the incident. A team representative said neither the organization nor Cunningham had any knowledge of the rally or contact with its organizers. Neither Cunningham nor teammate Caitlin Clark was made available to reporters after the game.