What started as a bizarre sideshow at WNBA games has officially turned into a troubling trend.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is the latest player caught in a pattern of viral stunts where fans have thrown sex toys onto the court during games, the third time this has happened in just over a week.
This time, the object landed dangerously close to Cunningham during a Tuesday night matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks.
stop throwing dildos on the court… you’re going to hurt one of us.
— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) August 2, 2025
Some online commentators believe she may have been directly targeted. The object thrown onto the court during the live games, described as a bright green sex toy, paused the game and drew boos from the crowd.
While no injuries occurred, the situation has highlighted some safety concerns, as well as conversations surrounding respect for WNBA players overall.
The first two incidents happened during Golden State Valkyries road games in Atlanta and Chicago, prompting the league to eject and ban at least one fan for a year, according to Yahoo Sports.
The WNBA issued a statement to ESPN after the second incident, saying that any object thrown onto the court is grounds for ejection, a minimum one-year ban, and possible arrest.
“The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority,” The league declared.
Now, players are asking what more needs to happen before venue security steps up.
“ARENA SECURITY?! Hello??!…Please do better. It’s not funny. never was funny. Throwing ANYTHING on the court is so dangerous.” Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison posted to social media.
“It’s super disrespectful. I don’t really get the point of it. It’s really immature. Whoever is doing it needs to grow up,” added Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams.
While the WNBA has made headlines in recent years for growing viewership, the league is also trying to navigate a hyper-politicized cultural climate.
One thing is clear: WNBA players are fed up with the recent outrageous pranks.