WNBA Games Disrupted by Objects Thrown From Stands on Consecutive Nights

Two WNBA games were interrupted on consecutive nights after sex toys were thrown from spectator areas onto the court, BBC Sport reported. The incidents occurred during games in Los Angeles on Thursday and Chicago on Friday, with both contests stopped in the third quarter while the objects were removed.

Friday's game between the Chicago Sky and Golden State Valkyries was halted after multiple objects came from the stands. A green object landed on the playing surface and had to be cleared before action resumed. Chicago went on to defeat Golden State 73-70.

The previous night, the Atlanta Dream's road game against the Los Angeles Sparks was also interrupted in the third quarter. The object was thrown as Sparks guard Park Ji-hyun prepared to take a free throw. Atlanta completed a 124-88 victory after the disruption.

Chicago guard Natasha Cloud condemned the behavior after Friday's game. She described the people responsible as weak and said the incidents reflected their attitude toward women. Cloud's comments followed a series of similar disruptions last season, when six WNBA games in Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles were interrupted between July and August.

Citing a New York Times report, BBC Sport said arena security caught a male spectator accused of disrupting Thursday's game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The report said that person would receive a lifetime ban from WNBA games. It remained unclear at the time of publication whether anyone responsible for the Chicago incident had been identified or detained.

A meme-coin group claimed responsibility for last season's incidents. BBC Sport also cited USA Today as reporting that the same group said it would continue disrupting games. The WNBA had not provided a new comment in response to the BBC's approach, but the league said during last season's incidents that spectators caught throwing such objects would be banned and could face prosecution. The two new stoppages renewed the security concern despite both games being completed.