The Seattle Storm apologized Wednesday for an exchange that took place between one of their co-owners and two fans during the team's 105-95 home loss to the Indiana Fever.
The incident occurred Tuesday night during an evening that began with a demonstration outside Climate Pledge Arena.
Ahead of the game, a crowd of a few dozen gathered to support Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and to promote a statewide ballot initiative, IL26-638, that would bar transgender students from participating in girls' athletics at Washington schools.
Some members of the group carried signs in support of Cunningham or wore T-shirts depicting the XX and XY chromosomes. Some of them were also inside the arena during the game.
Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports in an ESPN article published last week.
The Storm didn't elaborate on the nature of the incident and didn't say which Storm co-owner was involved. However, Brandi Kruse of unDividedPod.com reported that it was co-owner Celeste Keaton, and in an interview with the two fans -- who were at the gathering and were courtside at the game -- they told Kruse that Keaton directed expletives at them for a sign that thanked Cunningham "for speaking up for girls."
"We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night's game. We apologize that this happened," Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in a statement released Wednesday. "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."
Cunningham was not made available to answer postgame questions. Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings addressed the media instead, alongside coach Stephanie White.
When White was asked about the rally and Cunningham's recent comments, a Fever public relations representative intervened with the following statement:
"Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers," the statement said. "Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission."
Storm coach Sonia Raman also briefly addressed a question about the pregame protest following her team's seventh consecutive loss.
"Seattle and this organization and Climate Pledge, we always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building," Raman said. "I think we've always done a really good job with that. So, I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge and the security just to make sure that everybody feels safe and included and welcome when they walk in this door.
"From what I understand, that was successful."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.