The Los Angeles Sparks head coach didn’t hold back after her player, Sophie Cunningham, was struck by an adult toy thrown from the stands during a game. It didn’t land on her face, but the message sure did.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s dumb. It’s stupid. It’s also dangerous, and you know, player safety is No. 1, respecting the game, all those things. I think it’s really stupid,” said Roberts, who was visibly upset after the game.
Sophie Cunningham, known for her grit and personality, laughed it off in the moment. But the incident quickly went viral, sparking fresh concerns about player safety and arena security.
This wasn’t some harmless prank. That thing could’ve caused injury or worse. And it raises serious questions about what fans think they can get away with in a packed arena.
Roberts isn’t the only one calling it out. WNBA players across teams are rallying behind Cunningham. Fever’s Aliyah Boston even chimed in, saying, “There’s tough… and then there’s Sophie tough. Don’t let the smile fool you.”
The WNBA has yet to issue a statement about any possible action, but the hope is that the next time Sophie Cunningham makes headlines, it’s for her game—not some idiot in the crowd.
Because no player, no matter how tough or popular, should have to dodge flying objects while doing their job.
Sophie Cunningham’s Mom Warned Her About Flying Objects. Just Not These.
Sophie Cunningham may have laughed, but even she knew how close things got to turning ugly.
On the Show Me Something podcast, Sophie opened up about the now-viral moment when she was hit by a flying adult toy while on the court.
“I just know how things go viral now, and I just know if that thing like even came from like the rafters or bows and just slap me right in the face, I could never, I could, that would be what I’d be known for life. And yeah, it could break a f***in nose,” she said, only half-joking.
It turns out, her mom even warned her about this sort of thing—well, not exactly this. Cunningham shared that her mother once joked about staying alert because “you never know what people throw.” Apparently, even she didn’t expect that.
The full clip had hosts and listeners howling, but the undertone is clear: fans are crossing lines, and Sophie Cunningham, like the rest of the league, is tired of being the punchline.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
