NYPD Searching for Suspect After 12-Year-Old Girl Hit by Thrown Object at WNBA Game in Brooklyn

Imagine the heartbreak of a young girl, just 12 years old, caught up in a moment of pure chaos at a game she was probably so excited to see, her world shattered by someone’s thoughtless prank that turned cruel in an instant

I still can’t believe this actually happened—but get this: last week at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, right in the middle of what should’ve been an epic showdown between the New York Liberty and the Dallas Wings, a man suddenly tossed a sex toy straight into the crowd. It hit a little girl square on her right leg, leaving her stunned and hurt in ways that go beyond the physical. She’s only 12, out there cheering with her family or friends, and suddenly this happens? My heart aches just thinking about how scary and confusing that must have felt for her.

The NYPD is on it now, sharing a photo and a quick video clip of the guy they’re hunting down—he was decked out in a “Beavis and Butt-Head” T-shirt and an Ohio State cap, like he thought he was being funny or edgy. The Liberty team is fully backing the investigation, working hand-in-hand with the police to make sure this doesn’t slide. They’ve kept it tight-lipped, just saying it’s ongoing and they’re all in on helping law enforcement get to the bottom of it.

But here’s the worrying part—this isn’t just a one-time weird event. Over the last few weeks, similar things have been happening at WNBA games across the country. It started on July 29 in Georgia, when one was thrown onto the court during the Golden State Valkyries’ game against the Atlanta Dream in College Park. After that, the unusual incidents spread to Phoenix, Chicago, and even Los Angeles. So far, two men have been arrested for the Georgia and Phoenix cases, and they’re now facing serious legal trouble.

The league isn’t taking this lightly at all. A WNBA spokesperson came out strong, emphasizing how the safety of everyone in those arenas—players, fans, kids like that girl—is their absolute top priority. They’re teaming up with local and federal authorities to chase down anyone involved, pushing for arrests and even felony charges where they fit, because this kind of reckless stupidity has no place in a space meant for joy and competition.

In the end, it makes you pause and reflect on how one person’s idea of a “joke” can ripple out and scar someone so young, turning a night of cheers into a nightmare that lingers long after the final buzzer—reminding us all why we need to protect the innocence in these shared moments, before it’s stolen away for good.