Caitlin Clark’s encounter with an online stalker left her reportedly “very fearful” and begged me to ask: does being a public figure mean sacrificing basic human dignity? It’s time we ask ourselves where the line is and how we can hold people accountable for crossing it.
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Earlier this week, a man was charged with ‘felony stalking’ of the WNBA Rookie of the Year, highlighting the ongoing dangers women athletes face online and in real life. There is an urgent need for strict measures to protect athletes from harassment, ensuring that fear of it does not overshadow their hard-earned achievements on the court.
With the launch of the new basketball league Unrivaled just around the corner, founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart discussed the precautionary measures they’ve implemented to ensure the safety of the athletes after a meeting they had with its players about their safety.
Speaking in a courtside interview during the shoot around for the Lunar Owls and Mist, Collier said, “I think it’s scary just naturally with being more available to people, things like that happen.”
“We did have a safety meeting the other day, just like don’t post where you are, don’t post where we are living, don’t say in real time that I am at the beach, just post later,” Phee elaborated further. The 28-year-old emphasized that the athletes have to take such precautions as they can’t control the actions of others.
Breanna Stewart also gave updates regarding the measures taken for the safety of the athletes. “We have a ton of security in here. You guys see them everywhere making sure… Whether we post pictures or [we’re] on social media, nothing is real-time because that’s when it’s like they are able to figure out where you are.”
Today at @Unrivaledwbb shootaround for the Lunar Owls and Mist, respectively, Napheesa Collier, DiJonai Carrington and Breanna Stewart were asked about the recent cyberstalking cases involving some women’s basketball players and potential safety measures. (Q: @benpickman) pic.twitter.com/GlnwopYITN
— Natalie Esquire (@natfluential) January 17, 2025
It is important to note that the Caitlin Clark issue wasn’t the only incident where a fan crossed the line. In the recent past, there have been many such incidents. Let’s take a look at them.
The price of fame in women’s sports: Caitlin Clark’s story reflects a troubling pattern
The WNBA has seen its fair share of troubling incidents, with fan behavior crossing the line too often. Brittney Griner faced racial slurs. Angel Reese was the victim of fans sharing AI-generated explicit images without her consent, and Alyssa Thomas endured relentless online harassment during her playoff run. Paige Bueckers was also subjected to online stalking, which led to a man being arrested.
Breanna Stewart and her wife Marta Xargay were victims of homophobic e-mails sent by fans themselves. These examples highlight the darker side of fandom and the urgent need for stronger protection for athletes, ensuring that the court remains a place to hoop and not face targeted abuse.
The Unrivaled have taken the right step towards ensuring the safety of the athletes and we hope that these athletes don’t have to suffer through such ordeals ever again in their lives. We just want to see them hoop and it is our responsibility as fans to ensure we don’t cross the limit and impact them in any way whatsoever!
