The Seattle Storm issued an apology after co-owner Celeste Keaton verbally accosted two teenage fans during a home game against the Indiana Fever.
The fans were holding signs supporting Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's recent stance on protecting women's sports exclusively for females.
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Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder acknowledged the incident and apologized. "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," Gilder said.
Independent journalist Brandi Kruse reported that Keaton called the girls "f—ing insane." Kruse also noted that Seattle players made thumbs-down gestures toward the girls during the game.
Some fans booed the teenagers, despite Kruse defending them as just teenage girls.
A poll last year showed that 79% of Americans oppose men playing in women's sports.
The issue gained renewed attention after the Supreme Court ruled states could ban transgender athletes from women's sports.
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Cunningham has publicly advocated for protecting women's sports, emphasizing honesty and safeguarding girls from competing against biological men.
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans," Cunningham said in an ESPN interview. "And I'm like, 'I never once said that.'
I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest.
And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
During the game, Cunningham scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Fever won 105-95.
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The Seattle Storm lost their seventh straight game and hold the worst record in the league.
