A new video has surfaced, capturing a tense interaction between Seattle Storm fans and supporters of Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham during a recent road game. The confrontation occurred amid ongoing controversy surrounding Cunningham's public statements on transgender athletes participating in women's sports.
The video, shared on social media and reported by Fox News, appears to show a confrontation outside Climate Pledge Arena. In the clip, a male fan wearing a Seattle hat is seen interacting with others, with one person saying, "You leave my daughter alone." The male fan dismisses those behind him, and the audio captures shouting, including "Go" as the Fever secured a win.
Another angle in the video features an unseen individual stating, "She is a minor." The male fan then reportedly responded with expletives and a dismissive gesture. A woman in a SuperSonics jersey also makes inaudible remarks. The exchange escalates with someone calling for "Security," before the male fan refers to the group as "Garbage" and tells them to "Take the trash out." The Cunningham supporters retort with "Go cry" before the video concludes.
This incident follows allegations from two teenage fans who claim Seattle owner Celeste Keaton referred to them as "f–king insane." The teenagers were reportedly wearing "XX-XY" shirts, a message associated with protecting women's sports, and holding a sign supporting Cunningham.
Cunningham has publicly criticized Keaton's alleged actions. Keaton has since been fined and suspended from attending the team's next five home games. Cunningham stated 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. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon."
Cunningham, 29, has been at the center of controversy since making comments earlier in July against transgender athletes competing in women's athletics. She stated in an interview published July 21, "I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men." She later characterized these remarks as "common sense" and emphasized the importance of "protecting children."
Supporters of Cunningham's stance were present at a rally outside the arena, holding signs and supporting statewide initiatives to ban transgender athletes from women's sports. The atmosphere inside the arena was noted to be unwelcoming for Cunningham, with Storm fans reportedly booing her throughout the game. Storm center Stephanie Dolson, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, wore a shirt with the caption "Trans rights are human rights," a photo of which was shared on the team's Instagram account. One organizer of the rally alleged that Storm players made thumbs-down gestures towards some Cunningham supporters within the arena.
The Fever has two more road games before returning home. Cunningham and the Fever are scheduled to play in Portland on Friday and in Minnesota on Sunday.