"Players of the WNBA find the recent incident of a sex toy being thrown onto the court extremely disrespectful, occurring for the second time within a week."
In a concerning turn of events, a sex toy was hurled onto the court during the third quarter of the Golden State Valkyries' game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. This is the second such incident in just three days, following a similar incident during the Valkyries' game against the Atlanta Dream.
The object landed just out of bounds underneath one of the baskets, causing the game to be halted. An official quickly kicked the object to the side, and it was promptly picked up with a towel and removed from the court.
The incident occurred during the Valkyries' 73-66 win over the Chicago Sky.
Players from both teams have expressed their disapproval and frustration over the repeated incidents. Elizabeth Williams, center for the Chicago Sky, described the act as "super disrespectful" and "really immature," emphasizing that those responsible need to "grow up." New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison called for better arena security, stressing on social media that throwing anything on the court is dangerous and "not funny" at all.
Harrison's post on social media was a response to the sex toy incident that occurred during the Golden State Valkyries' game against the Chicago Sky. Her sentiment was echoed by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who wrote, "Stop throwing dildos on the court... you're going to hurt one of us." Chicago Sky forward Courtney Vandersloot also shared her disapproval, stating, "This is unacceptable and needs to stop."
CNN has contacted the WNBA for comment regarding the repeated sex toy incidents, but as of yet, the league has not issued a public statement. The WNBA, however, has taken action by arresting at least one individual involved and instituting a policy that any fan throwing objects onto the court will be ejected immediately and face a minimum one-year ban, as well as possible legal prosecution. The league underscored that player and official safety is a top priority, highlighting that throwing objects poses serious risks.
The WNBA is a professional basketball league in the United States, with the Chicago Sky and the Golden State Valkyries being two of its teams. The league has been working to grow its popularity and increase its visibility, and incidents like these do not help in achieving these goals. The league, its players, and its fans hope for a more respectful and safe environment in the future.
[1] Source: Various social media posts by WNBA players.
- Given the repeated incidents involving objects being thrown onto the court in recent WNBA games, Chicago Sky forward Courtney Vandersloot urged, "This is unacceptable and needs to stop."
- Despite the WNBA's policy of ejecting fans who throw objects onto the court and imposing a minimum one-year ban, New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison advocated for "better arena security," emphasizing that such actions are dangerous and not funny.
