The women's basketball world is rocked by the public revelations of Caitlin Clark's stalking. Other athletes in the sport are now speaking out about their own fears and experiences with security and privacy violations. News of Clark's stalking comes just a month after a man pleaded guilty to stalking UW women's basketball star Paige Backers.
Ahead of the opening week of the emerging 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, many participating WNBA players spoke out about the issue.
DeJonai Carrington, the Connecticut Sun player who was blindsided by Clark during a playoff series in September, told The Associated Press that he has received cyber threats and needs to be aware of other threats when out in public. He said there is.
“It's very unfortunate that things like this continue to happen, but as the game grows I think things like this will continue to happen because some people are just crazy and losing their minds. and we need to take responsibility for them,” Carrington said. . “But honestly, I don't think this situation is going to stop. We have to do something and try to protect ourselves above and beyond.”
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DeJonai Carrington (21) of the Connecticut Sun plays against the Indiana Fever during Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on September 22, 2024. Played defense in the game. (Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
New York Liberty star Brianna Stewart said she and other players have to be conscious about how they use social media to avoid giving away their whereabouts in real time.
“There's heavy security here, there's security everywhere,” Stewart said. “Whether we post a photo or post on social media, we make sure nothing is real-time, because that allows them to really know where you are.”
Jemele Hill quietly deletes Caitlin Clarke's post after stalking arrest
Brianna Stewart and her wife Marta Zargay were victims during the WNBA Finals in October, receiving anonymous threatening emails after Game 1.
Aliyah Boston, Clark's enthusiastic teammate, called the situation she and other players are facing “very scary.”
“It's very scary. I feel sorry for Paige, Caitlin, (Brianna) and everyone's family, because that's something you never want to go through,” she said. “But I think everyone around us is doing a great job of trying to make us feel safe and making sure we're taking care of everything. If there's something you don't understand, they're working on it. They know exactly what to do.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during the second half of a game against the Dallas Wings on September 15, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Unrivaled co-founder Nafeesa Collier said the league recently held a meeting with players.
“I think it's scary. As we become more available to people, it's natural for things like that to happen,” Collier said. “There was a safety meeting the other day.''
A Texas man identified as Clark's alleged stalker, Michael Lewis, entered Marion County Superior Court earlier this week, leaned back in his chair and told Judge Angela Davis he was “guilty as charged.”
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Davis suggested Lewis exercise his right to remain silent and entered a not guilty plea on Lewis' behalf because he was unwilling to accept anything else at the first trial.
Lewis was held on $50,000 bail and ordered to stay away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the Fever and Butler Bulldogs play, respectively. Clark's boyfriend, Connor McCaffrey, is an assistant on Butler's men's basketball team.
Lewis, 55, was charged with stalking and threatening to commit sexual assault or death. fox 59 The report cited court documents. The charge is a felony and, if convicted, could result in up to six years in prison.
All-Iowa Attack's Caitlin Clark 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 sexually explicit messages to Clark through the X account. One message said he drove around her house multiple times and advised her not to call the law yet. He also reportedly talked about going to a Fever game and sitting behind the bench.
Authorities said they spoke with Lewis about the messages on Jan. 8, the news station said. He reportedly told authorities he was going to Indianapolis on vacation and downplayed the number of messages he sent to the WNBA sharpshooter.
“It takes a lot of courage for a woman to come forward in a case like this, and that's why so many people don't come forward,” Marion County Attorney Ryan Mears told FOX 59. “In doing so, the victims are setting an example for all women” who are entitled to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence. ”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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