Sex toys have been thrown onto the court during three WNBA games in recent weeks.
One person has been arrested and charged in connection with one of the incidents.
WNBA players and coaches have expressed concern about the incidents, citing player safety.
With a month left in the season, the WNBA is getting increased visibility, but it’s not because of the tight playoff races or three of the league’s stars being injured.
The sports world is talking about objects being thrown on the court, specifically green neon sex toys.
Over the past two weeks there have been three incidents during which a sex toy has been thrown on a WNBA court during live game action. The latest incident happened Tuesday night in a game between the Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena in L.A.
‘It’s ridiculous, it’s dumb, it’s stupid,’ Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said after the game. ‘It’s also dangerous. Player safety is No. 1, respecting the game, all those things. I think it’s really stupid.’
Roberts’ reaction is starting to become the norm, especially if the trend continues. Here is a timeline of events:
July 29: Valkyries at Dream
The first incident occurred on July 29 during the fourth quarter of the Atlanta Dream’s game against the Golden State Valkyries at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.
A 23-year-old man, Delbert Carver, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, public indecency/indecent exposure and criminal trespass.
Aug. 1: Valkyries at Sky
During the Valkyries’ game against the Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Aug. 1, another sex toy was thrown onto the court. Officials stopped play when the toy was heaved from the stands and landed by a baseline near the Sky’s basket. An official kicked the toy away, and a Sky staffer quickly removed it.
Aug. 5: Fever at Sparks
With two minutes remaining in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game, a sex toy landed on the court in the lane near Fever forward Sophie Cunningham, who earlier in the week went on social media to plead with fans not to throw things on the floor and posted another reaction after the game. Sparks guard Kelsey Plum kicking it into the stands.
WNBA response to sex toys being thrown during games
Each WNBA team has policies and security procedures about what spectators can and cannot bring into a specific arena. The league strongly encourages fans not to bring bags into venues, and every bag that is allowed within certain specifications is subject to search.
The arenas also have an extensive list of what is allowed in arenas, with the obvious items such as weapons, fireworks, hazardous items, and tools being prohibited.
The WNBA has issued warnings against any fan throwing objects on the court, saying violators would be ‘immediately ejected and face a minimum one-year ban,’ and could face charges from authorities.
‘The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority for our league,’ the WNBA said in a statement. ‘Objects of any kind thrown onto the court or in the seating area can pose a safety risk for players, game officials, and fans. In line with WNBA Arena Security Standards, any fan who intentionally throws an object onto the court will be immediately ejected and face a minimum one-year ban in addition to being subject to arrest and prosecution by local authorities.’