Breaking: A fourth dildo was thrown onto the court during a WNBA game on August 7th, 2023, continuing a bizarre and escalating series of incidents that have plagued the league over the past nine days. The incident occurred during the final seconds of the Atlanta Dream‘s 86-65 loss to the chicago Sky at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.
The WNBA is grappling with a recurring issue of sex toys being thrown onto the court during games. This latest incident follows similar occurrences on July 29th in atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with the previous three toys being green in color, while the latest was purple.
Authorities have made arrests in connection with the incidents. In Georgia, police reported a sex toy was thrown *near* the court before the purple dildo incident, but did not reach the playing surface.Two men have been arrested – one in Georgia and another in Arizona – and face charges including disorderly conduct,trespassing,public indecency,and indecent exposure. Potential penalties include fines and jail time. The specific names of the arrested individuals have not yet been publicly released by authorities.
The WNBA has issued a strong condemnation of the incidents, stating that anyone identified as throwing objects onto the court will face at least a one-year ban from attending games. The league is also working with arena security to enhance safety measures.
The incidents have sparked outrage and concern among WNBA players and coaches. Indiana Fever player Sophie cunningham, who nearly had a dildo thrown in her direction during a game in Los angeles, voiced her frustration in a podcast, questioning how the league can be taken seriously when faced with such disrespectful behavior. Cunningham’s podcast is titled “Self Made.” The WNBA has been actively working to increase its visibility and respect within the broader sports landscape, and these incidents threaten to undermine those efforts.
Context: The WNBA, founded in 1996, is the professional basketball league for women in North America. It currently consists of 12 teams. The league has faced ongoing challenges in gaining mainstream media coverage and attracting consistent fan attendance compared to its male counterpart,the NBA.These recent incidents, while unusual, highlight the challenges the league faces in maintaining a safe and respectful environment for its players and fans, and in being taken seriously as a professional sports organization. The league is currently in its 27th season, with the playoffs scheduled to begin in September 2023.
