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A WNBA game was unexpectedly paused for the second time in less than a week after someone hurled a sex toy onto the court on August 1. The incident occurred seven minutes into the third quarter at Chicago's Wintrust Arena. Broadcast footage captured the moment a green sex toy landed under the basket, prompting a whistle from referees. One official nudged it away with his foot, and a staff member used a towel to remove it from the court.
Chicago Sky centre Elizabeth Williams didn't hold back in the postgame press conference, calling the act "super disrespectful." She added, "I don't really get the point of it. It's really immature. Whoever is doing it needs to grow up."
The disruption mirrors a similar event from Tuesday, July 29, when another green sex toy landed on the court during the final seconds of the Valkyries' narrow 77–75 victory over the Atlanta Dream. That game, held at Gateway Center Arena in Georgia, saw players momentarily continue play before officials recognized the object and paused the match.
Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini recalled Tuesday's game, saying, "First of all, it was super dangerous. And then when we found out what it was, I guess we just started laughing. I've never seen anything like that."
New York Liberty's Isabelle Harrison took to social media on Friday to express concern, writing on X, "ARENA SECURITY?! Hello??! Please do better. It's not funny. Never was funny. Throwing ANYTHING on the court is so dangerous." Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham echoed the sentiment, warning, "Stop throwing dildos on the court... you're going to hurt one of us."
Chicago Sky player Angel Reese injected humour into the situation, tagging Indiana's Sydney Colson and joking, "@SydJColson, why do you keep throwing your mean green in different arenas. It's getting weird."
The WNBA's official Fan Code of Conduct states that anyone caught throwing objects onto the court is subject to immediate ejection. However, the individuals responsible remain unidentified.
The WNBA has yet to issue a formal statement on either event, but concerns are mounting.
