Storm apologize after co-owner confronts fans for Cunningham support - ESPN

The Seattle Storm apologized Wednesday for an exchange that took place between one of their co-owners and two fans during the team's 105-95 home loss to the Indiana Fever.

The incident occurred Tuesday night during an evening that began with a demonstration outside Climate Pledge Arena.

Ahead of the game, a crowd of a few dozen gathered to support Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and to promote a statewide ballot initiative, IL26-638, that would bar transgender students from participating in girls' athletics at Washington schools.

Some members of the group carried signs in support of Cunningham or wore T-shirts depicting the XX and XY chromosomes. Some of them were also inside the arena during the game.

Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports in an ESPN article published last week.

The Storm didn't elaborate on the nature of the incident and didn't say which Storm co-owner was involved. However, Brandi Kruse of unDividedPod.com reported that it was co-owner Celeste Keaton, and in an interview with the two fans — who were at the gathering and were courtside at the game — they told Kruse that Keaton directed expletives at them for a sign that thanked Cunningham «for speaking up for girls.»

«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,» Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in a statement released Wednesday. «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.»

Cunningham was not made available to answer postgame questions. Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings addressed the media