The fan who threw a sex toy onto the court during a WNBA game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Atlanta Dream on Thursday has been arrested and issued a lifetime ban from all WNBA and NBA games. The incident occurred just before Sparks forward Jihyun Park was set to take free throws.
Play was halted as Dream player Angel Reese pointed towards the section from which the object was thrown. Video footage that circulated online showed the unidentified individual attempting to flee the venue after the incident but being apprehended by security before they could escape. The Los Angeles Police Department has been contacted for comment.
This event brings back memories of a similar spate of incidents last season, where sex toys were repeatedly thrown onto the court during WNBA games. These past disruptions were at times linked to the promotion of a cryptocurrency, though it is currently unclear if this latest incident carries a similar motive.
In the past, these disruptions have led to players being directly affected. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was previously hit by a thrown object. Last season also saw several arrests related to such acts. In one instance, Charles Burgess, 32, was arrested for throwing a sex toy that struck a young fan at a New York Liberty game. Another individual, 18-year-old Kaden Lopez, was arrested for disorderly conduct and assault after throwing an item onto the court during a game between the Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury. Delbert Carver, 23, was also arrested for similar offenses at multiple games.
The repeated disruptions prompted strong reactions from players and coaches at the time. Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve spoke out against the incidents, calling them a manifestation of the sexualization of women. "This is the latest version of that. It's not funny," Reeve stated. "The sexualization of women is what's used to hold women down and this is no different. These people that are doing this should be held accountable. We're not the butt of the joke. They're the problem, and we need to take action."