The WNBA has suspended Seattle Storm minority co‑owner Celeste Keaton from attending the team’s next five home games after she publicly berated two teenage girls for supporting a player who defended women’s sports.
The incident occurred during the Storm’s loss to the Indiana Fever at Climate Pledge Arena. The teenagers wore shirts highlighting biological sex and held a sign thanking a Fever guard for speaking up on behalf of girls.
Keaton approached the girls, raised her voice, called them “f*ing insane,” and launched a rant that left at least one in tears. She also invoked religious language, expressing a wish that Jesus could forgive them.
The confrontation followed a recent statement by the Fever guard, who said it is common sense to keep biological males out of women’s and girls’ sports and to protect young female athletes from competing against them.
She clarified that her position is not rooted in hatred toward transgender people, asserting that there is room to love everyone while acknowledging biological differences and safeguarding female athletic opportunities.
In response to the incident, the teenage fans were defended by the guard, who praised their courage and urged that disagreement can coexist with kindness. He described Keaton’s conduct as “truly embarrassing” and criticized the leader’s character.
The Storm issued an apology through majority owner Ginny Gilder, attempting to mitigate the fallout from the event.
The league imposed an undisclosed fine on the Storm and barred Keaton from the next five home games, underscoring its commitment to maintaining respectful conduct at its events.
