A Texas man, Michael Lewis, age 55, has been charged with stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark after sending a series of threatening and sexually explicit messages through social media. Law enforcement officials reveal that Lewis was arrested in Indianapolis, where Clark plays for the Indiana Fever, on Sunday.
Court documents indicate that between December 16 and January 2, Lewis allegedly sent messages on X that included disturbing references to monitoring Clark's residence. One message reportedly read: "@CaitlinClark22 been driving around your house 3x a day... but don't call the law just yet, the public is allowed to drive by Gainbridge...aka Caitlin's Fieldhouse." Another message stated: "I'm getting tickets. I'm sitting behind the bench."
Clark, who is the 2024 Women's National Basketball Association rookie of the year, promptly reported the messages to law enforcement due to her concerns for her safety. Before Lewis’s arrival in Indianapolis, she had taken measures to alter her appearance in public to avoid potential recognition. Prosecutors noted in court documents that the social media posts made Clark feel "terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened."
Identified through IP tracking methods, Lewis was discovered by the FBI in a downtown Indianapolis hotel. He defended his actions to police, claiming his messages were imaginative jokes rather than threats. Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears commented on the vital importance of courage for women to come forward in such cases, stating, "In doing so, the victim is setting an example for all women who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence."
This incident follows closely on the heels of another case in which a man from Oregon was arrested for stalking and harassment against women's college basketball star Paige Bueckers. Such incidents raise pressing questions about the safety and security of female athletes in professional sports.
