ANGEL REESE POINTED OUT ALLEGED SEX TOY THROWER AT WNBA GAME
Angel Reese jumped up from the Atlanta Dream bench and pointed out the fan she identified as the person who allegedly threw a green sex toy onto the court during the Dream’s 124-88 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on August 20, 2026. Arena security detained the man, Los Angeles police cited him for trespassing, and a league source told The Athletic he has been banned indefinitely from WNBA, NBA and affiliated league games and events.
The toy hit the floor at Crypto.com Arena in the third quarter, with 2:59 left, just as Sparks forward Jihyun Park was getting ready to shoot a free throw. An official stopped play before she could take it.
Reese was on her feet almost immediately. “That’s him! That’s him! Get him! You see that?” she can be heard saying in game video, Complex reported.
The object came down near Park and the Sparks bench. Sparks center Cameron Brink kicked it away before arena security removed it, USA TODAY reported.
A very productive night for Reese
The interruption did nothing to slow Atlanta down. The Dream set a franchise record for points in a game, ESPN reported.
Reese went 9-for-9 from the field and collected her 25th double-double of the season. So she had a busy evening, even by her standards.
The green toy has a history
None of this was new to the league. The Athletic said green sex toys landed on WNBA courts in July 2025 during games in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Phoenix and Los Angeles.
According to Complex, a self-described cryptocurrency enthusiast told ESPN that members of an online group were coordinating some of those throws as publicity for a crypto coin. Complex also reported that ESPN reviewed Telegram messages that appeared to show advance knowledge of at least one incident.
Two people were arrested. Kaden Lopez, then 18, was taken into custody in Phoenix after authorities said a thrown toy struck two spectators, including a minor. Delbert Carver, 23, was arrested in Georgia over another incident, and The Athletic said police tied both arrests to an alleged cryptocurrency money scheme. Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham was also nearly hit during a 2025 game and publicly called for the behavior to stop, Complex reported.
The league’s stated policy, as reported by Baller Alert, calls for immediate ejection and a minimum one-year ban for intentionally throwing objects onto the court, along with possible arrest and prosecution by local authorities.
What happened to the fan
Arena security removed the toy and held the spectator until LAPD officers arrived shortly after 8:30 p.m. In a statement to the Daily Mail, police said: “The suspect, a male in his mid-20s, trespassed at the location and threw an item onto the court.”
He was issued a citation and released at the arena. He has not been publicly identified.
The league told Baller Alert that “the safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority.” A league source told The Athletic the WNBA planned to work with law enforcement to hold people accountable for throwing objects onto courts, and a person familiar with the league’s thinking told USA TODAY it would seek full prosecution of perpetrators.
The same league source told The Athletic that the man is indefinitely barred from WNBA, NBA and affiliated league games and events.
