WNBA Fan Ejected After Mocking Player for Wig Slip During Live Game
The July 26 WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and Washington Mystics took an unexpected turn late in the third quarter. And not because of a buzzer-beater or hard foul, but because Kahleah Copper‘s wig fell off during a fast-paced play.
As the Mercury guard darted around a screen to create space, her wig accidentally got tangled with Mystics guard Jade Melbourne. The hairpiece popped off and landed on the hardwood, briefly pausing the game. Copper calmly picked it up and jogged to the locker room while referees called a timeout.
“Oh no,” the game’s broadcaster reacted in real-time. “She’s going to head to the back. Oh no.”
While most fans respectfully stayed quiet about the awkward moment, one spectator didn’t. According to officials on-site, a man in the stands mocked the situation prompting Copper’s teammates to alert security. Arena staff swiftly identified the fan and ejected him from the game for his behavior.
“They made fun of her for the situation on the floor,” officials were heard telling arena security before the man was escorted out.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time Copper dealt with an on-court hairpiece issue. During a 2024 Olympics game in Paris, fellow WNBA star A’ja Wilson was spotted helping her adjust her wig after a hard fall. The clip gained traction online, with fans praising Wilson’s support. “We don’t play about that over hereeeee,” Wilson tweeted. Copper responded: “A realllll oneeeeeee.”
Despite the brief interruption in Sunday’s game, Copper returned moments later, composed and focused. She helped fuel Phoenix’s third-quarter push, and the Mercury closed out the night with a convincing 88–72 victory.
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