A teenager who displayed a sign supporting comments on transgender athletes has recounted a tense interaction with Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton, stating she has not yet received a personal apology. Ahnaleigh Wilson, 17, said she was "stunned" and brought to tears when Keaton allegedly cursed at her during a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Seattle Storm on Tuesday.
Wilson's sign read, "Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls," referencing comments made by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham in a recent ESPN profile. Cunningham had stated, “young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Wilson, who is a high school track athlete in Washington state, said the issue is personal, as she competed against a transgender athlete in a championship race in 2024 and against biological males four times during the past cross-country season. "They don’t know my story. They don’t know that I’ve actually experienced this, and I’ve experienced it more than once," Wilson told Fox News Digital. "These people don’t even know what I’ve gone through."
Wilson described the exchange: "After she was done, she kind of just walked away, and me and my friend were just like, ‘What just happened?’ Um, we were kind of stunned." She added that she began crying and felt embarrassed.
Her mother, Elizabeth, stated that neither the Storm nor the WNBA has reached out to her daughter or her friend since the incident. "They owe these girls an apology," Elizabeth said. "She needs to be held accountable. We teach our kids that every choice has a consequence, good or bad, and you have to own up to your mistakes."
The Seattle Storm organization issued a public apology once the encounter gained national attention. "We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game," said Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder. "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."
The WNBA fined and suspended Keaton from attending Seattle's next five home games following the incident. The league has not commented further on the situation.
Cunningham, in response to the incident and the Storm's apology, posted on X (formerly Twitter), "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." She also commended Wilson and her friend for "standing up for what they believe" and called Keaton's behavior "truly embarrassing" and indicative of her leadership style.
Wilson's family noted that the incident has thrust her into the spotlight, with her father saying he did not anticipate her going viral. Her mother added, "Our daughter’s face is plastered everywhere. We are getting comments of hate. A lot of support, though, too, but this has exploded, and her actions have now impacted our family greatly and will continue to do so."
The interaction occurred during the Fever's 105-95 victory over the Storm.