WNBA players have voiced outrage and urged for tighter stadium security after two separate matches were disrupted in less than a week due to sex toys being thrown onto the court.
The latest incident occurred during Friday's game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Chicago Sky, when play was briefly halted in the third quarter after a neon-green sex toy was spotted near the basket. Match officials stopped the game to remove the object before play resumed.
It was the second time in four days that a Valkyries fixture had been interrupted for the same reason. On Tuesday, their match against the Atlanta Dream was also delayed when a sex toy was hurled onto the court in the final minute of play.
Chicago Sky player Elizabeth Williams criticised the incidents, branding them disrespectful and childish. "It's super disrespectful. I don't really get the point of it," she said. "It's really immature. Whoever's doing it needs to grow up."
New York Liberty's Isabelle Harrison also weighed in on social media, calling for stricter safety measures in the arenas. In a post on Twitter, she wrote, "ARENA SECURITY?! Hello??! Please do better. It's not funny. Never was funny. Throwing ANYTHING on the court is so dangerous."