Individual who threw sex toy at Dream-Sparks game arrested, banned from league: Source

The person who threw a green sex toy onto the court during Thursday’s game between the Los Angeles Sparks and Atlanta Dream has been arrested and banned indefinitely from all WNBA, NBA and affiliate league games and events, a league source familiar with the matter confirmed. The Athletic.

A person threw the toy during the third quarter of the Dream’s 124-88 win, recalling a trend that began last season of objects being thrown onto the field in various games. A sex toy was thrown in front of the Sparks bench while Los Angeles forward Jihyun Park was at the free throw line.

Before Park could attempt a free throw, the referee blew her whistle. Dream forward Angel Reese quickly pointed out the perpetrator from her seat on the bench; Crypto.com Arena security removed the toy and arrested the spectator. According to the LAPD, officers arrived at the arena shortly after 8:30 p.m. to meet with security who detained the person. Los Angeles police identified the person as a man in his mid-20s and said he was trespassing after throwing an object onto the field. Officers issued the person a summons and he was released at the scene. Therefore, no names have been released.

The WNBA plans to work closely with law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for throwing objects onto the court, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Throwing sex toys onto the field became an issue last season in July, when an object was thrown onto the field during six games, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Police arrested two people — 18-year-old Kaden Lopez in Phoenix and 23-year-old Delbert Carver in Georgia — for being behind group money scheme with cryptocurrency.