Washington state high school athlete Ahnaleigh Wilson was allegedly heckled by Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton during a WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Indiana Fever at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Wilson, who was attending the game to support Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, spoke out about the incident in a viral interview with independent Washington-based journalist Brandi Kruse shortly after the game.

Wilson and her family say the exchange with Keaton caused the teen emotional distress. Wilson described being pushed into the national culture war over women's sports, noting she has competed against biological male trans athletes multiple times, including losing a regional championship race in May 2024 to a biological male trans athlete.

Wilson said she was heckled by other fans and eventually by Keaton, which brought her to tears. Her mother, Elizabeth, stated, "By her coming up to them and verbally attacking them and bullying them into putting their signs away, she opened that up for the people around them to treat the other girls and our daughter and her friend in a similar manner."

Wilson expressed disappointment that the confrontation came from another woman and shared that the public attention has caused challenges for her and her family. The incident led to the suspension of Celeste Keaton by the Seattle Storm organization.

Sources