Teen Arrested After Throwing Sex Toy Injures Child, Spectator at WNBA Game

Kaden Lopez, an 18-year-old man, was arrested at a Phoenix Mercury WNBA game for throwing a green sex toy that struck a man and his 9-year-old niece. Lopez admitted to police that the act was a "stupid prank trending on social media" and expressed remorse, but he faces charges including disorderly conduct, assault, and public display of explicit sexual material. The incident, captured on video, involved a volunteer tackling Lopez to prevent his escape before police arrival. This case is part of a disturbing trend involving multiple incidents of sex toys being thrown at WNBA games nationwide over the past week, including recent events at games featuring the Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream, and Golden State Valkyries. The WNBA and PHX Arena have condemned the behavior, emphasizing the safety risks posed to players, officials, and fans, and have vowed to enforce strict penalties such as ejections and bans for offenders. Prosecutors and the WNBA are seeking to hold Lopez accountable as part of efforts to curb this inappropriate and dangerous trend.