Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has unfortunately been on the abusive side of fame. She reportedly had a stalker, who’s been charged with a felony, according to ESPN. The man has been identified as Michael Lewis of Denton, Texas. He has a felony stalking charge in Indianapolis on Sunday after he allegedly sent threats and sexually violent messages.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first instance of a player being harassed. For instance, Paige Bueckers had a stalker who was arrested. He was banned from all University of Connecticut facilities, among numerous other restrictions. Clark’s stalker could face up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The Fever guard was all across the headlines this past WNBA season and for good reasons. Clark broke numerous WNBA records and convincingly won the 2024 Rookie of the Year award. Not to mention, she placed fourth in MVP voting, despite only being a rookie.
Even with the accolades and achievements, it puts a bigger target on her back. She and Bueckers have been two of the notable names in the past few months who have been stalked. Thankfully they are safe but it’s a lingering issue that needs to be resolved sooner rather than later.
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Stalking is unfortunately a too-common thing in sports. Notable athletes will have all eyes on them, for better or for worse. In Clark’s case, it’s been for the worse. She’s done nothing wrong. However, people have relentlessly pursued her for interesting reasons.
Sending anyone sexually explicit photos is frowned upon, let alone an athlete, and let alone a female athlete. With the WNBA condemning racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia, among other things, they’ll need to increase their security. Commissioner Cathy Englebert has stressed that the listed issues are being resolved.
Still, stalking is another entity. This is a scenario where someone’s life could be in jeopardy. Despite the growing participation in the league, they need to make more strides. Protecting their players is essential, especially players of the next generations. Clark and Bueckers are two of the best players in this generation.
Another instance occurred with Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner. She was harassed in the 2023 season by people making references to her detainment in Russia. While that wasn’t stalking, a harassment issue is still prevalent. The WNBA can use this as a pivotal moment to ensure their players are protected. If not, more instances like these will quickly arise.
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