Jack Wagons and Sex Toys

The Human Impact

Over the past few weeks, a handful of jack wagons threw sex toys onto basketball courts in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and New York during WNBA games. Some hit players or fans, including a 9-year-old and a 12-year-old. Two people were arrested.

One admitted it was a "joke" to go viral. Another called it a "stupid prank." A cryptocurrency group "Green Dildo Coin" claimed credit for some incidents to boost their coin’s value, while gambling sites cashed in on bets about where and when it would happen next.

Photo by Pixabay

This is layered with systemic oppression making these actions more than harmless pranks. It's time that we start talking about them like the danger they are.

Targeting a women’s league with sex toys screams, "You don’t belong here; your bodies are jokes." These”pranks” are workplace sexual harassment. Players like Sophie Cunningham called it out as dehumanizing. Crypto bros and gambling sites exploited these acts for profit. Human dignity became a marketing tool. That is unless you don't see women as human being. That's a whole other problem.

The WNBA is majority Black and LGBTQIA2S+. Disrespecting their space echoes the historic devaluation of Black women, queer people, and women athletes. Throwing objects at players evokes racialized violence. You never know who is going to look at these situations as a green light to do much worse. Our actions are ripples in the universe. Words, actions, and hell even thoughts, have implications far greater than the originator’s sphere of influence.

This isn't just some basketball game, this is a league of women. Systemic oppression is at play. I cannot state that enough. Many WNBA players are queer or allies. This league is a RARE mainstream LGBTQIA2S+ space. Attacking it signals hostility toward the visibility of that space. Even if it wasn't the intention of the harassers. The impact is as such.

Social media rewards shock value. Algorithms boost "viral stunts," ignoring harm. Disorderly conduct, a light charge, does not match the harm caused and signals to the world that it really isn't that big of a deal. Arenas weren’t prepared to detect these objects. Why should they be? On a social level this should be unacceptable behavior. We shouldn't have to modify our entire lives to make that point. This is blatant disrespect for Women’s Sports. The underlying belief that women’s games are "less serious" makes them targets for chaos.

So what can be done?

Steps Forward through our current system looks like punishment.

Using modern scanners that detect non-metallic objects.

Banning bags larger than clutch purses league-wide.

Training staff to spot suspicious behavior (e.g., people recording for social media).

Prosecute throwers for assault, if objects hit people or hate crimes, if bias is proven.

Push for federal charges against coordinated groups like the crypto scheme.

Sue perpetrators for damages to fund league security.

Lifetime bans for anyone throwing objects.

Freeze partnerships with crypto/gambling sites profiting from WNBA disruptions.

Fund mental health support for players facing harassment.

This is about respect. The WNBA is a league of mostly Black and queer women and deserves the same safety and dignity as any other professional space. Fixing this means holding perpetrators accountable and rejecting the idea that women’s bodies are punchlines or profit centers. It doesn't have to mean punishment. It’s on all of us to protect what matters.

Let's stop calling these "pranks." Label them as sexual harassment or hate crimes. Speak up if you see someone planning disruptions. Explain how "viral stunts" hurt real people. Amplify player voices condemning the acts instead of sensationalizing the objects. Invest in mental health resources specifically for athletes facing gendered violence. Publicly celebrate the WNBA’s diversity to counter hate.

Here's how restorative justice could address the WNBA sex toy incidents focusing on repair, accountability, and community healing instead of punishment alone:

Restorative Actions:

Offenders attend workshops on the history of misogyny in sports, anti-Blackness, and LGBTQIA2S+ discrimination, led by Black women athletes, queer advocates, and sociologists.

Offenders hear from players/fans about the trauma caused, if victims consent.

Offenders support WNBA youth clinics or work with groups like GLSAD (advocating for LGBTQ+ athletes) and actually put in work.

Community Repair:

Season ticket holders and local fans form "respect squads" trained to de-escalate harassment and model allyship (e.g., calling out sexist jokes in stands).

Town halls where players, coaches, and impacted families share how these acts echo broader violence against women/queer/Black communities. Streamed league-wide.

Crypto groups profiting from this (like "Green Dildo Coin") fund player mental health programs, Town Halls, and arena security upgrades.

Cultural Reckoning:

Teach how "prank culture" intersects with oppression using this case study. Partner with WNBA teams for student workshops.

Social media response: Fans flood platforms with videos/posts honoring WNBA’s legacy (countering hate-trends). Pressure apps to ban content promoting these acts.

Mural projects in affected cities (e.g., Chicago, Phoenix) celebrating WNBA heroes symbolizing community reclaiming space.

This framework which is not mine and has been spoken into existence by a multitude of Black, Indigenous, and queer folks. This is just what I agree with. I didn't originate this idea or framework.

The reason that I agree with this framework is that it prioritizes the victim's needs safety validation and change and a tangible way. It prioritizes real understanding of harm unlike punishment like fines in jail it puts perpetrators in a position of true growth and real accountability. Additionally, it seeks to build a collective responsibility to protect the community.

“Who protects us? We protect us!”

Restorative justice asks, "How do we make things right?" Meaning offenders facing the human impact of their actions, communities actively rejecting hate, and the league empowering those harmed to lead the healing. It’s harder than banning someone, but it actually changes culture.

This method isn't something that we should shy away from. I'd love to see the European American community lean into restorative justice hard.