In a troubling story from Indianapolis, a Texas man, 55-year-old Michael Lewis, has been charged with stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Lewis was arrested after allegedly sending multiple threatening and sexually explicit messages to Clark via social media. His messages included frightening claims about stalking her home and purchasing tickets to sit behind her during games. Lewis was apprehended in a hotel just before Clark's team, Indiana Fever, was set to play.
Court documents state that Clark, the anticipated 2024 WNBA rookie of the year, reported the messages to the police, expressing fears for her safety. The disturbing messages were tracked back to Lewis thanks to FBI investigations, which pinpointed his hotel through IP addresses associated with the online threats. Despite claiming the messages were jokes or fantasies, prosecutors labeled the communications as terrifying.
Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears praised Clark's courage in coming forward, emphasizing how important it is for women to feel safe in their environments. This incident follows another recent stalking case involving Paige Bueckers, another prominent athlete. Both cases highlight the urgent issue of online threats facing women athletes today.
