Caitlyn Clark recently faced a frightening stalking situation when a man from Texas traveled to Indianapolis, sending her threatening messages. This incident highlights the growing problem of stalking among female athletes, a concerning issue that often goes unnoticed or unaddressed by sports leagues. With the increasing popularity of women’s sports, ensuring the safety of athletes has become more critical than ever.
Female athletes frequently encounter harassment, with one in three experiencing stalking, a statistic that underscores the need for better protection measures. In Clark’s case, the stalking escalated from online harassment to physical proximity, demonstrating the dangers of digital technology and the vulnerability of public figures. Despite the mental toll such experiences take, Clark continued to perform at a high level, showing incredible resilience. However, the pressure and anxiety caused by such situations are significant and often overlooked by the public, who may perceive athletes like Clark as living flawless, carefree lives.
The rise of social media has amplified these risks, as athletes’ personal lives are often exposed, making them targets for obsessive fans.
While Clark has been careful about what she shares online, many other athletes struggle with the constant pressure to maintain a public persona.
This challenge can inadvertently put their safety at risk, as personal details or locations are revealed, heightening the chance of stalking and harassment.
The issue of athlete safety, particularly regarding stalking, is becoming more urgent. As women’s sports continue to grow in visibility, leagues like the WNBA must take stronger steps to protect their players.
Unfortunately, many leagues lack the necessary infrastructure to respond adequately to these threats.
To ensure the well-being of female athletes, it’s crucial that sports organizations implement comprehensive security measures and prioritize athlete protection moving forward.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was named to the All-WNBA first team on Wednesday, becoming the first rookie in 16 years to earn the honor.
Clark joined Napheesa Collier, league MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas on the first team.
Wilson and Collier, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, received unanimous first-team votes. It’s the sixth first-team honor and seventh overall for Stewart, also a two-time league MVP.
Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm), Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings) and Jonquel Jones (Liberty) were named to the All-WNBA second team.
Clark received 52 first-team votes, fourth-most overall. She also finished fourth in MVP voting. She’s the first rookie named to the first team since Candace Parker in 2008. Sue Bird (2002), Tamika Catchings (2002) and Diana Taurasi (2004) were also first-team rookies.
The WNBA Rookie of the Year, Clark finished her first campaign averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and a league-high 8.4 assists per game.
Stewart, Ionescu and Jones all play for the New York Liberty, who are locked in a 1-1 series tie with the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals. Collier is the only player from the Lynx named to either team.
Ionescu was the top vote-getter on the second team, earning 204 points, 51 points shy of Thomas of the Connecticut Sun.
The teams were selected by a panel of 67 sportswriters and broadcasters. Voting was conducted at the conclusion of the regular season. Players were selected without regard to position.
These days I only have one rule when it comes to new year resolutions: do not, under any circumstances, write them down. Don’t put them on social media, or on a Post-it note stuck to your bathroom mirror, or in the notes section of your phone. Chances are high you won’t keep your resolutions, but as long as you don’t write them down chances are equally high you’ll have no memory of making them by next December.
I’ve learned there is simply no point in negotiating with future you – this person who no longer shares your goal to write a play, or to read 50 books in a year. Don’t let their failure be your failure. Besides: if you only manage to read nine books in 2025, you’ll still be nine books less stupid than you were in 2024.
In the meantime here’s something you can do right now to override future-you’s lack of commitment: support the Guardian’s work in 2025. You’ll be supporting independent journalism at a time when it’s more desperately needed than ever, and I promise that we will never send you an email reminding you to practice your Italian.
