Throwing dildos at female basketball players is no mere joke — it’s a public act of sexual harassment that reflects the deeper root of rape culture in sports.
Recently, a disturbing trend has surfaced at the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) games: fans throwing dildos onto the court. At first glance, some might brush it off as a crude joke or a bizarre stunt. However, when you take a closer look, this act is not harmless entertainment. It is rooted in the same language that fuels rape culture.
Imagine training for years as a professional athlete, finally earning your spot, and performing in front of thousands of people. Suddenly, in the middle of your game, a sex toy lands at your feet. This isn’t just an interruption; it’s a violation. It shifts the focus from your skill and hard work to your body and sexuality. In a single moment, it tells women, “We see you as an object, not an athlete.” It is degrading. And it’s exactly the kind of behaviour that normalises sexual harassment.
How this ties into rape culture and why it hits harder in the WNBA
Rape culture creates an environment where sexual violence is trivialised, normalised, or excused. It’s not only about extreme acts of harm, it’s also about the everyday “jokes,” gestures, and behaviours that tell women their bodies exist for public consumption.
Throwing a dildo onto a court where women are competing isn’t comedy. It’s about control and humiliation. It turns a professional sporting event into a stage for sexualising female athletes and stripping away the focus from their skill and hard work. This act reinforces the belief that despite women’s achievements, someone can still see them as sexual objects for amusement.
In the WNBA, the sting is even sharper. Female athletes continue to navigate a league where they often face traditional gender roles challenges, persistent inequality, and ongoing barriers both on and off the court. For some, that challenges traditional ideas about femininity, and they respond not by questioning skill, but by attacking identity and sexuality. These “pranks” aren’t random; they’re targeted attempts to undermine the legitimacy of women in sports and make them feel unsafe in their own professional arena.
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The ripple effect and what needs to change
It’s easy to think, “It’s just a joke, no one got hurt.” However, incidents like this have consequences that reach far beyond the court. They make it harder for women in sports to be taken seriously, and they send a damaging message to young girls watching. It says that no matter how good you are, people can still try to reduce you to a sexual object. That mindset shows up in workplaces, classrooms, and everyday interactions, feeding a culture that excuses harassment and resists accountability.
Breaking that cycle requires action. First, we have to call this what it is: sexual harassment. Fans must understand that bringing sex toys into a sports arena and throwing them at players is a violation, not a joke. Leagues and arenas also have a responsibility to respond decisively, from stronger security screening to immediate removal and lifetime bans for offenders. Equally important, sports leaders must speak out publicly, clearly stating that this behaviour will not be tolerated. Addressing the problem means going beyond punishment and tackling the underlying sexism and entitlement that allow it to happen in the first place. It’s not just about keeping games safe; it’s about changing a culture that treats women’s bodies as public property.
It’s not just about basketball
When we call out incidents like this, we’re not just protecting athletes. We’re challenging a culture that treats women’s bodies as public property. The more we confront these so-called “pranks,” the harder it becomes for rape culture to hide behind humour.
Respect for athletes, and women in general, starts with recognising that their worth isn’t tied to their sexuality. It’s tied to their humanity, their skill, and their right to feel safe doing what they love.
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