A 55-year-old man has been arrested and charged with stalking and sending threatening messages to basketball star Caitlin Clark.
Michael Lewis, of Denton, Texas, was arrested at a hotel in Indianapolis, where Clark plays for the Indiana Fever. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday and could face up to six years in jail if found guilty of the felony stalking charges.
Indianapolis police first spoke to Lewis last week, when he is alleged to have sent threatening messages to Clark on X. According to court documents, one message read: “Been driving around your house 3x a day. But don’t call the law just yet.” Other messages contained elements of sexual violence, according to the documents.
Clark told Indianapolis police the messages had left her fearing for her safety and had made her change her appearances in public. Police traced Lewis to an Indianapolis hotel where he said he was in an “imaginary relationship” with Clark and had come to the city on vacation. “It’s an imagination, fantasy type thing and it’s a joke, and it’s nothing to do with threatening,” he told police, according to the court documents.
Police said Lewis continued to message Clark after they had warned him about his conduct.
“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. “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.”
The 22-year-old Clark was the No 1 overall pick in last year’s WNBA draft after a stellar college career with Iowa. Her elite skills, and rivalry with Angel Reese, have made her one of the most prominent sports stars in the US. In her first season as a professional she was named rookie of the year, broke the league record in assists and signed a reported $28m sponsorship deal with Nike.