Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has made a direct plea to fans regarding a disturbing trend that has emerged in recent WNBA games: the throwing of adult toys onto the court. Cunningham took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice her concerns, stating, "stop throwing dildos on the court… you're going to hurt one of us".
This statement comes in the wake of multiple incidents involving sex toys being thrown onto the court during WNBA games. One incident occurred during a game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, July 29. Another incident happened on Friday, August 1, during a game between the Valkyries and the Chicago Sky. In the latter case, the game was interrupted in the third quarter when a neon green sex toy landed on the court. Officials paused the game to remove the object before play continued.
The incidents have sparked mixed reactions. Some individuals have shrugged off Cunningham's concerns, while others have blamed the WNBA. Some have even argued that throwing sex toys is protected by the First Amendment. However, many have voiced their support for the players and condemned the actions of those throwing the objects.
Other WNBA players have also spoken out against the incidents. New York Liberty power forward Isabelle Harrison posted on X, stating, "ARENA SECURITY?! Hello??! Please do better. It's not funny. never was funny. Throwing ANYTHING on the court is so dangerous". Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams said that it is "super disrespectful" and "really immature". Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini called the first incident "super dangerous," although she also noted that the teams were "laughing" at the disruption.
The WNBA has yet to release an official statement regarding the incidents. Newsweek has reached out to the WNBA, the Golden State Valkyries, the Atlanta Dream, and the Chicago Sky for comment.
Cunningham, known for her outspoken nature, has become a prominent figure in the WNBA. Her on-court performance and candor have garnered her increased attention and endorsements. Beyond this incident, Cunningham has been in the news for other reasons, including sporting a "Hot Girls Eat Arby's" t-shirt before a game against the Chicago Sky and announcing a partnership with Arby's on Instagram. During the same game, she also fell on a cameraman sitting courtside.
