MIAMI — Just before its inaugural event, Unrivaled convened a security briefing with its players, focusing on their well-being.

In recent months, several instances of cyber-stalking involving women basketball players in collegiate and professional leagues have come to light. The most recent case centers around Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, who was recently the target of a felony stalking charge against a man. Earlier in the year, UConn standout Paige Bueckers also faced a stalking incident leading to an arrest. There are numerous other cases that have gone largely unnoticed.

“It’s alarming. Given that we are more accessible to the public, situations like this can arise,” stated Napheesa Collier, co-founder of Unrivaled. “We held a safety discussion recently.”

The 36 athletes taking part in the new 3-on-3 league emphasized the importance of not sharing information that could reveal their home locations or posting their whereabouts in real-time while visiting places like beaches or restaurants.

“It’s all about taking precautions. While you can’t control the actions of others, you should take every possible measure to ensure your safety,” Collier added.

Breanna Stewart and her spouse Marta Xargay confronted threats themselves during the WNBA Finals last October, when they received anonymous, homophobic emails following Game 1.

“We have a strong security presence here and you can see them all around,” Stewart shared. “We make sure that when we post pictures or use social media, we avoid sharing real-time updates since that’s when people can pinpoint your location.”

DiJonai Carrington has also faced online threats and adopts safety measures while out in public.

“It’s really unfortunate that this is happening, but with the growth of the game, it seems likely to continue as some individuals behave irrationally and must be held responsible,” she commented. “Honestly, I don’t believe it will cease; we need to go above and beyond to protect ourselves.”

Aliyah Boston, a teammate of Clark’s on the Fever, commended Unrivaled for its efforts to ensure a secure environment for players.

“It’s incredibly frightening, and my heart goes out to Paige, Caitlin, Breanna, and their families because no one should have to go through such experiences,” she expressed. “Thankfully, everyone around us is proactive in ensuring our safety and responding swiftly to any uncertainties. They know precisely what steps to take.”