A WNBA game was halted on Friday after a sex toy was thrown onto the court, marking the second such incident within the same week. While Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham was not on the court during the incident, she addressed the issue publicly, emphasizing the danger it poses to players and urging fans to stop.

Stop throwing dildos on the court… you’re going to hurt one of us,

Cunningham wrote on X.

Details of the Incident and Players’ Reactions

The object landed farther from players on Friday than it did earlier in the week during the Golden State Valkyries versus Atlanta Dream game, where the sex toy landed directly in the middle of the action. The unexpected event left commentators visibly shocked during the broadcast as the camera zoomed in on the object.

Commentator Morgan Ragan reacted with surprise: “Oh my gosh, OK, inappropriate,” followed by

Get ’em out of here, whoever it is.

Authorities were called to the stadium, though it remains unclear if the individual responsible for throwing the object was ever identified or removed. Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini reflected on the unusual moment, stating,

I mean, first of all, it was super dangerous. And then when we found out what it was, I guess we just started laughing,

and added,

I’ve never seen anything like that. I’m just glad we worked through that situation. We stayed locked in, we stayed concentrated.

Efforts to Manage the Situation and Prevent Recurrence

On Friday evening, officials responded more quickly by removing the sex toy from the court with the help of employees, ensuring gameplay could resume without further disruption. The WNBA faces a pressing need to prevent such incidents from becoming regular occurrences, as they create unsafe conditions and distract players.

Sophie Cunningham’s Broader Advocacy Within the League

Known for speaking out on significant issues affecting the league, Cunningham also previously defended her teammate Caitlin Clark against critics earlier in the week. On her podcast Show Me Something, she criticized those questioning Clark’s status in the WNBA.

It literally pisses me off when people are like, ‘She’s not the face of the league.’ What?

Cunningham stated. She continued,

We have a lot of badasses in our league. Hell yeah to that. I’m all for that. But when people try to argue that she’s not the face of our league or our league would be where we’re at without her, you’re dumb as s—. You’re literally dumb as f—… Now being on her team and seeing it, I’m like, ‘What are people doing?’ It’s just too much.

Implications for Fan Behavior and League Safety

The repeated incidents involving sex toys thrown onto the court not only interrupt games but also risk serious injury to players and officials. The urgency in Cunningham’s message underscores the frustration within the league as it tries to maintain a safe environment amid these distractions. How the WNBA and arenas enforce stricter controls moving forward will be critical in preserving the integrity and safety of the games for both athletes and fans alike.