Sophie Cunningham Hit by Thrown Object After Warning Fans to Stop—Shocking Scene Unfolds in LA

In a bizarre and unsettling moment during a WNBA game in Los Angeles, Phoenix Mercury forward Sophie Cunningham was struck by an object—reportedly a dildo—thrown from the crowd, just moments after she had warned fans to stop throwing such items onto the court.

The incident occurred during the Mercury’s heated matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks. Emotions were already running high when fans began tossing objects from the stands, including adult toys—a disturbing and unprecedented situation by any professional sports standard.

Cunningham, visibly frustrated, addressed the behavior mid-game, reportedly shouting toward the crowd to stop throwing inappropriate objects. Just moments later, to the disbelief of players, coaches, and spectators alike, she was hit squarely by one of them as she made her way toward the sideline.

Security swarmed the area immediately, and the game was briefly paused as officials, teammates, and coaches ensured Cunningham was unharmed. Though not injured, the forward appeared rattled but stayed composed and returned to the bench.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my career,” one veteran WNBA coach said after the game. “It’s completely disrespectful—not just to Sophie, but to the sport as a whole.”

Fans captured footage of the object flying through the air, which quickly made its way across social media platforms, igniting a firestorm of criticism aimed at both the arena’s security and the fan responsible. Many questioned how such an object made it through security screening and how the crowd was allowed to spiral into this kind of chaos.

According to sources inside the arena, the individual believed to have thrown the item was quickly identified and escorted out by security. No official statement has been made regarding potential charges, but local law enforcement confirmed that they are reviewing surveillance footage and statements from witnesses.

WNBA players and personalities across the league responded in support of Cunningham. “This is disgusting. No player should have to deal with that,” one star tweeted. “We want fans to bring energy—not humiliation and harassment.”

The WNBA Players Association also issued a strong statement, demanding accountability:
“This behavior is beyond unacceptable. Our players deserve safe, respectful environments to do their jobs. The league, teams, and venues must take swift and serious action.”

The league has not publicly commented on the specific item thrown, but insiders say the situation is being treated as a serious breach of fan conduct policy and arena security protocols.

Cunningham has often been the kind of player who isn’t afraid to speak up, whether defending her teammates or calling out injustices on or off the court. That same outspoken nature may have made her a target in this instance, but it has also garnered her a wave of support from fans and players alike.

“She stood up and spoke out—and she got hit for it,” one Mercury teammate said. “But Sophie’s tough. She doesn’t back down.”

As the league continues its investigation, fans and analysts are urging the WNBA to tighten arena security and take a harder stance on inappropriate fan behavior. While sports can get emotional, lines must be drawn—and last night, those lines were clearly crossed.