Sex Toy Thrown on Court During WNBA Game Sparks Outrage

During a WNBA matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night, a sex toy was hurled from the stands, landing near Fever player Sophie Cunningham with just over two minutes left in the second quarter.

The unexpected object startled Cunningham, who has previously expressed her disapproval of such antics on social media. In a swift reaction, Kelsey Plum of the Sparks kicked the toy back into the stands, attempting to minimize the disruption.

"It's ridiculous, it's dumb, it's stupid," Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts stated emphatically. "It's also dangerous; player safety is paramount. Respecting the game is essential. I think it's really stupid."

Plum remarked on the situation, noting that both teams handled it well by continuing to play without giving it much attention. "The refs too, I really appreciate them for just saying 'hey let's go,'" she added.

Cunningham was seen laughing as she approached the Sparks bench, seemingly unfazed by the incident.

Reports on social media indicate that similar green toys were thrown in Phoenix and New York, although they did not reach the court. One incident at Barclays Center involved a toy landing near a child.

A week prior, during a game between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries in College Park, Georgia, a fan was arrested for throwing an object onto the court. The WNBA confirmed that this individual faced ejection from the arena and a minimum one-year ban.

In another occurrence on Friday, a sex toy was thrown in Chicago during a stoppage in play in the third quarter of Golden State's 73-66 victory over the Sky. An official promptly kicked the object aside before it was removed.

It remains unclear whether any arrests were made in connection with the incident at the Sky game.

Sky center Elizabeth Williams condemned these actions as "super disrespectful," urging those involved to "grow up," according to reports.

"First of all, it was super dangerous," Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini commented after the Atlanta-Golden State game. "When we found out what it was, we just started laughing. I've never seen anything like that. I'm just glad we worked through that situation and stayed focused."

New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison, who did not participate in the games where these incidents occurred, took to social media to criticize both the individuals responsible and arena staff. "ARENA SECURITY?! Hello??!" she exclaimed. "Please do better. It's not funny. Never was funny. Throwing ANYTHING on the court is so dangerous."

The WNBA issued a statement emphasizing that "the safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority." They reiterated that any fan who intentionally throws an object onto the court will face immediate ejection and a minimum one-year ban, along with potential arrest and prosecution by local authorities.