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What started as a weird joke is now becoming a real problem. During a WNBA game in Los Angeles on August 5, a sex toy was thrown onto the court, again. This time, it landed near Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham, who had just days earlier begged fans online to stop doing exactly that.
She had posted on X, “Stop throwing d—s on the court… you’re going to hurt one of us.” After the object landed near her during the Fever vs. Sparks game, she reposted her old tweet with the caption, “This did NOT age well.”
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum kicked the item away so the game could continue. The Fever lost 91-100, but the conversation afterwards had little to do with the score.
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts didn’t hold back, saying, “It’s ridiculous, it’s dumb, it’s stupid… and dangerous.” She added that respecting the game and keeping players safe should be the top priority.
This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s now the third time in just two weeks. Two earlier incidents happened during Golden State Valkyrie games. In the first case, police arrested 23-year-old Delbert Carver and charged him with disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, and trespassing. A second person was arrested during the next game, though their identity hasn’t been released.
More objects were reportedly thrown during games in New York and Phoenix as well. One didn’t make it to the court but landed near a child, adding even more concern over safety.
The WNBA responded with a strong statement. The league said any fan caught throwing something onto the court will be thrown out immediately, banned for at least a year, and possibly arrested and charged. The WNBA also emphasized that player safety is a top priority.
After the L.A. game, Cunningham also posted an Instagram story reacting to what happened, writing, “No way that thing actually hit me. I knew I shouldn’t have tweeted that.”
Though some fans are laughing it off, players and coaches are getting serious. A joke is one thing, but risking someone’s safety just to get a reaction? That’s where the line has been clearly crossed.