![It only takes a single, absurd moment to shift the focus in a packed sports arena from strategy to shock. Suddenly, freedom becomes fragile. On WNBA courts in Phoenix, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, that shock came disguised in fluorescent green sex toys thrown from the stands onto the court. This isn’t a prank anymore, it’s a breaking point. When a Game Gets Interrupted by Absurdity On August 5, during a Phoenix Mercury game against the Connecticut Sun, 18-year-old Kaden Lopez took out a green dildo from his sweater pocket and hurled it into the crowd. Witnesses say it struck a man and his 9-year-old niece, both sitting and watching the flow of the game. The crowd was stunned not just by the impact, but by the intention. Court documents say Lopez called it a “stupid prank trending on social media,” and that he hadn’t intended to hurt anyone. Still, the man and his niece both wanted charges filed because intention doesn’t erase impact. Lopez now faces disorderly conduct, assault, and public display of explicit material charges. Days earlier, at Barclays Center, Charles Burgess, 32, allegedly threw a sex toy that hit a 12-year-old girl. He, too, has been arrested and charged with assault. From Atlanta to Chicago, courts are seeing the same bizarre interruption. The WNBA, arena officials, and fans are staring straight at the uncomfortable truth: something has gone seriously wrong and fast. Beyond Social Media Stunts It’s tempting and enraging to dismiss these incidents as internet-fueled foolishness. But that disregard ignores the real consequences. When players and families pay for a shared experience, this is a violation of safety and respect. Sparks' coach Lynne Roberts refused to laugh it off. “It’s also dangerous,” she said. “This is a family event.” And when Sophie Cunningham, a beloved guard, was nearly struck, she forcefully remarked, “How are we ever going to get taken seriously?” ([turn0search16]) WNBA leadership rightly responded with zero tolerance: fans caught in the act face at least a one-year ban and possible prosecution. Arena staff are ramping up security, keeping a sharper eye on stands for behaviors that escalate beyond cheers and boos. Historical Echoes of Disrespect The WNBA has spent decades fighting for space, both cultural and literal. These games were never supposed to be just a performance; they’ve also been a protest. From the early years when league founders slipped into legitimacy, to today’s stars demanding equity, salaries, and respect, these women have battled narratives inside and outside arenas. So when fans throw objects born from a place meant to demean or sexualize, it's not just reckless; it echoes a history of disrespect toward female athletes. What we’re witnessing isn’t just a bizarre stunt. It’s a regression. Players, Families, and Fans: How the Real Costs Play Out Imagine a mom taking her daughter to a game, teaching her about effort, teamwork, and believing in heroes. Then, in one throw, that lesson collapses, blurred by disrespect and violation. Those struck, like the 9- and 12-year-old girls, aren’t just spectators. They’re learning who is welcome and safe in sports. Each incident chips away at that sense of belonging. The league’s swift statements reinforce that WNBA arenas must be safe havens—places where competitors, families, and young fans learn, cheer, and belong.](https://gotobasketball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-21-203647.webp)
It only takes a single, absurd moment to shift the focus in a packed sports arena from strategy to shock. Suddenly, freedom becomes fragile. On WNBA courts in Phoenix, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, that shock came disguised in fluorescent green sex toys thrown from the stands onto the court. This isn’t a prank anymore, it’s a breaking point.
When a Game Gets Interrupted by Absurdity
On August 5, during a Phoenix Mercury game against the Connecticut Sun, 18-year-old Kaden Lopez took out a green dildo from his sweater pocket and hurled it into the crowd. Witnesses say it struck a man and his 9-year-old niece, both sitting and watching the flow of the game. The crowd was stunned not just by the impact, but by the intention.
Court documents say Lopez called it a “stupid prank trending on social media,” and that he hadn’t intended to hurt anyone. Still, the man and his niece both wanted charges filed because intention doesn’t erase impact. Lopez now faces disorderly conduct, assault, and public display of explicit material charges.
Days earlier, at Barclays Center, Charles Burgess, 32, allegedly threw a sex toy that hit a 12-year-old girl. He, too, has been arrested and charged with assault.
From Atlanta to Chicago, courts are seeing the same bizarre interruption. The WNBA, arena officials, and fans are staring straight at the uncomfortable truth: something has gone seriously wrong and fast.
Beyond Social Media Stunts
It’s tempting and enraging to dismiss these incidents as internet-fueled foolishness. But that disregard ignores the real consequences. When players and families pay for a shared experience, this is a violation of safety and respect.
Sparks’ coach Lynne Roberts refused to laugh it off. “It’s also dangerous,” she said. “This is a family event.” And when Sophie Cunningham, a beloved guard, was nearly struck, she forcefully remarked, “How are we ever going to get taken seriously?”
([turn0search16])
WNBA leadership rightly responded with zero tolerance: fans caught in the act face at least a one-year ban and possible prosecution. Arena staff are ramping up security, keeping a sharper eye on stands for behaviors that escalate beyond cheers and boos.
Historical Echoes of Disrespect
The WNBA has spent decades fighting for space, both cultural and literal. These games were never supposed to be just a performance; they’ve also been a protest.
From the early years when league founders slipped into legitimacy, to today’s stars demanding equity, salaries, and respect, these women have battled narratives inside and outside arenas.
So when fans throw objects born from a place meant to demean or sexualize, it’s not just reckless; it echoes a history of disrespect toward female athletes. What we’re witnessing isn’t just a bizarre stunt. It’s a regression.
Players, Families, and Fans: How the Real Costs Play Out
Imagine a mom taking her daughter to a game, teaching her about effort, teamwork, and believing in heroes. Then, in one throw, that lesson collapses, blurred by disrespect and violation.
Those struck, like the 9- and 12-year-old girls, aren’t just spectators. They’re learning who is welcome and safe in sports. Each incident chips away at that sense of belonging.
The league’s swift statements reinforce that WNBA arenas must be safe havens—places where competitors, families, and young fans learn, cheer, and belong.
