A spectator who threw a sex toy onto the court during a Los Angeles Sparks game on Thursday has been arrested and banned from all WNBA and NBA games.
The unidentified fan hurled a bright green dildo onto the playing surface just before Sparks forward Jihyun Park took a pair of free throws in a home matchup against the Atlanta Dream.
Play was stopped immediately following the throw. Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese pointed toward the spectator in the stands as security officers moved in.
A video of the incident that quickly went viral online showed the individual running away from security guards through the arena in an attempt to evade capture. Law enforcement officers caught and nabbed him inside the building before he could exit.
The Daily Mail reported contacting the Los Angeles Police Department for comment regarding the arrest and pending charges.
Pattern of Court Disruptions
The Thursday disruption recalled a series of similar incidents from last season, when WNBA games were repeatedly targeted by individuals throwing sex toys onto the floor. The previous stunts appeared to have some involvement in promoting a meme cryptocurrency, though it remains unclear whether Thursday's incident had a similar connection.
Several of the previous projectile incidents resulted in direct impacts on players, including Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who was struck during a game.
The Women's National Basketball Association, established in 1996 as the counterpart to the NBA, features premier professional basketball teams across North America. League venues maintain strict security protocols, and security personnel work alongside local police departments to enforce arena bans and pursue criminal charges against fans who disrupt play.
Previous Arrests and League Bans
Incidents from the 2025 season previously resulted in stadium bans and criminal arrests for multiple individuals involved in throwing items onto WNBA courts.
Exactly one year ago on Thursday, 32-year-old Ohio man Charles Burgess was arrested after throwing a sex toy during a New York Liberty game that struck a 12-year-old girl in the stands.
Earlier in August 2025, 18-year-old Kaden Lopez was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, assault, and public display of explicit sexual material after throwing a sex toy onto the court during a game between the Connecticut Sun and the Phoenix Mercury. In another case, 23-year-old Delbert Carver was arrested for throwing sex toys onto the floor at two separate WNBA games.
Coaches and Players Speak Out
The recurring disruptions drew widespread outrage from players and coaches across the league, including Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who spoke out forcefully against the incidents.
"I just want to comment on... this has been going on for centuries," Reeve said at the time. "The sexualization of women, this is the latest version of that. It's not funny."
"It should not be a butt of jokes on any radio show, or in print, or in any comments," Reeve added. "The sexualization of women is what's used to hold women down and this is no different."
"This is just the latest story, and we should write about it in that way," Reeve continued. "These people that are doing this should be held accountable. We're not the butt of the joke. They're the problem, and we need to take action."
