WNBA Team's 'Apology' Somehow Forgot the Girls It Was Supposed to Be For

As my colleagues Rusty Weiss and Jerry Wilson reported, a Tuesday WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Indiana Fever went off the rails when a group of girls and women who were there specifically to cheer on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, were harassed, yelled at, and derided. Cunningham's recent 10 toes down stance that biological men do not belong in women's sports and spaces has raised applause and cheers on one side, and anger and violence on the other. The girls chose to wear XX-XY Athletics t-shirts, and held signs thanking Cunningham for her support of women. There was nothing political, edgy or derogatory in their presentation. But for this, they received these responses.

WATCH:

Last night, @seattlestorm co-owner Celeste Keaton cursed out two teen girls for wearing @xx_xyathletics shirts, calling them "f*cking insane." One of them was left in tears. I tried to get security involved and was told I should email the front office. pic.twitter.com/Qi8TcfRtYB
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) July 29, 2026

And this showing of over-the-top ugliness.

WATCH:

"Security: Take the trash out."

That's what a Seattle Storm fan was heard yelling at teenage Sophie Cunningham fans.

The WNBA team's co-owner is also alleged to have berated the girls wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts and carrying handmade signs thanking Cunningham for her recent… pic.twitter.com/vQ1ekNJXyL
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 30, 2026

"Security: Take the trash out."
That's what a Seattle Storm fan was heard yelling at teenage Sophie Cunningham fans.
The WNBA team's co-owner is also alleged to have berated the girls wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts and carrying handmade signs thanking Cunningham for her recent statement in support of women's sports.
Co-owner Celeste Keaton allegedly approached the girls, yelled at them, and called them "f---ing insane."
Before the game, Sophie Cunningham supporters held a rally outside the arena — then allegedly faced shocking hostility, with fans in attendance relentlessly booing Cunningham from the moment she touched the ball.
The Storm provided a statement to Fox News Digital apologizing for the co-owner's conduct: "We apologize that this happened. Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome."

As Wilson reported, the team ownership issued an apology.

The Storm provided a statement to Fox News Digital apologizing for the conduct of the co-owner.
"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. 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," the statement read.

Weak, doesn't even come close to describing this fauxpology. The statement is anemic, not bothering to name said co-owner, already identified as Celeste Keaton, nor does it directly apologize to the girls. As Wilson asserts (and I agree), Keaton should issue a public apology to the two girls, who were frightened and demoralized by a so-called adult. As Wilson also reported, Keaton and the primary owner of the Storm (a woman) are married. So as far as I am concerned, the married couple together should both be issuing a videotaped apology.

Instead, the Storm has chosen to penalize Keaton, for whatever that's worth, as she's married to the team anyway.

Seattle Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton has been fined by the WNBA and suspended for her team's next five home games following an incident Tuesday night involving a pair of Sophie Cunningham fans, the WNBA confirmed to Yahoo Sports' Cassandra Negley.

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But what is being glazed over by most reporting is the undercurrent which transcends a particular person or team. Washingtonians are pushing forward a ballot measure which, if voted through, would block biological men from competing in women's sport, something that Washington currently allows. IL26-638 was ignored by the Democrat-run state legislature, so the people of Washington ensured it got on the November ballot. The SCOTUS Title IX decision was a boost in giving this measure awareness.

The ruling is expected to have significant implications in Washington, where voters are expected to decide Initiative IL26-638 this November after the Democrat-controlled Legislature declined to enact the proposal.
The initiative would require Washington public schools and governing bodies for interscholastic athletics to reserve girls’ and women’s sports for biological females. During the required pre-participation sports physical, a student’s primary care provider would verify whether the athlete is biologically male or female. Biological males would not be permitted to compete in girls’ sports but could participate on teams designated for males.
Supporters say Tuesday’s Supreme Court decision removes one of the principal federal legal arguments opponents have used against such laws.
[...]
For now, however, the Court’s decision shifts the debate in Washington away from whether states may protect girls’ sports under federal law and toward whether Washington voters want to do so.

So, Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever brought the heat in more ways than one. Not only were the Seattle Storm ownership, which is supposed to be representative of women's sports, forced to take a good look in the mirror, but Washington parents who want to protect their young girls and women have a greater chance of having their voices heard and changing the state's laws.