Storm apologize after co-owner berates teen girls for support of Cunningham
The Seattle Storm WNBA team apologized after a co-owner verbally accosted teenage fans for displaying signs supporting player Sophie Cunningham's stance on women's sports. The incident occurred during a game against the Indiana Fever and has sparked public debate regarding inclusivity and sports policy.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the ongoing cultural tensions surrounding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports and the professional conduct of team ownership.
WNBA basketball team Seattle Storm apologize after co-owner berates girls with ‘thank you’ sign for Sophie Cunningham.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Fan holds an Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (not pictured) sign during the first half between the Seattle Storm and the Indiana Fever [Steven Bisig/Imagn Images] By Reuters Published On 30 Jul 2026 30 Jul 2026 The Seattle Storm has issued an apology statement, one day after one of their co-owners verbally accosted two teenage female fans with expletives because they were holding signs supporting the views of Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham during a home game against the Fever.
The teenagers each had a sign, one saying “Thank You Sophie for speaking up for girls!” Cunningham recently went to bat for the protection of women’s sports and keeping them female only.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in