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As Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers have learned in the past two years, fame comes with a hefty public price. Despite having no intentions of getting embroiled in questionable situations, both hoopers find themselves being targeted by individuals whose behavior amounts to stalking.
In light of this, Mariah Rose — daughter of Jalen Rose, the former Indiana Pacers star with a net worth of $50 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth — went on social media to speak her mind on what Clark and Bueckers have gone through:
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"I'mma need them to up the protection on my girls," said Mariah, presumably referring to law enforcement officials.
In her video on X, the host of the "Hoops for Hotties" podcast narrated the recent developments surrounding the Indiana Fever guard:
"Y'all, they just arrested a man for felony stalking of Caitlin Clark," said Rose. "He's a 55-year-old man from Texas that they found in Indiana, who believed he was in an imaginary relationship with her."
Major news outlets corroborate Rose's narrative. On Sunday, 55-year-old Michael Lewis (who is from Denton, Texas) was indeed arrested and charged with a Level 5 felony for acts such as allegedly sending sexually violent messages and threats to the Indiana Fever guard.
Rose went on to narrate that Lewis gave an alibi for coming over to Indiana: He was on vacation there.
"Who the hell vacations to Indianapolis?" asked Rose rhetorically. "No tea, no shade — I was born there."
Rose also brought up the fact that Bueckers, the UConn Huskies star, was herself involved in a similar incident in 2024.
A man named Robert Cole Parmalee caused a stir on social media when he posted a fake wedding invitation and a photo of an engagement ring as if to imply that he was getting married to Bueckers.
Parmalee received a one-year suspended sentence and three years of probation — sanctions that, in Rose's mind, weren't quite enough for the gravity of what he'd done.
Caitlin Clark keeps a low profile in offseason, skips inaugural season of Unrivaled
For many good reasons, Caitlin Clark has decided to stay low-key until the 2025 WNBA season tips off. Though fans have been clamoring to see her suit up for the new 3x3 league Unrivaled, Clark opted to forgo the opportunity.
In her interview with TIME to commemorate her accomplishment of being named 2024 Athlete of the Year, the Indiana Fever guard explained her decision to pump the brakes:
“I didn't rule out doing it in the future, but this year is just not the best for me,” Caitlin Clark told TIME. "“It’s going to be good for me to do my own thing and have my own space."
A well-rested, rejuvenated Clark would be beneficial to the Fever's 2025 campaign, not to mention the WNBA's TV ratings as fans tune in to see the fastest rising basketball phenom today.
