During versus after the game is a critical difference, which the above argument completely misses. Leaving the LSU player wide open and daring her to shoot is certainly not respecting her ability to make the three, and Clark waiving her hand is accentuating the point, perhaps trying to get in her head so she won't take or make the shot. All with the aim of trying to win the game while the game is being played. LSU can win the issue by making the shot. That’s basketball, during the game. Bad shooters are left open, and dared to shoot, both with space and words.
Once the horn sounds, following an opposing player around is quite different, and risking a brawl. Reese would't be facing the backlash she is if she had only taunted Clark along the free throw lane, during the game, which Clark should expect and take given what Clark dishes out. The Washington Post seems to get the significance of the end of game, even if the author can't bring herself to criticize Reese.
"With her team’s title in its grasp, Reese stared directly at Clark and waved her hand in front of her face — the “you can’t see me” gesture popularized by wrestler John Cena. Then, as the seconds ticked away to the celebration, Reese turned full heel. She briefly tracked her foe around the court and pointed at her ring finger — because hers, and not Clark’s, will soon be adorned with a championship bauble. . . .
When the two players are at the free throw line and Reese does the iconic insult, that single image is propped up as Exhibit A for her defense. However, the other video of Reese, who went out of her way to follow Clark and push the limits of acceptable trash talk and taunting, is not as defensible."
