Stalking Threats Targeting WNBA Star Caitlin Clark and the League’s Safety Response

During the 2025 WNBA season, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark missed more than 30 games because of injuries and simultaneously endured a stalking campaign by Michael Lewis, a 55-year-old man from Texas. Lewis sent Clark “hundreds” of messages—many “threats and sexually explicit”—between December 12, 2024 and January 11, 2025. Clark said she feared for her safety and altered her public appearance to feel more secure. Lewis was arrested in Indianapolis and, last July, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.

The Guardian

Clark’s case is not isolated. In 2024, a 40-year-old man pleaded guilty to stalking Paige Bueckers while she played for the UConn Huskies. Former Fever guard Syd Colson has publicly discussed her own stalker, and UCLA recruit Kiki Rice received “dozens” of messages from a man who claimed a “magnetic” connection. In June 2025, a 48-year-old man was arrested for stalking Clark’s teammate Sophie Cunningham. The Guardian notes that stalking disproportionately affects women athletes, mirroring similar incidents in other sports such as NFL star Aaron Donald.

The Guardian

A league source told the Guardian that the WNBA prioritizes player safety across venues, hotels, airports, and online platforms. The Collective Bargaining Agreement now mandates minimum safety requirements for each team. Reported threats trigger a three-step protocol: (1) the Global Security Operations Center evaluates the threat 24/7; (2) additional security is deployed as needed; (3) the individual may be banned from arenas or referred to law enforcement.

The Guardian

She adds that individuals who engage in stalking often exhibit broader emotional instability.

The Guardian

• “I think the people who are doing this are people who are probably not particularly stable in other aspects of what they’re doing,” — Gabriel, professor of psychology at SUNY, University of Buffalo

The Guardian

• “We’re going to care about what the prominent people in our society are doing,” — Gabriel, professor of psychology at SUNY, University of Buffalo

The Guardian