*This content was translated by AI.
Park Ji-hyun (26, LA Sparks), a national team guard competing in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the United States, suffered an unprecedented and absurd incident during a game when she was disturbed by an adult toy thrown from the stands.
On the 21st (Korean time), a scene that made one doubt their eyes unfolded at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, during the 2026 WNBA regular season match between the LA Sparks and the Atlanta Dream.
The incident occurred with 2 minutes and 59 seconds remaining in the third quarter. With the Sparks trailing 53-84, Park Ji-hyun was standing at the free throw line, concentrating on her shooting motion, when a green adult toy flew from the stands onto the court. The thrown object landed on the floor right next to Park Ji-hyun before bouncing across the court.
Startled by the sudden commotion, Park Ji-hyun stared at the section of the stands where the object had come from, and the referee immediately blew the whistle to stop the game. Both players and spectators at the scene were shocked. Angel Reese, a key player for the Atlanta Dream, immediately pointed toward the stands, signaling crowd control personnel to apprehend the thrower. Following this, Cameron Brink, Park Ji-hyun's teammate, covered the object with a towel and threw it off the court, barely resolving the situation.
According to reports by the New York Post in the United States, the suspect who threw the item was a man wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey with the number 77 of Luka Doncic. He attempted to flee the scene immediately after throwing the object but was caught by arena security personnel.
In fact, this is not the first time an adult toy has been thrown during a WNBA game. During the previous season, similar incidents attributed to an organization related to cryptocurrency occurred multiple times, causing significant trouble for the league as a whole.
The WNBA office had previously declared a strict response. Following an incident where an adult toy was thrown last August, the office emphasized, "The safety of all members on the court is the league's top priority," stating that "spectators who intentionally throw foreign objects onto the court will be immediately ejected, banned from entering the venue for at least one year, and handed over to local police for severe criminal punishment."
However, regarding the incident where Park Ji-hyun was targeted, neither the WNBA office nor the LA Sparks franchise has issued a significant statement yet. Given that the incident is currently making headlines in the United States, it is expected that disciplinary action against the suspect will be announced soon.
Meanwhile, Park Ji-hyun played for 12 minutes and 22 seconds in today's game, recording two points and one rebound. She attempted four free throws, making two of them. The Sparks, featuring Park Ji-hyun, lost the game with a score of 88-124.
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*This content was translated by AI.
