The New York Liberty’s recent home game against the Dallas Wings wasn’t just about basketball. It turned into an NYPD investigation after a man in a Beavis and Butt-Head T-shirt allegedly hurled a lime-green sex toy toward the stands at Barclays Center. The object landed alarmingly close to a 12-year-old girl seated with her mother in section 116.
Fans nearby say the child was visibly shaken. “She started screaming and freaking out for about half a minute,” one witness told The New York Post. The disturbance drew the attention of multiple rows of spectators before arena staff quietly removed the object and the game continued.
This wasn’t an isolated stunt. In the past month alone, there have been more than half a dozen incidents of sex toys being thrown at WNBA games. Earlier on August 5, during a Los Angeles Sparks vs. Indiana Fever matchup, a toy appeared to hit player Sophie Cunningham, who later addressed the matter online.
Police Crack Down on a Growing Trend
Across the country, law enforcement is taking these disruptions seriously. In Arizona, 18-year-old Kaden Lopez was arrested after tossing a green dildo at a Phoenix Mercury game. He now faces charges that include disorderly conduct, assault, and public display of explicit sexual material.
The WNBA isn’t taking it lightly either. In a statement, the league reaffirmed that the safety of fans, players, and staff is a “top priority,” and vowed to work with law enforcement on felony-level charges where applicable. Officials also warned they would pursue action against anyone organizing or funding these stunts.
The strange pattern appears to have roots in an unexpected place: cryptocurrency promotion. A group behind a meme token called “Green D—- Coin (DILDO)” has claimed responsibility for some incidents. Speaking to USA Today, a spokesperson said the goal wasn’t to target women’s sports but to create viral attention for their coin.
They compared the disruptions to fan antics seen in the NFL or hockey, saying they wanted publicity without paying influencers. “We had to go out and do some viral stunts to get our name out there,” the spokesperson admitted.
What may have started as a crude marketing gag has now escalated into a safety concern with legal consequences. For the WNBA, the focus remains on keeping games about basketball-and keeping the stands safe from any more unwanted surprises.
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