Crypto group trolls target WNBA in bizarre meme coin promotion

A bizarre new chapter has opened in the ongoing culture war surrounding women’s basketball, and it’s coming from an unlikely section of the crypto world. Over the past two weeks, WNBA arenas in Atlanta, Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Phoenix have all been hit by the same strange disruption, and a crypto-linked group has claimed responsibility for it.

In the middle of the games, bright green, phallic-shaped sex toys were thrown onto WNBA courts. They are reportedly being used as part of a guerrilla marketing stunt for “Green Dildo Coin.” Six such incidents have been confirmed since July 29, prompting outrage from players, coaches, and fans, and at least two arrests.

Meme token chaos hits the WNBA

As per reports, a group of crypto investors promoting Green Dildo Coin is pulling these stunts. They are trying to bring humor back to the memecoin market and not to mock women’s sports.

“We’re here to make people laugh, to make crypto fun again,” one anonymous backer told NBC News. It added that  “This is about reviving a culture of creativity that’s being smothered by influencer cabals and bad actors.”

While the token’s creators have avoided revealing their identities, they’ve been far from shy about the campaign itself. In several interviews, the group members described months of planning leading up to the launch. This also included a website, merchandise, NFTs, and even a Telegram channel that now boasts more than 1,000 members. 

Not everyone’s amused, as WNBA players have been vocal about the disrespect and safety risks. Los Angeles guard Kelsey Plum narrowly avoided one of the projectiles during a game against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday.

The same day, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham expressed her frustration on her podcast. “We’re fighting to make sure the W is taken seriously,” she said. “And then that happens. How are we supposed to be respected?”

The group insists the league wasn’t targeted for any specific reason. However, they admit the WNBA stunts generated more headlines than similar pranks. They argue that it’s simply “creative disruption,” the kind sports fans have seen in arenas around the world.

Polymarket bets heating up

A poll on Polymarket shows users are betting about “Dildo thrown at WNBA game on…?” As of now, 23% of the users think another incident could happen on August 9, while 31% are putting their money on August 10.

In Atlanta, 33-year-old Delbert Carver was arrested after tossing a toy onto the Dream’s court on July 29. He faces multiple charges, including disorderly conduct and public indecency. Another individual in Phoenix was tackled by a bystander after attempting the same stunt.

Despite the arrests, the group shows no sign of backing down. This has led the token’s value to surge more than 300% in a week, reaching a market cap of around $21 million. DILDO is trading at an average price of $0.001433 at the press time.

Meanwhile, the WNBA has made its position clear that anyone caught throwing objects onto the court faces ejection and at least a one-year ban from attending games.