Apple News Today – "Inside sports’ escalating stalking problem"

Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Shumita Basu

Episode Overview

This episode covers several top news stories, with an in-depth feature on the increasing issue of stalking in elite sports. Reporter Carson Kessler of The Athletic discusses her investigation into why stalking incidents targeting athletes are on the rise, how social media is exacerbating the problem, the unique challenges faced by amateur and collegiate athletes, and how organizations are responding.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Escalating Stalking Problem in Sports

[08:10]

• Shumita Basu introduces a segment on the disturbing trend of athlete stalking, cautioning listeners due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

2. Scope and Underreporting of Stalking Cases

[08:10–08:27]

• Carson Kessler (The Athletic): Reports 52 known cases of athlete stalking since 2020, but highlights that the true number is likely much higher due to underreporting.
  • "Victims don't always go to the police, or these cases aren't covered by media. ... There's a lot of hesitation to go to law enforcement because these cases are historically very difficult to prosecute." [08:27]
• Challenges in quantifying the problem, as many victims avoid reporting due to:
  • Perception that cases are hard to prosecute
  • Fear of publicity or retribution
  • Reluctance to relive trauma

3. Social Media’s Double-Edged Sword

[09:00]

• Kessler attributes part of the rise in stalking to the accessibility and perceived intimacy enabled by social media:
  • "Social media in particular can lead fixated strangers to believe they're connected to celebrities in a way that they aren't. And so this poses a really interesting problem for athletes..." [09:00]
• Athletes depend on social platforms for career promotion but risk their personal security.

4. High-Profile Victims and the Gender Disparity

[09:18]

• The Athletic finds that women are stalked at much higher rates, but all athletes can be targets.
  • Notable victims: Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Simone Biles, Livvy Dunne, IGA Swiatek, Emma Raducanu.

5. Case Study: Kiki Rice's Experience

[09:49–10:21]

• Kessler recounts Kiki Rice’s encounter with a persistent stalker at UCLA:
  • "In a few instances, he brought red and white roses as well as a letter that just talked about his relationship with her." [09:49]
  • The stalker escalated behavior by sleeping in a rented U-Haul near campus and inundating Rice with messages.
  • "It got to the point where Kiki told UCLA police that she was concerned for her safety as well as just uncomfortable not knowing when or where this individual may appear." [10:08]
• Legal action:
  • UCLA banned the stalker and obtained a restraining order.
  • Charges were later dismissed after mental health intervention.
  • Despite the intervention, concerns and discomfort persisted for Rice.

6. The Impact of Stalking on Athletes

[10:21]

• Stalking affects both mental health and athletic performance.
• While pro athletes can sometimes afford private security, most collegiate and amateur athletes cannot:
  • "There's not much you can do besides raise security budgets, increase security checkpoints. This is a super vulnerable area when it comes to stalkers." — Kessler [11:00]
• College athletes rely heavily on institutional security, making them more vulnerable.

7. League and Institutional Responses

[11:10]

• Many sports leagues acknowledge the problem and are working to improve support and security for athletes.
• Ongoing efforts include boosting security measures and offering additional resources.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Victims don't always go to the police, or these cases aren't covered by media. ... There's a lot of hesitation to go to law enforcement because these cases are historically very difficult to prosecute.”
  — Carson Kessler [08:27]

• “Social media in particular can lead fixated strangers to believe they're connected to celebrities in a way that they aren't.”
  — Carson Kessler [09:00]

• “In a few instances, he brought red and white roses as well as a letter that just talked about his relationship with her.”
  — Carson Kessler (on the Kiki Rice case) [09:49]

• "There's not much you can do besides raise security budgets, increase security checkpoints. This is a super vulnerable area when it comes to stalkers."
  — Carson Kessler [11:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 08:10 – Stalking in sports: problem overview; difficulty of tracking cases
• 09:00 – Role of social media; rise in frequency and difficulty managing public-private boundaries
• 09:18 – Athlete vulnerability and notable examples
• 09:49 – Kiki Rice's stalking case in detail
• 10:21 – Psychological and performance toll on athletes
• 11:00 – Security challenges, especially for amateurs
• 11:10 – Institutional efforts to address stalking

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a journalistic, empathetic tone, with care taken not to sensationalize victims’ experiences. Commentary from both host Shumita Basu and reporter Carson Kessler is direct, fact-based, and sensitive to the seriousness of the cases discussed.

Summary

This episode of Apple News Today shines a light on an underreported but growing problem in elite sports—athlete stalking. It details how increased access through social media, the gendered nature of victimization, and institutional limitations put many athletes, especially women and amateurs, at unique risk. The in-depth reporting and first-hand example provided convey both the seriousness of the issue and the urgent need for better protections and support systems.