President Biden recently welcomed the back-to-back reigning WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, to the White House, where he made a speech singling out basketball player Candace Parker, who had recently announced her retirement. Biden mistakenly referred to Parker as “one of the greatest all-time coaches” in WNBA history, despite her having not coached a game. Parker, who played 16 seasons, won two Olympic Gold Medals, two regular season MVPs, and a Final MVP, and earned her third championship ring before retiring. The president also joked about wanting to go back-to-back in reference to the upcoming election.
Biden highlighted the significance of women’s basketball during his speech, noting that it has been a “banner year” for the sport. He emphasized the importance of representation for girls and women in sports and called for support of women’s sports at a national level. The Las Vegas Aces, who defeated the New York Liberty in the WNBA championship last October, won their second consecutive title. The president’s remarks echoed his commitment to promoting and celebrating women’s sports.
The president’s address also included references to previous championship teams visiting the White House, noting that the Denver Nuggets had canceled their visit earlier this year. He highlighted visits by other championship teams, such as the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, who visited in January of last year, and the Milwaukee Bucks, who visited in November 2021. Additionally, Biden mentioned the last championship team to visit Trump in office, the 2019 Washington Nationals, five days after their World Series victory over the Houston Astros.
The impact of the pandemic on White House visits by championship teams was also discussed, with the UConn men’s and LSU women’s teams visiting Biden last year. The president faced criticism for not originally inviting the University of Georgia football team, who ultimately did not make the trip after receiving an invitation. The pandemic restrictions, as well as changing administrations, affected the scheduling and attendance of championship teams at the White House. Despite these challenges, the celebration of women’s sports and achievements remained a focal point of Biden’s address.
In a lighter moment, it was noted that football player Antonio Brown had made a crude innuendo about basketball player Caitlin Clark while addressing a beef with a WNBA star. This humorous anecdote provided a lighthearted moment during the otherwise more serious discussion of women’s sports and the recognition of championship teams at the White House. The event served as an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of athletes across different sports and genders, reflecting the administration’s commitment to equality and representation in sports. President Biden’s remarks underscored the importance of supporting and promoting women’s sports at a national level, emphasizing the impact of athletes like Candace Parker and the Las Vegas Aces on inspiring future generations of athletes.
