During WNBA games on August 20 and 21, 2026, spectators threw sex toys onto the court, causing interruptions and forcing stoppages [1, 2, 3]. On August 20, a sex toy was thrown during the Atlanta Dream’s 124-88 win over the Los Angeles Sparks, disrupting a free throw attempt [1, 2]. Security detained a suspect in that incident, who now faces a lifetime ban from the arena [1, 2].
The following day, multiple sex toys were thrown onto the court during the Chicago Sky versus Golden State Valkyries game in the third quarter, resulting in repeated stoppages [1, 2, 3]. The Chicago Sky won that game 73-70 [1].
Natasha Cloud, guard for the Chicago Sky, strongly condemned the actions. She called the men responsible "lame" and "weak," saying the behavior reflects "internal struggles" and negative feelings toward women [1, 2, 3]. Cloud launched a profanity-laced on-court rant, repeatedly calling the actions "gay" and stating, "That hate is unwarranted ... it says more about the internal struggles of that individual than it ever will say about the collective group" [2, 3].
The incidents continue a disturbing pattern. Last season, six WNBA matches across Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles were interrupted by sex toy throwing linked to a meme-coin group protesting the league’s transgender athlete policies [1, 2]. That group reiterated their protest position in 2026. However, no transgender athletes currently compete in the WNBA, whose collective bargaining agreement restricts play to women only [1, 2].
The WNBA has warned that any spectator caught throwing sex toys on court faces bans of at least one year and potential prosecution [1, 2]. The league maintains a zero-tolerance approach to such disruptions to protect player safety and game integrity.
The next scheduled WNBA games will proceed with heightened security to prevent further interruptions.
