It has happened in Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix and beyond: WNBA players are in the heat of a game and a sex toy is thrown from the stands, sometimes reaching the court. Perpetrators have described it as a “prank” or a “trend.”
But to Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, it signals a lack of respect for the players.
Reeve has been vocal about her disapproval of the incidents, telling reporters on Thursday that the disruptions are not funny and shouldn’t be portrayed as a joke.
“This has been going on for centuries, the sexualization of women. This is the latest version of that,” she said. “And it’s not funny. And it should not be the butt of jokes on any radio show, or in print, or in any comment.”
The Lynx play a home game Friday against the Washington Mystics.
Reeve said she wanted to see those who throw the items held accountable, but didn’t specify what kind of enforcement she thinks is appropriate.
“The people that are doing this should be held accountable. We’re not the butt of the joke. They’re the problem. And we need to take action.”
Ty Richmond, the president of the event services division at Allied Universal Security, which provides security for some WNBA arenas, told the Associated Press that banning the items from stadiums would be cumbersome, and emphasized the importance of publicized arrests to discourage the practice.
