Sex Toy incident raises safety concerns in WNBA game involving Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 06, 2025, 21:14 IST
( Image credit : AP )
A WNBA game between Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks faced disruption. A sex toy was thrown onto the court near player Sophie Cunningham. This incident raised concerns about player safety. Coach Lynne Roberts called the act dangerous and stupid. The WNBA condemned the act. The league reiterated its commitment to safety.
A sex toy was thrown onto the court near Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham during Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena, prompting renewed concerns over player safety and fan conduct.
The incident occurred with 2:05 remaining in the second quarter when the object landed in the lane close to Cunningham. She visibly recoiled while teammate Kelsey Plum kicked the item off the court. No injuries were reported.
Cunningham, who has previously criticized the trend of fans throwing such objects during WNBA games, appeared startled but later laughed about the situation while speaking with players on the Sparks bench.
“I think it’s ridiculous, it's dumb, it's stupid,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said postgame. “It’s also dangerous, and players’ safety is number one. Respecting the game — all those things — I think it’s really stupid.”
Plum, who helped diffuse the moment on the court, commended both teams for their professionalism. “I thought both teams did a great job — play on, don’t give it any attention,” she said. “The refs too — I really appreciate them — were just like, ‘Hey, let’s go.’”
According to social media reports, similar objects have been thrown at other WNBA venues in recent weeks. Instances have been reported in Phoenix and New York, though those items did not reach the court. At Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, one object reportedly landed near a child in the stands.
The first known incident in this recent pattern occurred last week in College Park, Georgia, during a game between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries. In that case, a fan was arrested and banned from WNBA events for at least one year, per league policy.
Another occurrence took place on Friday in Chicago during Golden State’s 73-66 win over the Sky. A sex toy was thrown under the basket after a stoppage in play; an official removed it from the court. It remains unclear whether the individual responsible in that incident was apprehended.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the WNBA reiterated its stance on fan misconduct and emphasized the importance of safety protocols.
“The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority for our league,” the WNBA said. “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.”
The league continues to monitor the situation and is expected to review security measures across all venues.
The incident occurred with 2:05 remaining in the second quarter when the object landed in the lane close to Cunningham. She visibly recoiled while teammate Kelsey Plum kicked the item off the court. No injuries were reported.
Cunningham, who has previously criticized the trend of fans throwing such objects during WNBA games, appeared startled but later laughed about the situation while speaking with players on the Sparks bench.
“I think it’s ridiculous, it's dumb, it's stupid,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said postgame. “It’s also dangerous, and players’ safety is number one. Respecting the game — all those things — I think it’s really stupid.”
Plum, who helped diffuse the moment on the court, commended both teams for their professionalism. “I thought both teams did a great job — play on, don’t give it any attention,” she said. “The refs too — I really appreciate them — were just like, ‘Hey, let’s go.’”
According to social media reports, similar objects have been thrown at other WNBA venues in recent weeks. Instances have been reported in Phoenix and New York, though those items did not reach the court. At Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, one object reportedly landed near a child in the stands.
The first known incident in this recent pattern occurred last week in College Park, Georgia, during a game between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries. In that case, a fan was arrested and banned from WNBA events for at least one year, per league policy.
Another occurrence took place on Friday in Chicago during Golden State’s 73-66 win over the Sky. A sex toy was thrown under the basket after a stoppage in play; an official removed it from the court. It remains unclear whether the individual responsible in that incident was apprehended.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the WNBA reiterated its stance on fan misconduct and emphasized the importance of safety protocols.
“The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority for our league,” the WNBA said. “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.”
The league continues to monitor the situation and is expected to review security measures across all venues.