Prediction markets won US legitimacy last year on the promise they’d forecast weighty events like elections and inflation. This week, their biggest player, Polymarket, is in the spotlight for wagers on whether a sex toy will land on a WNBA court — a market inspired by an incident just days ago.

Polymarket leans into dildo throwing trend at WNBA games. Critics say it's disrespectful. The betting platform's promotion could encourage even more copycat incidents.

The WNBA has seen fans throw sex toys onto the court three times in the past eight days, including twice at a Valkyries game. And ahead of Golden State’s home game against the Aces on Wednesday, an embattled gambling website started a rumor that sure seemed intended to juice the betting markets.