In one of the strangest moments of the 2026 WNBA season, New York Liberty superstar Breanna Stewart was briefly stunned after a fan allegedly threw an inappropriate object onto the court during the Liberty’s dramatic 89-81 victory over the Washington Mystics on Sunday night.
The bizarre incident occurred midway through the fourth quarter at a packed arena as Stewart was preparing to inbound the ball following a timeout. Witnesses claimed an unidentified object suddenly flew from the stands and landed near Stewart before making contact with her shoulder, causing players and officials to pause the game immediately.
Security personnel rushed toward the lower seating section as confused fans tried to understand what had happened. Several Liberty players appeared visibly shocked, while Mystics players gathered near midcourt during the unexpected delay.
Despite the bizarre interruption, Stewart remained composed and even laughed briefly with teammates while arena staff removed the object from the floor. Officials reportedly escorted one fan out of the building moments later, though authorities have not officially released details regarding the incident.
After the game, Stewart addressed reporters with humor but admitted the situation was “definitely unexpected.”
> “I’ve seen a lot of things in basketball, but that was probably a first,” Stewart said while smiling. “Thankfully nobody got hurt, and we were able to stay focused.”
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello praised her team for maintaining composure amid the distraction and called the behavior “unacceptable.”
Stewart still dominated the game despite the interruption, finishing with 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists as New York secured another important win in the Eastern Conference standings.
Meanwhile, social media exploded within minutes of the incident, with clips and reactions spreading rapidly online as fans debated whether the moment was shocking, hilarious, or simply embarrassi
ng for the league.