A Seattle Storm co-owner has been fined and suspended for five home games following an incident Tuesday night in which she reportedly berated two teenage fans until they cried, according to The Daily Wire.
Celeste Keaton confronted the two 16-year-old girls, who were wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts and holding a sign that read “Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls,” during the Storm’s game against the Indiana Fever. According to the report, Keaton told the teenagers they were “f*cking insane” for their choice of attire and signage.
The incident has drawn attention to ongoing tensions within the WNBA surrounding discussions of biological sex in women’s sports. The teenagers’ sign referenced Sophie Cunningham, an Indiana Fever guard who has publicly stated her belief that biological males should not compete in women’s sports.
Sign Removed While Others Remained
The two girls were required to put their signs away during the game, while other fans with different messages were allowed to keep their signs displayed throughout the contest, according to the outlet. The Daily Wire reported that another spectator wearing a WNBA hat also heckled the teenagers, yelling “get out” and “security, take out the trash.”
The league confirmed Keaton’s suspension and fine but did not immediately provide additional details about the disciplinary action or its duration.
Cunningham’s Rising Profile
Sophie Cunningham has become a polarizing figure in the league this season. Beyond her comments on biological sex in sports, she has gained attention for her physical style of play in defense of teammate Caitlin Clark, who has faced aggressive defensive tactics from opponents throughout the season.
Despite the controversy, Cunningham’s commercial profile continues to grow. Her partnership with Adidas has become one of the league’s more notable endorsement deals this season, with a player-exclusive sneaker reportedly selling out within hours of its release.
On the court Tuesday night, the Fever defeated the Storm 105-95, marking Indiana’s fourth consecutive 100-point game — a new WNBA record for the longest such streak in league history, according to The Daily Wire. Caitlin Clark led the team with 32 points, while Cunningham shot 3-for-3 from three-point range in the first quarter.
League Facing Scrutiny
The incident has reignited debate about how the WNBA handles internal disagreements over social and political issues. Critics argue that the league’s leadership has prioritized ideological positions over fan engagement, while supporters maintain that the WNBA has a responsibility to take stands on matters of inclusion and equality.
The confrontation comes as the league enjoys record viewership numbers, driven largely by the popularity of players like Clark and the increased media attention surrounding the Fever. Clark’s rookie season has drawn unprecedented attention to the WNBA, with games regularly drawing larger audiences than in previous years.
XX-XY Athletics, the brand worn by the teenage fans, markets itself as supporting the preservation of sex-based categories in women’s sports. The company has become a focal point in broader cultural debates about fairness in athletic competition.
Neither the Seattle Storm organization nor Celeste Keaton had issued public statements about the incident or the subsequent disciplinary action as of Wednesday morning. The WNBA also declined to comment beyond confirming the suspension.
The league continues to navigate the balance between maintaining its progressive brand identity and managing internal disagreements that occasionally spill into public view, particularly around issues that have become politically divisive in the broader culture.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/they-came-for-caitlin-clark-will-the-wnba-destroy-sophie-cunningham-next