• Since July 29, attendees at WNBA games have thrown sex toys onto the court in at least six separate incidents, drawing condemnation from multiple WNBA players and the league’s leadership. A group of cryptocurrency investors has claimed responsibility for the incidents as a way to promote a meme coin called “Green Dildo Coin.” At least two people have been arrested for allegedly throwing sex toys. [The Washington Post, 8/9/25]
• On August 5, a 12-year-old girl was struck by a sex toy thrown during a New York Liberty game in Brooklyn. As of publication, the New York Police Department is still searching for the suspect. [NBC, 8/11/25]
• Republicans and their media propagandists have used fairness in women’s sports as a political cudgel to direct outrage at transgender people and justify authoritarian crackdowns on institutions. Right-wing media have devoted a disproportionate amount of coverage to trans athletes, with Fox News airing at least 424 weekday segments mentioning trans athletes in just four months in 2025. [Mother Jones, 11/5/24; Them, 3/12/25; Media Matters, 6/11/25]
• Despite their professed dedication to protecting women’s sports, MAGA media personalities have consistently mocked women athletes and women’s leagues. [Media Matters, 10/16/24, 4/5/24]

Clay Travis is the founder of OutKick, a Fox Corp.-owned website that presents sports news from a conservative perspective. Travis regularly espouses anti-trans rhetoric in his sports commentary.

• Travis offered to donate money to the legal defense fund of someone accused of throwing a sex toy at a WNBA game for every copy of his book that was sold. [OutKick, 8/5/25]

• Travis posted several times about the incident: “Latest dildo gambling odds are posted. Lots of value on a white dildo after last night’s purple dildo cashed at 4-1. Over/under on total dildos on WNBA courts at 7 for the season feels low.” In other posts, he said, “I agree. Whatever you do, do not check the gambling odds and throw different color dildos on the court to make lots of money. Unacceptable. Not funny. Classless. The penal code exists for a reason, guys, penalties are stiff,” and, “Which is a worse penalty for the WNBA green dildo thrower: get banned from attending WNBA games for a year or you’re forced to attend an entire season of games?” Travis also posted an edited picture of what appears to be President Donald Trump throwing a dildo from the White House roof onto a WNBA court. [Twitter/X, 8/8/25, 8/7/25, 8/5/25, 8/7/25]

• During a segment with Riley Gaines on his radio show, Travis touted the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, saying that it ensures that “women’s sports are only played by women.” Later, he asked if any Democratic senators were going to vote in favor of the bill: “Have any Democrats senators yet publicly said that they will vote – I can't believe this is real. I still can't believe that this is political – that they will vote to ensure that men don't compete in women's sports?” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, 3/3/25]

OutKick host and anti-trans activist Riley Gaines built a media career by relentlessly attacking trans swimmer Lia Thomas in the name of protecting women’s sports. 

• Gaines suggested the WNBA “really lean into this, maybe make this like a regular thing. It could really boost the attendance, it could boost the viewers.” “That should be the new standard,” she continued, “The game does not really start until a green dildo hits the hardwood.” Gaines also noted the betting market for toy-throwing incidents: “Now you can even bet on what color the next dildo thrown on a WNBA court will be. … It would be a pretty safe bet to buy a blue one, place a huge bet, and be the first one to do it. Instant fortune.” [Twitter/X, 8/8/25]
• Gaines wrote that Democrats’ support of trans athletes is “a middle finger to little girls with dreams to succeed in their sports and beyond.” [Twitter/X, 4/16/25]

Fox News host Jesse Watters has repeatedly spewed attacks on women on his shows. He has also mocked high suicide rates among trans youth.

• Watters made light of the sex toy-throwing: “Where there's a will, there's a way. Something tells me an enterprising pervert will find a new, creative way to smuggle those bad boys in. I wonder what way that would be.” [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 8/6/25] 
• Watters claimed “women's sports are being wrecked” and “girls are in physical danger” because of trans athletes. He added, “I think a woman’s going to die at some point, that’s what’s going to happen.” [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 8/1/24]

OutKick host and right-wing media mainstay Tomi Lahren has similarly used the cover of protecting women’s sports to attack trans athletes. 

• Lahren called the sex toy-throwing “objectively speaking, the most entertaining and athletic part of the game” and encouraged the WNBA to let it happen: “As long as people are watching, I’d just take one for the league. You’re welcome for the advice.” Lahren said, “For their part, the players are asking for it to stop, and I get it. But also, have you seen the fingernails on some of these chicks? You’re going to get your eyeballs poked out by way of fingernail before these green dildos are going to do any real damage, honey.” She continued, “I truly don’t know why the players are complaining. People only watch your games for three reasons. One: to watch Caitlin Clark. Two: to watch Caitlin Clark get bullied. And three: the green dildos. So as long as people are watching, I’d just take one for the league. You’re welcome for the advice.” [Twitter/X, 8/10/25]
• After Senate Democrats voted to block the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, Lahren claimed that “Republicans are the party of feminism.” Lahren: “No Senate Democrats voted to protect women’s sports from the patriarchy. Republicans are the party of feminism and never forget it. Dems just love abortion.” [Twitter/X, 3/3/25]

OutKick host Dan Dakich has pushed transphobic rhetoric and attacked Simone Biles for defending trans inclusion in sports.

• Dakich encouraged further sex-toy throwing at WNBA games: “I personally think it's funny, and I wish they would embrace it.” Dakich: “It is ridiculous, but you want attention and as your league gets bigger, these are the kind of things that are going to happen.” [Fox News, America’s Newsroom, 8/8/25]
• After Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes, Dakich claimed that fairness in women’s and girls’ sports is “near and dear to me” and celebrated Trump’s executive order: “Young women get the chance to play against young women. As ridiculous as that sounds, thank God it’s back.” [Fox News, The Will Cain Show, 2/7/25]