WNBA star targeted with ‘intimate’ object on court days after pleading for people to stop throwing them

People are throwing sex toys on the court during WNBA games. And just days after pleading with people to stop doing it, an Indiana Fever star was targeted. 

The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 5, in Los Angeles during the Fever’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. With two minutes left in the second quarter, a green sex toy landed near Fever forward Sophie Cunningham. Just days earlier, Cunningham posted on X, “Stop throwing d—s on the court… you’re going to hurt one of us.” After it happened to her, Cunningham reshared the post captioned, “This did NOT age well.” 

At the L.A. game Tuesday night, Sparks guard Kelsey Plum kicked the object out of the way, and play resumed. The Fever went on to lose 91-100. After the game, Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said, “I think it’s ridiculous, it’s dumb, it’s stupid,” of the sex toy prank. “It’s also dangerous, and players’ safety is No. 1. Respecting the game. All those things. I think it’s really stupid.” 

‘I’m glad you laughed it off’ 

The Fever-Sparks incident was the third of its kind in two weeks. The two others happened at Golden State Valkyrie games. After the first time it happened, police arrested 23-year-old Delbert Carver and charged him with disorderly conduct, public indecency/indecent exposure, and criminal trespass.  

Reports say authorities arrested another person after the second sex toy was thrown on the court. That person has not been identified. There’s no report yet on whether anyone in L.A. was taken into custody. According to the Associated Press, two more were thrown in New York and Phoenix, but did not hit the court. One landed near a child.  

In a statement, the WNBA said, “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.” 

The statement added, “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.” 

After Cunningham was targeted, she also shared an Instagram story of her face, captioned “No way that thing actually hit me. I knew I shouldn’t have tweeted that.” Someone commented, “I’m glad you laughed it off.”