Police have charged a Texas man, Michael Lewis, age 55, for allegedly stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Lewis was arrested on Sunday in Indianapolis, where Clark plays for the Indiana Fever, after sending a series of threatening and sexually explicit messages to her on social media. Court documents indicate that Lewis reached out to Clark multiple times between December 16 and January 2 via X, with one message stating, "@CaitlinClark22 been driving around your house 3x a day…".
These messages raised significant alarm for Clark, who is considered the rookie of the year in the Women's National Basketball Association for 2024. After reporting the communications to the police, she expressed concerns for her safety, even altering her appearance when in public. Prosecutors noted that the messages made Clark feel "terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened".
Using the IP addresses from the messages, the FBI tracked Lewis to a hotel in downtown Indianapolis, as described by Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears. When questioned by authorities, Lewis allegedly dismissed his actions as "an imagination, fantasy type thing and it's a joke," downplaying the seriousness of his messages.
Mears praised Clark for coming forward, stating that it demonstrates courage and serves as an example for other women facing similar threats. This unwanted attention on athletes is becoming a distressing trend, as only weeks prior, another man from Oregon was arrested for stalking college basketball player Paige Bueckers. If convicted, Lewis could spend up to six years in prison and face a fine of $10,000.
