The WNBA is still struggling with a string of sex-toy disturbances.

Over the past ten days, sex toys have been tossed onto the court during matches in Atlanta on July 29, Chicago on August 1, Los Angeles on August 5, and once more in Chicago on Thursday night. The latest incident occurred as a sex toy landed on the court in the final moments of the Atlanta Dream’s win over the Sky.

During Indiana’s game against the Sparks, a sex toy that was hurled nearly struck Fever guard Sophie Cunningham in Los Angeles. Similar objects were thrown at games in New York and Phoenix last Tuesday but failed to reach the court. Police reported that another item was thrown in Atlanta on August 1, though it is uncertain if it landed on the court.

The distractions have created unexpected challenges for the league, the teams and the players, but also for arena security. Here’s what to know.

Are arrests being mad

e?

A man was apprehended on Saturday in College Park, Georgia, for allegedly throwing a sex toy onto the court during the Atlanta Dream’s July 29 game against the Golden State Valkyries, as per a police report. The document also indicated that he was involved in a similar act during the Dream’s August 1 game against the Phoenix Mercury, though gameplay did not appear to be interrupted.

He faces charges of disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing, public indecency, and indecent exposure. In Georgia, these offenses are classified as misdemeanors, which means a conviction could lead to a fine up to $1,000 or up to 12 months of jail time for each charge. Convictions for public indecency and indecent exposure might also necessitate enrollment on the state’s sex offender registry.

The report said the man told police “this was supposed to be a joke and the joke (was) supposed to go viral.”`

A different man in Phoenix was detained after allegedly throwing a sex toy into the crowd at a Mercury game on Tuesday. Police noted that the 18-year-old retrieved the object from his sweater pocket and lobbed it towards the seats in front, hitting a bystander’s back.

The man later explained to law enforcement that it was meant as a prank inspired by a social media trend, and he had purchased the object the day before the game. He was eventually tackled by a venue volunteer who had observed the act and pursued him as he attempted to exit the premises.

Police say the man was arrested on suspicion of assault, disorderly conduct and publicly displaying explicit sexual material.

The New York Liberty told The Associated Press on Thursday night that there is an ongoing investigation into the throwing in New York and the team is cooperating with law enforcement.

What difficulties do arena security face in stopping this?

The types of sex toys being thrown onto the court generally do not include metal elements, meaning that arena metal detectors are not able to sense them. When carried on a spectator’s body, they become even more difficult to detect.

Arena security teams face challenges in catching these items, according to Ty Richmond, the president of the event services division at Allied Universal Security, a company that provides security services to certain NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB and MLS arenas across the country.

“Not all stadiums are using a screening process that’s consistent and can detect (the sex toys) because of what it would require — pat down searches, opening the bags, prohibiting bags,” he said. “The conflict of expediency, of getting fans into the arena and into the venue, which is an important issue, and security and safety.”

The limits of arena security make legal action one of the strongest deterrents for this kind of behavior, Richmond said.

“The decision to prosecute and show examples of how people are being handled is very important,” he said. “Without a doubt, I think it will make a difference. The application of it is important, and publicizing that is important.”

There have not been any arrests made yet for the in Los Angeles and Chicago. In a statement to the AP, the Sparks said they are “working with arena personnel to identify the individual responsible and ensure appropriate action is taken.”

The WNBA has said that any spectators throwing objects onto the court will face a minimum one-year ban and prosecution from law enforcement.

The league doubled down on Friday in a statement, saying: “The safety of everyone in our arenas remains a top priority. We are working closely with local and federal law enforcement to pursue all appropriate actions — including arrest and prosecution with felony charges where applicable — against anyone engaged in this conduct or otherwise involved in sponsoring this reckless and unacceptable behavior.”

How is it affecting players?

As the disturbances pile up, those on the court have become increasingly frustrated.

“Everyone is trying to make sure the W is not a joke and it’s taken seriously, and then that happens,” Cunningham said on her podcast after nearly being hit by one of the sex toys on Tuesday. “I’m like, ‘How are we ever going to get taken seriously?’”

No other professional sports leagues have faced sex toy disturbances like this. It has started a conversation online about the perpetrators’ choices to throw them during games in a women’s league and a league with a high-profile amount of lesbian and queer players.

“This has been going on for centuries, the sexualization of women. This is the latest version of that. It’s not funny. It should not be the butt of jokes,” said Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve Thursday. “The sexualization of women is what’s used to hold women down, and this is no different.”

Despite the criminal behavior leading to arrests, at least one crypto-based predictions market is offering trades essentially allowing users to wager on whether sex toys will be thrown at future WNBA games.

Players have also been sounding off on social media, echoing concerns about arena security protocols.

Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison posted on X last week, saying “ARENA SECURITY?! Hello??! Please do better. It’s not funny. Never was funny. Throwing ANYTHING on the court is so dangerous.”

___

AP WNBA: