A night where fans simply wanted to show their support for Sophie Cunningham quickly spiraled when Seattle Storm minority co-owner Celeste Keaton reportedly called two teenage girls “effing insane” for holding a sign thanking the Fever guard “for speaking up for girls.” And while the Storm franchise has apologized for Keaton’s conduct, newly surfaced footage shows that other fans inside Climate Pledge Arena also confronted the young supporters.
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In a video shared by Jackson Thompson of Fox News, a man and a woman can be seen confronting the teenagers. The man repeatedly asked them to “get out” and even told the arena staff to “take the trash out,” appearing to refer to the girls and nearby Cunningham supporters. Another woman in the clip also tells the pair to “leave (her) daughters alone.”
The atmosphere inside the arena was already charged after Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments on transgender participation in women’s sports sparked widespread debate and demonstrations outside the venue before the game. And while Cunningham supporters left their signs outside once tipoff arrived, the conversation remained visible in the stands, where some fans displayed “No Hate in Washington State” signs, while Storm center Stefanie Dolson arrived wearing a shirt that read, “Trans rights are human rights.”
But as attention turned toward the sign the girls were holding and the XX-XY Athletics shirts they were wearing, independent journalist Brandi Kruse, who helped organize the rally supporting Sophie Cunningham, said she also witnessed what she described as Storm players directing disapproving gestures toward the girls.
“They were giving them thumbs down — like, to their faces,” Kruse said in an interview with Fox News.
“I look over at halftime, and she’s sobbing. They were so excited for those seats, like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of their favorite players. They stayed up the night before making signs,” she added.
As the reports of the exchange between Keaton and the two teenage fans spread online, the Storm wasted no time in apologizing for their co-owner’s conduct.
“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 team wrote in their statement.
The confrontation inside the arena reflected just how deeply divided fans have become in the wake of Sophie Cunningham’s comments.