Shockwaves rippled through the WNBA community and beyond this August after a bizarre and troubling incident at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center during a high-profile matchup between the New York Liberty and the Dallas Wings. On August 5, 2025, the game’s electric atmosphere was abruptly disrupted when Charles Burgess, a 32-year-old man from Dayton, Ohio, hurled a lime green sex toy from the bleachers. The object struck a 12-year-old girl in the leg, leaving her in substantial pain and visibly shaken, according to court documents and police reports.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and deeply unsettling. The young spectator, who had simply come to enjoy a night of professional basketball, became the unintended victim of a stunt that has, unfortunately, become a disturbing trend at WNBA games this season. According to a complaint filed in Brooklyn Criminal Court, the girl not only suffered physical discomfort but also became "alarmed and annoyed," fearing further injury as the object landed in her path.
Police acted swiftly in the aftermath of the incident, launching an investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrator. Surveillance footage reportedly captured Burgess, clad in a "Beavis and Butthead" T-shirt, pulling the sex toy from his pants pocket and flinging it toward the court. The suspect initially fled the scene on foot, evading authorities for more than two weeks.
However, on the morning of August 21, 2025, Burgess voluntarily surrendered at Brooklyn’s 78th Precinct, which covers the Barclays Center. His mother and aunt accompanied him on the drive from Ohio, where Burgess owns an auto body shop. According to his attorney, Paul D’Emilia, Burgess is a married father of six and has "absolutely no criminal record." D’Emilia emphasized, "He does not regularly attend WNBA games, he is a casual fan, and he is not involved in any of these or prior incidents." The attorney further asserted that Burgess intends to "vigorously fight these embellished and exaggerated charges."
The legal fallout was immediate and extensive. Burgess was arraigned on a battery of charges, including attempted assault in the second and third degrees, third-degree assault, second-degree menacing, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree obscenity, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, interference with a professional sporting event, and second-degree harassment. Prosecutors allege that Burgess’s actions were not only reckless but also endangered the safety of players, officials, and fans alike.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Burgess was released on his own recognizance following his arraignment. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to reappear in court on December 15, 2025. D’Emilia has publicly challenged the prosecution’s narrative, stating that "video evidence" shows "no one was actually struck by the thrown object rendering any of the included assault charges unsustainable." The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, for its part, has indicated an interest in further discussions with the defense, particularly regarding the possibility of additional individuals being involved in what has become a "fast-spreading phenomenon occurring at WNBA venues."
This incident is far from an isolated event. The summer of 2025 has seen a disturbing uptick in similar disruptions at WNBA games across the country. In recent months, sex toys have been thrown onto courts in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Chicago, sometimes causing game delays and, in one instance, nearly hitting Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Multiple arrests have been made in connection with these acts. In Phoenix, 18-year-old Kaden Lopez was apprehended after tossing a sex toy into the crowd, later telling police that the stunt was "supposed to be a joke and this joke [was] supposed to go viral." Another man, Delbert Carver, was arrested in Georgia and charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing, public indecency, and indecent exposure, all misdemeanors in that state.
The WNBA has responded forcefully to these incidents, issuing a statement that leaves no room for ambiguity: "The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority for our league. Objects of any kind thrown onto the court or in the seating area can pose a safety risk for players, game officials, and fans." The league has announced that fans who intentionally throw objects onto the court will be immediately ejected and face a minimum one-year ban, in addition to being subject to arrest and prosecution by local authorities.
Players and coaches have also voiced their outrage and concern. Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve addressed the underlying issue, stating, "This has been going on for centuries. The sexualization of women. This is the latest version of that. And it's not funny and it should not be the butt of jokes on radio shows, or in print or any comments." The league and its community are united in their condemnation of these acts, viewing them not as harmless pranks but as serious affronts to the dignity and safety of women athletes and fans alike.
Media reports have drawn connections between these disruptions and a group associated with a cryptocurrency meme coin, suggesting that the stunts may be part of a coordinated effort to gain viral attention. However, for those directly impacted—especially the young girl at Barclays Center—the consequences are all too real. The incident has sparked renewed calls for increased security measures at sporting events and a broader conversation about respect and safety in public spaces.
As the legal process unfolds, all eyes will be on the December court date, where Burgess will have the opportunity to contest the charges against him. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, both within the WNBA and across the wider world of professional sports. For now, the league and its fans are left grappling with the aftermath of an incident that has marred an otherwise thrilling season—and underscored the urgent need for vigilance and accountability in arenas nationwide.
With the case ongoing and the league’s new security measures in place, the message is clear: disruptive and dangerous behavior will not be tolerated, and the focus must remain on the athletes and the game itself.
