Seattle Storm Host Kayce Kirihara Turns Viral Crypto Stunt Into A Win For Women In Sports

Following the recent viral crypto stunt at WNBA games (think green projectiles), Seattle Storm in-arena host Kayce Kirihara is helping to shift the spotlight back where it belongs - on women in sports. 

With her partnership with plusOne, Kirihara transformed a disruptive moment into an empowering one, and this has shifted the conversation to celebrating female athletes and their voices. 

“Once again, men found the wrong spot.” 

After someone tossed a green sex toy onto the court during a WNBA game, it appeared to be a one and done stunt…until the next time it happened. It happened multiple times but didn’t go without consequences. Multiple men were arrested for the potentially dangerous stunt. But it’s not ending there. An “opportunity to flip the script” is giving the control back to where it belongs.

“Sports have always been a stage for energy and emotion, but too often, women’s sports are met with bias and disruption. We saw this an opportunity to flip the script,” Kirihara told The Blast exclusively. 

“While these moments were intended to be misogynistic, demeaning, and disrespectful—we stand with the WNBA in reclaiming the narrative and turning it into a statement of empowerment. Instead of letting it be a distraction, we turned it into a celebration—of the athletes, the fans, and the incredible momentum behind women’s sports.”

She explained that plusOne’s belief in “pleasure, confidence, and ownership” gives that energy back to the players and the fans. 

Kirihara’s Instagram post captured tons of attention, including Seattle Storm guard, Lexie Brown.

“You know that stunt that happened at the women’s basketball games a few weeks ago? With the bright green…things? Once again, men found the wrong spot. But WE’RE bringing the vibes (literally) — controlling the narrative & turning the spotlight back on women, where it belongs: power & confidence,” she captioned her powerful video.

Many viewers dropped into the comments to share their thoughts. Many seemed to like the tagline, “Once again, men found the wrong spot,” and repeated that, and others left comments such as, “This is the best thing I’ve seen all year,” "OMG you are an icon,” and “Taking back the narrative - love this.” 

Brown took to the comments to show her support by simply writing, “Kayce LMAOOOO.”  Kirihara said her support was “powerful.” 

“When athletes themselves echo your message, it validates the intention behind it. Lexie and others stepping in showed that women athletes aren’t just part of the conversation - they’re leading it,” Kirihara said. “That’s exactly the kind of amplification we wanted: authentic voices owning this moment.” 

When talking about taking the narrative back, Kirihara said “it’s about control and visibility.” 

“For so long, women athletes were told how to show up - what to wear, how to speak, how to behave,” she explained. “‘Taking back the narrative’ means they’re now the authors of their own storylines, using their platforms to share conversations about equality, representation, and identity. That’s cultural change in real time.” 

Furthermore, Kirihara said this moment is part of a larger cultural shift in how women athletes use their platforms to drive dialogue off the court.

“We’re seeing athletes become full-scale brands and advocates, not just players,” Kirihara told The Blast. “They’re talking about mental health, equality, pay, politics, and culture - and fans are responding. This moment fits into that broader shift, where athletes are more than competitors; they’re catalysts for change.” 

The campaign with plusOne mixes humor with empowerment, and that balance really calls out to both athletes and fans. 

“Humor disarms people; it opens the door. Empowerment drives the point home,” she explained. “When you mix those two - especially in a space where women’s sports are often under a microscope - it creates something relatable and shareable. It says, ‘We can laugh, but we’re also here to make a point.’ And fans love that mix.” 

And the tagline, “Once again, men found the wrong spot,” really pulled women in with relatable humor that’s “cheeky” and “memorable.” 

“It speaks to something bigger: women owning their pleasure and their platforms. By leaning into humor, we’re not shying away from the conversation - we’re making it approachable and impossible to ignore,” she shared. “It’s helping normalize dialogue around women’s wellness in spaces where it’s often overlooked.” 

Kirihara started out as a ball girl for the Seattle Storm and moved into the role as equipment manager and video coordinator once she graduated from college. She learned the game inside and out and found her voice connecting with fans. 

“This is actually my first year as the official in-arena host, but I did two unofficially last season,” she told The Blast. “My start came from a love of both storytelling and live sports energy. It’s been a journey of passion meeting opportunity.” 

 She said the best part of being a WNBA host is the people, athletes, fans, and of course, the energy. She finds a “real sense of pride and purpose in women’s sports that’s contagious.” As one might assume, there have been a lot of memorable moments during her time as the host of the Storm, but there are some that really stand out for her.

“There are so many, but one that stands out is having young girls and boys come up to me and seeing their excitement being at the game and wanting to share that with me. I have fans that come say hi to me every game, like a tradition, it’s something that I truly look forward to every single time,” she shared. “Those moments remind me that this role is about more than announcing; it’s about building community and energy.” 

Her advice for the other women in sports and entertainment who want to own their narrative in unexpected situations? 

“Stay calm, stay clever, and don’t be afraid to pivot,” she said. “Your reaction can redefine the moment. Find your allies, use your platform, and lean into your unique voice. The unexpected can actually be your biggest stage if you know how to own it.” 

And for what she hopes everyone knows about the WNBA, that it’s “some of the most exciting, skillful basketball you’ll ever watch.”

“The talent, the passion, the strategy,” she said. “It’s all three, and it deserves the same energy and support as any other league. Once people come to a game or tune in, they get it immediately.”