Sex Toy Thrown Near Fever’s Sophie Cunningham in LA Game/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks was disrupted when a sex toy was thrown from the stands, landing near Sophie Cunningham. The forward, who has previously warned fans about the danger of such stunts, reacted with surprise but continued playing. The league reiterated that such behavior will lead to ejection, arrest, and a one-year ban.
Sophie Cunningham Incident Quick Looks
- Object landed with 2:05 left in second quarter of Sparks-Fever game.
- Cunningham surprised but laughed after incident, previously warned fans about safety risks.
- Kelsey Plum kicked object into stands to clear court.
- Multiple recent incidents in Phoenix, New York, Atlanta, and Chicago.
- League statement: offenders face ejection, one-year ban, and possible arrest.
- Sparks coach calls behavior “dangerous” and “really stupid.”
- Trend concerns growing as incidents happen across multiple WNBA cities.
Sex Toy Thrown Near Fever’s Sophie Cunningham in LA Game
Deep Look
The WNBA’s growing frustration over fan misconduct reached Los Angeles when a sex toy was thrown from the stands during the Indiana Fever’s matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks, landing near forward Sophie Cunningham.
The incident occurred with 2:05 remaining in the second quarter. The object landed in the lane close to Cunningham, who has been outspoken on social media about the dangers of throwing objects on the court. Startled, Cunningham jumped back, while Sparks guard Kelsey Plum quickly kicked the item into the stands to clear the floor.
Immediate Reactions on the Court
Cunningham, who later laughed while talking to the Sparks bench, had previously warned that such acts could injure players.
“You’re going to hurt one of us,” she had written in an earlier social media post after similar incidents in other arenas.
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts condemned the act in strong terms. “I think it’s ridiculous, it’s dumb, it’s stupid,” 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 credited both teams and officials for keeping the game moving without escalation.
“I thought both teams did a great job playing on, not giving it any attention,” she said. “The refs too… just like hey, let’s go.”
A Disturbing Trend Across the League
The Los Angeles incident is the latest in a string of similar episodes. According to social media reports, green-colored toys have been tossed in Phoenix and New York, though in those cases they did not reach the playing surface. At Barclays Center in Brooklyn, one object landed near a child.
The trend began a week earlier in Atlanta, where an object was thrown late in the fourth quarter of the Dream’s game against Golden State in College Park, Georgia. The fan responsible was arrested, ejected from the arena, and given a minimum one-year ban, the WNBA confirmed.
On Friday, a similar incident occurred in Chicago during the Golden State-Chicago Sky game. After a whistle stopped play in the third quarter, a sex toy was thrown under a basket. An official kicked it aside before removal. It is unclear if that fan was arrested.
League’s Firm Warning
In a statement, the WNBA reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance:
“The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority for our league. 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.”
League officials emphasized that throwing objects not only interrupts play but endangers players, referees, and spectators, especially when thrown items could cause injury.
Impact on Players and the Game
For Cunningham, the repeated nature of these incidents is especially frustrating. While she was able to laugh off Tuesday’s episode, her earlier warnings suggest a real concern for safety. The risk isn’t just physical injury—objects thrown from the stands can also create tense, unsafe environments for athletes, disrupting their focus and potentially escalating tensions in the arena.
The WNBA has made significant strides in increasing attendance and fan engagement in recent seasons, making it all the more important for the league to ensure that games remain safe and respectful for both players and attendees. Persistent issues like this risk overshadowing on-court performances and could lead to tighter arena security measures.
Looking Ahead
With similar incidents now reported in multiple cities in just over a week, league officials may face pressure to coordinate with arena security teams nationwide to prevent a repeat. Enhanced bag checks, increased camera monitoring, and stricter fan conduct enforcement could be implemented if the pattern continues.
For now, Cunningham and the Fever will move on from an unsettling moment in Los Angeles, but the message from the WNBA is clear: throw something onto the court, and you’ll be out of the arena—and possibly facing criminal charges—before the final buzzer.
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