Late Wednesday night, the WNBA came down hard on Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton, suspending her for heckling teenage girls who brought a sign to the Indiana Fever game in defense of Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments about transgender people.
While the WNBA wasted little time enforcing discipline on Seattle, Cunningham immediately applauded the league’s timely response to the situation.
Sophie Cunningham Defends Rips Storm Co-Owner Celeste Keaton
It turns out, Cunningham can be both supportive and critical at the same time.
On Wednesday night, moments after Keaton’s five-game suspension was announced, Cunningham took to her X social media page, where she’s built up a following of over 555 thousand accounts.
Cunningham wanted to set the record straight about how she feels about transgender people, possibly feeling like her past actions painted her in the wrong light.
“I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY,” Cunningham wrote. “Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind.”
Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been fined and suspended from attending the team’s next five home games after last night’s incident involving Fever fans, the WNBA confirmed. @BlackRosieMedia
— Roberta 🏳️🌈 (@robertawbb) July 30, 2026
Then, Cunningham made it a point to support the two teenage girls who went out of their way to make signs and show support for the Fever hooper. As a result of their support, Cunningham will be doing something special for the pair of girls, but she didn’t reveal what those gifts may entail.
“Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe,” Cunningham wrote. “You’ll be hearing from me soon💕 yay for gifts.”
Lastly, Cunningham wasn’t going to end her message without taking a shot at Keaton, suggesting the Storm co-owner’s actions show that she’s not the best leader.
“Truly embarrassing of the co-owner,” Cunningham added. “Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.”
I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind.
Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from… https://t.co/gIVWhEHi3Q
— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) July 30, 2026
Cunningham may have been facing scrutiny online; thus, she felt compelled to clear the air. In touchy situations like these, there will never be universal agreement on all sides, but Cunningham clearly felt like she had some unfinished business to address.
Meanwhile, the Storm’s co-owner is yet to respond after her suspension.
The next time Cunningham’s Fever are back in action comes on Friday, July 31, when Indiana takes on the Portland Fire for a home game at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever are riding a hot four-game win streak and will look to maintain that spark against a Fire team that’s lost three in a row.
