The WNBA has fined Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton and suspended her from attending the team's next five home games, following an incident involving fans at a recent game. The disciplinary action puts one of the franchise's owners on the sidelines for a stretch of the season and has drawn attention to how teams handle conduct in the stands.
According to the account, the incident occurred on Tuesday night during the Storm's game against the Indiana Fever. Keaton allegedly used an expletive to describe two supporters of Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, a comment that quickly became the focus of scrutiny and prompted a response from both the league and the team.
The two people involved were 16-year-old fans who were sitting courtside at the Storm and Fever matchup. Their close proximity to the action placed the exchange in one of the most visible parts of the arena, and it is that interaction that ultimately led to the league's decision to sanction the co-owner.
Cunningham herself has recently been in the news for her public stance on transgender women playing sports. That backdrop has added another layer of attention to the episode, as the comment directed at her supporters unfolded against wider debates already surrounding the guard both on and off the court.
In response, the Seattle Storm and majority owner Ginny Gilder issued a public apology. In a statement, Gilder said the organization was aware that one of its co-owners had made comments to two fans in attendance at the game and apologized that it happened, adding that everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome and that the team remains committed to creating an inclusive environment.
The suspension keeps Keaton away from the Storm's next five home games, while the fine adds a financial penalty on top of the ban. Fox 13 sports coverage indicated the incident would be examined further with input from a WNBA insider, as the team looks to move past an episode that overshadowed the result on the court and reinforced its stated commitment to a welcoming atmosphere for supporters.