July 30 (Reuters) – Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been fined and suspended from attending the team’s next five home matches after an exchange with two fans during Tuesday’s game with the Indiana Fever, the WNBA confirmed to Reuters on Thursday.
According to multiple reports, Keaton berated two teenage girls who brought signs into Climate Pledge Arena supporting Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who voiced her support for barring transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports in an ESPN article published last week.
The fans told political commentator Brandi Kruse’s unDividedPod.com that Keaton directed expletives at them for a sign that thanked Cunningham “for speaking up for girls.”
“We respect the league’s decision to fine and suspend co-owner Celeste Keaton,” the team said in a statement on Thursday.
“We remain committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for anyone who attends a Storm game.”
The Storm apologized for the incident on Wednesday, with majority owner Ginny Gilder saying the team were “committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect.”
A few fans gathered outside the arena ahead of Tuesday’s game for a rally in support of Cunningham and a statewide ballot initiative that would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics at Washington schools.
Cunningham was not made available to the media after the Fever’s 105-95 win but commended the teenage girls on social media on Wednesday.
“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!” Cunningham wrote on X.
“Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. … Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.”
A Fever public relations representative read a statement to reporters after the game that said neither the organization nor Cunningham had any knowledge about the demonstrations and no contact with the organizers.
(Reporting by Nicole Fernande, additional reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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