A bizarre and unsettling trend at the WNBA games has been the talk of the town, as neon green s*x toys have been thrown onto courts during games, multiple times. The incidents, now linked to a cryptocurrency community promoting a memecoin called Green Dildo Coin, have sparked outrage from players and coaches, while raising serious concerns about safety and the underlying motives behind the stunts.
WNBA’s green dildo throwing incidents are linked to cryptocurrency group
The latest incident came Tuesday night at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, when a bright green s*x toy landed near Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Hours earlier, Cunningham had pleaded for spectators to stop throwing the objects. Instead, livestreams on X captured a group of cryptocurrency promoters celebrating the moment as a perfect publicity opportunity for their coin, which has surged more than 300% in value since July 28 (per USA Today).Members of the group openly discussed coordinating the tosses to coincide with WNBA games, framing the disruption as a protest against what they call a “toxic” crypto environment dominated by influencers. “This is empowering to every f—ing crypto community to start thinking outside the box,” one member said during a stream. “Memecoins should make you laugh.”The group’s spokesperson, who goes by the alias Lt. Daldo Raine, insists they do not “dislike women’s sports” and claim their aim is viral visibility, not harm. They’ve staged other stunts, including placing a green s*x toy on New York’s Wall Street Bull statue. Yet critics see the focus on the WNBA as far from accidental.
Players, coaches condemned the acts as s*xualized mockery
Since July 29, at least six known incidents have occurred in Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles, and during attempted tosses in Seattle. Two men — Delbert Carver, 23, and Kaden Lopez, 18 — have been arrested on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to public indecency. The group claims neither is a member.WNBA leaders and players have voiced frustration and anger over the repeated disruptions. Sparks coach Lynne Roberts called it “ridiculous” and “dangerous,” emphasizing player safety. Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve condemned the acts as part of the “sexualization of women” that has “been used to hold women down for centuries.”Fever’s Sophie Cunningham, who was nearly struck Tuesday, said on her podcast, “Everyone’s trying to make sure the W is not a joke and it’s taken seriously, and then that happens. I’m like, how are we ever going to get taken seriously?”The league has issued a zero-tolerance policy. Anyone throwing objects will be ejected, face a one-year ban, and could be arrested. “The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority,” the WNBA said in a statement.For players, the incidents go beyond prank territory. Liberty’s Isabelle Harrison called them “immature” and damaging to the league’s image. “This is like, let’s be professional here,” she said. “What my job is, it’s not a joke.”Also Read: Cheryl Reeve demands action over green s*x toys thrown at WNBA games