Latest news with #WNBAGames
Fox News
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve rips ‘sexualization of women' as lewd WNBA disruptions continue
The WNBA continued to be plagued by lewd disturbances this week as fans in arenas across the league disrupted play by throwing adult toys on the court. For Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, the "prank," as some call it, is much more serious than just a viral moment. "This has been going on for centuries — the sexualization of women," she told reporters Thursday after the team's practice. "This is the latest version of that. And it's not funny. And it should not be the butt of jokes on any radio shows or in print or in any comments." Reeve took a moment to address the situation — unprompted — as at least six WNBA games have involved similar incidents. "The sexualization of women is what's used to hold women down. And this is no different. This is just its latest form, and we should write about it in that way. And these people that are doing this should be held accountable, and we're not the butt of the joke. They're the problem. And we need to take action." Later that day and despite Reeve's pleas, a lewd object was thrown on the court during an Atlanta Dream game in Chicago. Another sex toy was reportedly thrown in the third quarter, but the object did not make it to the court and instead landed somewhere near the Dream bench. The obscene objects have been thrown during at least six WNBA games over the last week and a half. The first happened during a game in Atlanta July 29. It happened for the first time in Chicago Aug. 1 and Los Angeles on Tuesday, nearly hitting Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, and again in Chicago Thursday. The objects were also reportedly thrown at games in New York and Phoenix Tuesday but did not appear to reach the court. At least two people have been arrested in the disturbances, one in Georgia and one in Arizona. An anonymous person connected to a crypto group has claimed responsibility for at least some of the incidents, but the WNBA did not respond to requests for comment regarding the validity of those claims. The league has threatened legal prosecution and at least a year-long ban against any fans attempting similar stunts at WNBA games.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cryptocurrency group takes responsibility for green sex toys thrown at WNBA games
After more than a week of WNBA games being interrupted by neon green sex toys, a cryptocurrency group has claimed responsibility. A spokesperson for the group behind a meme coin called Green Dildo Coin (DILDO) spoke to USA TODAY in an interview published on Thursday, taking credit for what the group called "pranks" at six different WNBA games since July 29. The spokesperson remained anonymous for the interview, with USA TODAY citing "the sensitive nature of the issue." Per USA TODAY, the supposedly "lighthearted" meme coin was launched on July 28 as a counter to what the group considers a "toxic environment" in the crypto world. The group coordinated plans to enter WNBA arenas with green sex toys to promote the launch, according to text messages obtained by USA TODAY. The first sex toy incident took place on July 29, the day after the launch. The spokesperson told USA TODAY that the stunt was not intended to harm anyone or disrespect the game. "We didn't do this because like we dislike women's sports or, like, some of the narratives that are trending right now are ridiculous," he said. "Creating disruption at games is like, it happens in every single sport, right? We've seen it in the NFL, we've seen it in hockey, you know, . . . fans doing random things to more or less create attention. "We knew that in order to get a voice in the space ... we had to go out and do some viral stunts to save us from having to pay that influencer cabal, sacrifice our souls and the fate of the project, more or less." Some players and coaches in the WNBA have not taken the issue so lightly. Though a few players were amused by the early incidents, others have made their opinions clear. "It's super disrespectful," Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams said after a sex toy was thrown at a home game on Friday."It's really immature. Whoever is doing it needs to grow up." "It's ridiculous. It's dumb. It's stupid," Los Angeles Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said on Tuesday after the object was thrown at a Sparks game."It's also dangerous, and you know, player safety is No. 1, respecting the game, all those things. I think it's really stupid." On July 29, a sex toy landed on the court at the Golden State Valkyries-Atlanta Dream game. In the week since, the objects have made it onto the courts or in the stands at five other games, including another Dream game, the Chicago game last week, and the Sparks, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday. Two people have been arrested in connection with the stunts so far. Last Saturday, a person was arrested in connection with the first incident at the Valkyries-Dream game. On Wednesday, an 18-year-old was arrested for throwing the object at the Mercury game, with the sex toy hitting a fan in the stands who was attending with his 9-year-old niece. The spokesperson told USA TODAY that the two people who were arrested were not part of their group. The 18-year-old, Kaden Lopez, reportedly apologized for throwing the object and described it as a "stupid prank that was trending on social media," with documents showing that he had bought the sex toy the day before the game. The spokesperson said that the group is planning more "pranks" to promote the coin, but that they will be "lighter" and "more tasteful." However, the group seems to be moving on from the WNBA, with the goal of having the objects in other "high-traffic areas."
