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Storm Apologize After Co-Owner Rips Fans for Cheering Rival Star
Seattle Storm Apologizes After Co-Owner’s Argument with Fans at WNBA Game
What Happened?
Important Point: The Seattle Storm basketball team said "we’re sorry" after one of the team’s part-owners got into a heated argument with two fans during a game.
On Tuesday night, July 28, 2026, the Seattle Storm played the Indiana Fever at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. The Storm lost the game 105-95. But the bigger story wasn’t about basketball—it was about what happened between a team owner and some fans in the stands.
The Protest Before the Game
Before the game started, a small group of people gathered outside the arena. Here’s why:
- About a few dozen people showed up
- They were supporting Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham
- They were also promoting a ballot initiative called IL26-638
- This initiative would stop transgender students from playing on girls’ sports teams in Washington state schools
What the Protesters Did
- Carried signs supporting Sophie Cunningham
- Wore T-shirts showing XX and XY chromosomes (these are the chromosomes that typically determine biological sex)
- Some of them went inside the arena to watch the game
Why Was Sophie Cunningham Involved?
Sophie Cunningham is a guard (a position in basketball) for the Indiana Fever. Last week, she told ESPN that she supports keeping transgender girls and women out of girls’ and women’s sports. The protesters were thanking her for speaking up about this.
The Incident During the Game
Here’s what happened, step by step:
- Two fans who had been at the protest were sitting courtside (very close to the court) during the game
- They held up a sign that said "Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls"
- A Storm co-owner (reported to be Celeste Keaton) yelled swear words at them
- The fans felt unwelcome and disrespected
Important Point: The Storm team didn’t say which co-owner was involved or exactly what was said. But a reporter named Brandi Kruse talked to the two fans, and they said it was co-owner Celeste Keaton who used bad language toward them.
The Team’s Apology
The very next day (Wednesday, July 29), the Storm’s majority owner Ginny Gilder released an official statement:
"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."
What This Means
- The team admitted something wrong happened
- They said sorry to the fans
- They promised to make sure everyone feels welcome at their games
How Other People Responded
Indiana Fever’s Response
- Sophie Cunningham did not talk to reporters after the game
- Instead, teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings spoke with coach Stephanie White
- The Fever’s public relations team gave this statement:
"Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers. Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission."
In simple terms: The Fever team said they didn’t know about the protest beforehand and didn’t organize it. They just want to focus on basketball.
Storm Coach’s Response
Coach Sonia Raman talked about the protest after the game (which was the Storm’s 7th loss in a row):
"Seattle and this organization and Climate Pledge, we always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building. I think we’ve always done a really good job with that. So, I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge and the security just to make sure that everybody feels safe and included and welcome when they walk in this door. From what I understand, that was successful."
In simple terms: The coach said the arena worked hard to keep everyone safe, and she thinks they did a good job with that part.
Summary
| What Happened | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Game | Storm vs. Fever, July 28, 2026 (Fever won 105-95) |
| Protest | ~50 people outside arena supporting Sophie Cunningham & ballot initiative IL26-638 |
| Initiative | Would ban transgender students from girls’ sports in WA schools |
| Incident | Storm co-owner (reportedly Celeste Keaton) yelled at 2 fans with a "Thank you Sophie" sign |
| Apology | Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder apologized Wednesday; promised inclusive environment |
| Fever Response | Said they didn’t know about protest; focus is on basketball |
| Storm Coach | Said arena security worked to keep everyone safe and welcome |
FAQ
What is a "co-owner" of a sports team?
A co-owner is someone who owns part of the team but not all of it. Think of it like a group of friends buying a pizza together—each person owns a slice. The majority owner (Ginny Gilder) owns the biggest slice and makes the final decisions.
What is ballot initiative IL26-638?
It’s a proposed law that Washington state voters would decide on. If passed, it would prevent transgender students (students whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth) from participating in girls’ school sports teams.
Why did the fans have a sign thanking Sophie Cunningham?
Because the week before, Cunningham told ESPN she supports keeping transgender girls and women out of girls’ and women’s sports. The fans agreed with her and wanted to thank her publicly.
Did the Storm kick the co-owner out or punish her?
The article doesn’t say. The team only apologized and reaffirmed their commitment to inclusivity. We don’t know if there will be any further consequences for the co-owner.
What does "inclusive environment" mean?
It means everyone feels welcome, respected, and safe—no matter who they are, what they believe, or who they support. The Storm is saying: "Our games are for everyone."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
