Sophie Cunningham, a guard for the Indiana Fever, has responded after claims from Celeste Keaton, co-owner of the Seattle Storm, about two teenage fans calling them “insane” due to a sign supporting the WNBA athlete.
Cunningham deemed Keaton’s behavior at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday night as “absolutely embarrassing,” but she commended the young fans for expressing their beliefs.
“I truly believe there is a safe place and love for everyone,” she stated in a message shared on social media.
“Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! Even if you disagree, be kind,” she continued.
Cunningham also expressed her admiration for the two girls, mentioning, “Bravo to them for standing up for what they believe in. You’ll be hearing from me soon about gifts.”
“It’s really embarrassing as a co-owner. Unfortunately, it shows that she is the type of leader,” she added.
The two fans held signs reading, “Thank you, Sophie, for speaking up for girls!” while sitting courtside as the Storm fell to the Fever, 105-95.
Keaton reportedly shared her side during an appearance on the Undivided podcast, suggesting she told the girls who supported Cunningham’s views on transgender women in sports that “Jesus loves everyone.”
She then added, “I hope Jesus forgives you for the sins you’ve committed,” and labeled one girl a “crazy woman,” which reportedly led to a fan becoming emotional.
“I’ve never been yelled at like that before,” one girl remarked. She noted that although she received some negative remarks online, they didn’t really bother her. “But it surprised me because I thought she was a nice person. Then she started screaming at us and calling us names.”
The teens also wore apparel featuring “XX-XY,” from a company founded by former gymnast Jennifer Sey, which aims to advocate for the protection of women’s sports.
Some female students mentioned feeling uncomfortable during the game. “We were nervous the whole time,” one expressed, recalling their uncertainty about whether to display the sign due to reactions from those around them.
The WNBA has subsequently fined Keaton and suspended her for the next five home games following the incident, as reported locally.
Cunningham has publicly advocated for banning transgender athletes from women’s sports, stating that her desire to protect female athletes stems from love, not hatred. “I’ve gotten a lot of negative feedback about how I hate trans people, and I’m like, ‘I never said that,'” she clarified. “I think I’m here to spread love, but I also think that love is true and honest. And I want to protect the young girls in the locker room and the young girls in sports who don’t have to go against biological men.”
