A bizarre and embarrassing prank has become a source of security concern for fans and players of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Football League (NFL). Throwing adult toys on the court has emerged as a disruptive trend at games.
There are several concerns from all corners, and now is the time for the regulatory bodies to take strict action. Women deserve protection on the court, and fans are wondering what the league will do to address these concerns. These pranks must not become normalized.
Adult-toy Prank Spreads From WNBA to NFL, Raises Security Concerns
Origin of Sex-toy Prank at Games
The first documented sex-toy prank occurred at a WNBA game on July 29, 2025, during a matchup between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream.
What started as a single incident has now become a recurring problem in the WNBA. As of August 23, 2025, fans have thrown sex toys onto the court in at least six different cases.
The serious impact of these pranks lies in the distractions they cause for players. Officials pause or delay games, and in some cases, fans suffer physical harm. For instance, on August 5, 2025, a fan threw a handheld device onto the court. The device missed the playing area and struck a 12-year-old girl, prompting police intervention.
In another game between the Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun, someone threw an adult toy onto the court. This time, the object hit a man and his 9-year-old niece. These unfortunate events are causing serious problems for both fans and players.
Security Concerns For Fans, Coaches and Players
Players, coaches, and fans have voiced growing concern about these incidents. For example, the Los Angeles Sparks head coach, in a recent interview, shared her concerns.
The coach said, “This has been going on for centuries—the sexualization of women. This is the latest version of that, and it’s not funny. It should not be the butt of jokes on any radio show or in print. The sexualization of women is what’s used to hold women down, and this is no different.”
She continued, “These people who are doing it should be held accountable. We are not the butt of a joke; they are the problem, and we need to take action.”
The Motivation: Financial Gain or Disrespect for Women and Fans?
Granted, the police have done well to arrest those throwing these objects. Yet, these arrests have not ended the problem. Sadly, there seems to be a financial motive behind the adult-toy pranks.
Most of the toys are being used to promote a meme coin called DILDO. The group is exploiting WNBA and NFL games to build popularity for their token. The token has increased in value, raising concerns that these pranks will continue.
The league must now ensure that the security at the league games is more efficient. These toys should not be making their way into the stand. They have no place in the game and show a gross lack of respect for the players and fans.
Now is the time to take action, and if the league does not offer a solution, it risks players and fans walking out of the games.
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