Chaos Erupts at Caitlin Clark’s Charity Golf Event as Catfishing Horror Hits WNBA Stars
A charity golf tournament meant to be a fun, low-key day of sport and celebrity appearances turned into a shocking scene straight out of a nightmare for WNBA stars Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and Lexi Hall. The Anakah Pro-Am at the Pelican Golf Club, normally a wholesome celebration of basketball talent and fan engagement, descended into chaos when a deluded fan had to be physically removed by security.
It began innocently enough. Clark was teeing off while Cunningham and Hall, decked out in Indiana Fever gear, mingled with fans and enjoyed the sunny Las Vegas day. But suddenly, a man in his 70s began shouting Sophie Cunningham’s name repeatedly across the 10th fairway. What started as awkward attention quickly escalated into a bizarre and unsettling confrontation.
The man claimed—without hesitation—that he was Cunningham’s boyfriend. Security, including officers from the Bair Police Department assigned to the event, immediately intervened. When asked for identification, the man presented it but insisted it wasn’t necessary because, in his mind, being “with Sophie” overrode the law. Things grew darker when he showed messages from a fake social media account he believed was Cunningham’s, revealing that he had already sent nearly $2,000 in gift cards to the nonexistent account.
“It was a complete delusion,” a security source said. “He genuinely thought he was in a relationship with her.”
As he was escorted off the course in a sheriff’s golf cart, he continued shouting, demanding a chance to speak to his “girlfriend,” seemingly oblivious to reality. Meanwhile, Cunningham maintained remarkable composure, ignoring the man entirely and allowing security to handle the situation.
This incident is far from isolated. Catfishing scams targeting athletes are increasing, with victims often being older or vulnerable individuals tricked into sending money to fake accounts. With AI voice cloning, deepfakes, and highly convincing fake social profiles, athletes today face threats their predecessors never imagined. For Cunningham, the event highlighted the darker side of fame in the social media era: being completely powerless as strangers exploit your image, harass fans, and even show up in person with delusional claims.
Adding to the surreal day, Cunningham had earlier accidentally hit a spectator with a golf ball. While this was quickly resolved with apologies, pictures, and signed memorabilia, the stark contrast to the bizarre catfishing confrontation created a rollercoaster of emotions—turning a charitable afternoon into a frightening lesson on modern fandom and the dangers of online scams.
Experts emphasize that this type of harassment isn’t just awkward—it’s a serious safety concern. Athletes must constantly rely on security measures, ignore chaos, and hope no one gets hurt while being at the mercy of scammers exploiting parasocial relationships. The incident at the Anakah Pro-Am is a cautionary tale of how fame in 2025 brings unique, often terrifying challenges that previous generations of athletes never had to face.
Cunningham, Clark, and Hall walked away unscathed, but the incident serves as a stark reminder: in today’s world, even a charity golf event can turn into a public nightmare when technology and obsession collide.
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