Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has jokes over WNBA sex toy controversy
WNBA games over the past couple weeks have become victims of a bizarre trend in which fans in multiple arenas across the league have interrupted games by throwing green sex toys on the court. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham joked about the incidents, but also kept her eye on the larger picture.
'If someone threw that thing and like, first of all the bounce, the bounce that that thing had, if that smacked someone in the face you know that that's going to be plastered everywhere,' she said on her Show Me Something podcast on Tuesday.
The first dildo toss occurred in the final minute of the Atlanta Dream's game against the Golden State Valkyries on July 29. With the game tied, officials temporarily halted play as the toy was removed. It happened again on August 1 in Chicago as the Sky were also playing the Valkyries. The league announced on Saturday that the first thrower had been arrested and is subject to 'prosecution by local authorities.'
'I just know how things go viral now and I just know if that thing like even came from like the rafters or bows and just slap me right in the face, I could never,' Cunningham continued. 'That would be what I'd be known for life. So, I was just trying to protect all of our images and yeah, break a f—ing nose. What the hell.'
But the Fever guard knows it's not just about getting jokes off — tempted as we all might be. The WNBA has enjoyed meteoric growth over the past half-decade and fans throwing dildos on the court doesn't exactly help the league's public perception.
'Everyone's trying to make sure the W is not a joke and it's taken seriously and then that happens,' Cunningham said. 'I'm like, 'how are we ever going to get taken seriously?''
Related: Sophie Cunningham gets real on Fever fans booing DeWanna Bonner
Related: Fever coach Stephanie White surprising Aliyah Boston with honor goes viral
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Toddler Critically Injured After Fall from Third-Story Window. Neighbor Remembers Hearing Woman in the Building Scream
"When there's children involved, my heart goes out," a neighbor saidNEED TO KNOW A 3-year-old child is in serious, but stable condition after falling from a third-story apartment window in Boston on Aug. 11 Officers arrived to find the toddler conscious and in bed "with his limbs sprawled out" An investigation is ongoingA 3-year-old child was seriously injured after falling out of a third-story window of an apartment building in Boston, authorities said. On Monday, Aug. 11, at 9:20 p.m. local time, officials received a report that a child had fallen out of a window that was three stories up in an apartment on Evans Street in the neighborhood of Dorchester, the Boston Police Department said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. The toddler was transported to a local children's hospital and is in critical, but stable condition. As of Tuesday, Aug. 12, 'the child is no longer in life-threatening condition,' authorities said. A neighbor, Kelly Bransfield, told ABC affiliate WCVB she heard a woman from the building screaming. "I just hope for the family's sake and for the child that everything turns out to be okay," Bransfield told the outlet. "When there's children involved, my heart goes out," she continued. "I've got children and grandchildren, and, you know, this is the summertime. They should be having fun, not [lying] in a hospital." When officers arrived at the scene, they found the child conscious and in bed "with his limbs sprawled out,' according to the incident report reviewed by PEOPLE. The 3-year-old child was having trouble breathing, with injuries and swelling on the entire left side of the upper body. The child had fallen from the kitchen window, according to the report. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. After the toddler was transported to the hospital, the Crime Scene Response, Area B3 Detectives and the Boston Police Homicide Unit arrived to process the scene. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alozie juggles the Houston Dash, the Nigerian national team and even cancer research
It's not only that Michelle Alozie plays for the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League, or that she recently won an African championship with the Nigerian national team. The Yale grad also helps conduct pediatric cancer research at Texas Children's Hospital. Alozie's dual careers sprang from necessity because — in the days before the NWSL adopted its first collective-bargaining agreement in 2022 — she was uncertain whether she could earn a livable wage in soccer. 'I remember telling my boss that football was my main priority, and I just needed kind of like something on the side to make sure that, if needed, my resume was still there, I'm still in the medical field and I'm ready if my football life doesn't pan out," she said. The child of Nigerian immigrants, Alozie originally played at Yale, where she graduated with a degree in molecular biology, but finished her career with Tennessee. After going undrafted, she played in Kazakhstan for a year before trying out for the Dash in 2021. Around that time she also got a call from Randy Waldrum, Nigeria's American coach, who was scrambling to find eligible players after the Super Falcons arrived in the United States for a game without a full squad because of visa issues. 'I think it was since I was in college that I wanted to play for the Super Falcons, but I didn't really know how to get on their radar," Alozie said. "So for it to happen this way, and for me to play my first professional football game on a national team as opposed to the club side, it was just kind of crazy.' She went on to play under Waldrum in the 2023 Women's World Cup. Nigeria advanced to the Round of 16 before falling on penalties to England after a hard-fought scoreless draw. Alozie grabbed attention during the match when England's Lauren James stepped on her, drawing a red card. Alozie also played for Nigeria at last summer's Olympics in France, adding Olympian to a growing collection of honors. Then this summer she helped Nigeria win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Falcons had dubbed their bid for a 10th African championship 'Mission X' A versatile defender, Alozie had one of the most memorable goals of the tournament. She sent a long ball forward from distance and it bounced into the goal in stoppage time to give Nigeria a 2-1 victory over South Africa, putting the Super Falcons in the championship match. Nigeria went on to defeat host Morocco 3-2 for the title. The victory came despite the persistent allegations of mismanagement of the women's program that have dated back years, and the lack of opportunities for the players to train together as a group. Alozie understands how important global visibility is for the growth of the game in Africa. She pointed to fellow Nigerian players Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade, as well as Zambian Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga of Malawi, all of whom play on high-profile club teams. "All these people coming out of Africa that people were probably sleeping on before, and then they come to the big stage and they're scoring hat tricks at the Olympics, they're breaking records in the NWSL or the WSL," she said. "I think the world is definitely waking up to women's football in Africa.' Back home in the United States, Alozie works several days a week at Texas Children's Hospital in addition to playing for the Dash. Her supervisor, Dr. Alexandra Stevens, said she didn't know when Alozie applied that she was also a pro athlete. Alozie asked if she could contribute as a researcher while continuing her soccer career, and the hospital agreed. Alozie's immediate focus is on the second half of the season with the Dash, who are in a rebuilding phase after finishing at the bottom of the NWSL last year. Under new coach Fabrice Gautrat, the team has made modest gains. 'The playoff push is still there, we're still very much focused on that. We see the changes being implemented in our culture and how we want to play in the overall identity of the Houston Dash being built,' Alozie said. 'So that is something super positive, not only for right now, but for the future.'
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
White Sox reinstate infielder Miguel Vargas from the 10-day injured list
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox reinstated infielder Miguel Vargas from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. The White Sox also brought up right-hander Yoendrys Gómez from Triple-A Charlotte. Right-hander Elvis Peguero was sent down, and outfielder Corey Julks was designated for assignment. Vargas and Gómez were in the starting lineup for the team's game against Detroit. Vargas was at first base, batting sixth. The 25-year-old Vargas had been sidelined by a left oblique strain. Vargas, who was acquired from the Dodgers as part of a three-team trade in July 2024, hit .229 with 13 homers and 44 RBIs in 106 games before the injury. Gómez, 25, went 4-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 14 games with Charlotte, including 11 starts. He was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on May 10. Gómez is making his first start in his 19th major league appearance. He has pitched for the Yankees, Dodgers and White Sox this year, going 1-1 with a 6.62 ERA in 12 games. ___ AP MLB:
