A green sex toy was thrown onto the court during the third quarter of the WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks in Los Angeles on Thursday. Angel Reese of the Dream was reportedly quick to point out the individual responsible for throwing the item.
This incident marks a recurrence of a phenomenon from the previous summer, when multiple sex toys were thrown onto WNBA courts during games. At one point, betting markets reportedly offered odds on the color of the next toy to be thrown. The trend led to arrests and public discussion, with player Sophie Cunningham having been hit by a projectile prior to becoming a more widely known player.
Cunningham had previously posted on social media about the issue, jokingly writing, "Stop throwing dildos on the court… you’re going to hurt one of us," days before she was hit by one. Following the incident, she added, "This did NOT age well."
The return of the sex toy to the court brings back memories of the unusual disruption experienced by the league last season. The league has been seeking increased attention and viewership, with discussions around how to best capitalize on the personalities and rivalries emerging within the league.