The women’s basketball community was shaken by the public revelation of Caitlin Clark’s harassment. Others in the sport are now speaking out about their own fears and experiences with security and privacy breaches. News of Clark’s stalker came out just a month after a man pleaded guilty to stalking UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers.
Ahead of the opening week of the upstart 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, many of the participating WNBA players spoke out about the issue.
Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington, who gave Clark a black eye during their playoff series in September, told the Associated Press that she had received cyber threats and needed to be at Watch for other threats when she goes out in public.
“It’s a real shame that this is happening, but I think as the game grows it’s going to continue to happen because some people are just crazy and are not of sound mind and need to be held down responsible for these things,” Carrington said. . “But I don’t think it’s going to stop, honestly. We have to do things, go above and beyond and try to protect ourselves.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
DiJonai Carrington (21) of the Connecticut Sun plays defense during a game against the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs on September 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 make sure they don’t reveal their real-time whereabouts.
“We have a lot of security here, and you see them everywhere,” Stewart said. “Making sure that whether we’re posting photos or on social media, nothing is real-time, because that’s when they’re really able to know where you are.”
JEMELE HILL CLEARLY DELETES CAITLIN CLARK’S POST AFTER STALKER’S ARREST
Breanna Stewart and her wife, Marta Xargay, were victims during the WNBA Finals in October, after receiving threatening anonymous emails after the first game.
Clark’s teammate Aliyah Boston called the conditions she and the other players faced “super scary.”
“It’s super scary and I feel bad for Paige, Caitlin, (Breanna) and the whole family because it’s not something you want to experience,” she said. “But I think everyone around us does a great job trying to make sure we feel safe and making sure they respond to everything. If we’re not sure about something, they are on it. They know exactly what to do.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark against the Dallas Wings in the second half in Indianapolis on September 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, file)
Unmatched co-founder Napheesa Collier said the league recently met with players.
“I think it’s scary. Naturally, as we’re more available to people, things like this 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 charges,” earlier this week.
Davis suggested Lewis exercise her right to remain silent and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf because she wouldn’t agree to anything else at an initial hearing.
Lewis was ordered 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 McCaffery, is an assistant on the Butler men’s basketball team.
Lewis, 55, was charged with criminal harassment and threats of sexual violence 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 his X account. One message said he drove around her house several times and encouraged 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 to Lewis about the messages on Jan. 8, according to the news station. He reportedly told authorities he was vacationing in Indianapolis and downplayed the number of messages he sent to the WNBA sharpshooter.
“It takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, which is why many don’t,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said, via FOX 59. “In doing so, the victim gives the “example to all women who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence.”
