The women’s basketball community has been rocked by the public revelation of Caitlin Clark’s stalker. Other players in the sport are now speaking out about their own fears and experiences with security and privacy breaches. News of Clark’s stalker broke just a month after a man pleaded guilty to harassing UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers.
Ahead of the opening week of the new 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, many of the WNBA players who participated spoke out on the topic.
Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington, who gave Clark a black eye in their playoff series in September, told The Associated Press that she has received cyber threats and should be on the lookout for other threats when she goes out in public.
“It’s very unfortunate that this is happening, but I think as the game grows it will continue to happen because some people are just crazy and not in their right mind and they need to be held accountable for those things,” Carrington said. . “But honestly, I don’t think this is going to stop. We have to do things and go further and try to protect ourselves.”
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DiJonai Carrington (21) of the Connecticut Sun plays defense during a play against the Indiana Fever during Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs on Sept. 22, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart says she and other players have had to be conscious of how they use social media to ensure they don’t reveal their whereabouts in real time.
“We have a lot of security here and you see it everywhere,” Stewart said. “Making sure that whether we’re posting photos or on social media, nothing is in real time because that’s when they can really figure out where you are.”
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Breanna Stewart and her wife, Marta Xargay, were victims during the WNBA Finals in October and received anonymous threatening emails after Game 1.
Clark’s teammate Aliyah Boston called the conditions she and other players face “super scary.”
“It’s really scary and I feel bad for Paige, Caitlin, (Breanna) and the whole family because that’s not something you want to experience,” she said. “But I think everyone around us does a great job of trying to make sure we feel safe and that they’re responding to everything. If we’re not sure about something, they’re there. They know exactly what to do.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark against the Dallas Wings in the second half in Indianapolis on Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier said the league has had meetings with players recently.
“I think it’s scary. Naturally, as we become more available to people, things like that happen,” Collier said. “We had a safety meeting the other day.”
The Texas man identified as Clark’s alleged stalker, Michael Lewis, walked into Marion County Superior Court, leaned back in his chair and told Judge Angela Davis he was “guilty as charged,” earlier this week. week.
Davis suggested Lewis exercise her right to remain silent and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf because she was not going to accept anything more at an initial hearing.
Lewis was placed on $50,000 bail and kept away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the Fever and Butler Bulldogs play, respectively. Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, is an assistant on the Butler men’s basketball team.
Lewis, 55, was charged with stalking and threatening sexual assault or death. FOX 59 reported, citing court documents. The charge is a felony and he could face up to six years in prison if convicted.
Caitlin Clark of the All Iowa Attack dribbles during an AAU game at the All Iowa Attack Basketball Fieldhouse on April 22, 2017, in Ames, Iowa. (Luke Lu/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Lewis allegedly sent Clark sexually explicit messages through her X account. One message said he had been driving by her house several times and encouraged her to “not call the law yet.” He also allegedly talked about going to a Fever match and sitting behind the bench.
Authorities said they spoke to Lewis about the messages on Jan. 8, according to the news station. She reportedly told authorities she was going to Indianapolis on vacation and downplayed the number of messages she sent to the WNBA sharpshooter.
“It takes a lot of courage for women to report these cases, which is why many don’t,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said via FOX 59. “By doing so, the victim is setting an example. to all women.” who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence.
