TL;DR
- Three WNBA games in 10 days have been interrupted by fans throwing sex toys onto the court.
- Players and coaches call the acts dangerous, misogynistic, and disrespectful.
- Many online “jokes” come from straight men making sexist or homophobic comments.
- One arrest has been made in the first incident; others remain under investigation.
- The trend is sparking conversation about respect for women athletes and the LGBTQ community.
WNBA Says: Keep Your Toys Off Our Court
The WNBA’s had its fair share of wild moments — buzzer-beaters, overtime thrillers, on-court scuffles — but lately, there’s been an uninvited guest making repeat appearances: rogue dildos.
In the last 10 days alone, three separate games have been interrupted by airborne adult toys. The latest came during the August 5 clash between the Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks, when one found its way to the hardwood mid-game. It’s become an unsettling pattern that started on July 29, when a bright green dildo landed during a Golden State Valkyries–Atlanta Dream matchup, and escalated just days later during an August 1 Valkyries–Chicago Sky game.
Fever guard Sophie Cunningham had already pleaded on social media for fans to cut it out after the second incident — only to have another toy appear in her own game days later. “Please do better,” New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison wrote after the August 1 incident. “It’s not funny. Never was funny. Throwing ANYTHING on the court is so dangerous.”
Chicago Sky’s Elizabeth Williams didn’t mince words either: “I don’t really get the point of it. It’s really immature. Whoever is doing it needs to grow up.” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts was even more blunt: “It’s ridiculous. It’s dumb. It’s stupid. It’s also dangerous… player safety is No. 1.”
Misogyny, Homophobia, and the Ugly Side of “Jokes”
While memes have inevitably sprung up online, the internet commentary has veered into a nastier territory — one that’s laced with sexism and homophobia, much of it coming from straight, cisgender men.
Some commenters have bizarrely tried to frame the dildo tosses as “patriotic” free speech, with one post under Cunningham’s plea reading: “Throwing sex toys is protected by the First Amendment. If you hate America and the constitution, leave.” Another charming reply? “The entire league uses dildos for pleasure. Lesbians.”
It’s a slap in the face to a league that has long been home to proudly out athletes and LGBTQ trailblazers. Reducing these women — many of whom are queer — to tired, degrading stereotypes isn’t just immature, it’s actively harmful. It sends a message that their identities make them targets for ridicule, rather than respect.
The so-called “joke” nearly crossed another line at the Barclays Center during an August 5 Liberty–Dallas Wings game, when a would-be thrower failed to make the court — but almost hit a child in the crowd. That incident is now under investigation, along with the August 1 toss.
Someone’s Already Been Caught — and It’s Not Cute
Authorities have at least one confirmed suspect: 23-year-old Delbert Carver, who allegedly launched the original green dildo in Atlanta. He’s facing multiple charges, including disorderly conduct, public indecency, and criminal trespass. His alleged defense? He wanted the stunt to “go viral.”
But for the WNBA, the viral moment has crossed into a pattern of harassment. For a league already battling for respect, equal coverage, and pay equity, this bizarre wave of sex toy stunts has become a reminder that women athletes — and especially LGBTQ women athletes — are still too often treated as punchlines.
And here’s the thing: the WNBA is more than ready for a viral trend — but not one that involves dodging silicone projectiles. The players are here to compete, inspire, and win. If you can’t handle that without turning it into a misogynistic circus, maybe you’re the one who needs to “grow up.”