WNBA Stalking Charges Filed
Indiana Man Charged with Stalking WNBA Star Sophie Cunningham After Sending Threatening Online Messages
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Kevin Singh, a 48-year-old Indianapolis man, was charged Wednesday with stalking and intimidation after allegedly sending threatening and explicit messages to Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on social media, according to WTHR. Singh was arrested June 23 by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, with formal charges filed the following day by Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears.
The case has drawn widespread attention as the second high-profile stalking incident involving an Indiana Fever player in less than a year. It follows the July 2025 sentencing of Michael Lewis, who received 2.5 years in prison for sending Fever star Caitlin Clark more than 800 threatening and sexually violent messages, per WTHR.
Package at the Arena Launched a Ten-Month Ordeal
The harassment began September 30, 2025, when security cameras at Gainbridge Fieldhouse captured Singh delivering a package addressed to "Sophie." Inside was a Guns N' Roses T-shirt sprayed with men's cologne and a handwritten note reading, "I've tried everything else to get your attention... I hope you hit me up!" according to The Indiana Lawyer.
Cunningham was not briefed by team security until February 2026. She later told investigators that moment was when she realized the behavior was more than "another guy posting nasty things," according to WTHR. In an affidavit, she said Singh's messages caused her to "stay in her home more" and triggered recurring nightmares.
'You're Literally Down the Street From Me' Triggered Arrest
The case escalated sharply on April 23, 2026, when Singh allegedly messaged Cunningham on X, writing, "You're literally down the street from me!" Investigators cited this message as a key turning point, establishing a credible threat of physical proximity, per the Marion County Prosecutor's Office.
One week later, on April 30, the Pacers Sports & Entertainment vice president of security issued Singh a formal cease-and-desist letter and banned him from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Singh responded by directing threats at the security official, according to WTHR. Prosecutor Mears said, "Coming forward is never easy, regardless of a person's position or public profile. The victim is setting an example by speaking out."
Defendant Had Prior Stalking Conviction and Filed His Own Lawsuit
Singh is not a first-time offender. He carries a 2014 felony stalking conviction and was already on probation in Hendricks County for invasion of privacy at the time of his arrest, according to The Indiana Lawyer. A prior 2025 plea deal in Hendricks County saw ten charges — including stalking — dropped in exchange for guilty pleas on two counts of invasion of privacy.
In a striking move, Singh filed a pro se defamation lawsuit against Pacers Sports & Entertainment on June 11 — just 12 days before his arrest — claiming his arena ban was based on "inaccurate allegations." The lawsuit stalled after his arrest, as legal experts noted truth is an absolute defense against defamation, according to WIBC.
WNBA's Rapid Growth Creates New Security Challenges
The Cunningham case arrives as the WNBA is booming. Under the 2026 collective bargaining agreement, the league's salary cap jumped from $1.5 million to $7 million. The supermax player salary rose from $249,244 to $1.4 million. Security budgets at the team level have nearly tripled since 2024, according to Athlon Sports.
The league expanded to a 44-game season in 2026, rising to 50 games in 2027. More games mean more travel and more public exposure — creating more chances for bad actors to make contact. Singh now faces two Level 6 felony counts, each carrying a sentence of 0.5 to 2.5 years in prison, per WTHR.
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