President Biden welcomed the Las Vegas Aces, the back-to-back reigning WNBA champions, to the White House, where he made a speech that included a flub where he mistakenly referred to retired player Candace Parker as “one of the greatest all-time coaches” in WNBA history. Parker played in 18 games during the season and earned her third championship ring, even though she did not play in the playoffs. She announced her retirement in April after a successful career. Despite not being present at the event, Biden made sure to acknowledge Parker’s significant achievements in the league.
During his address, President Biden expressed his support for women’s sports and the importance of representation for girls and women in the sports world. He highlighted the accomplishments of the Aces and their impact on inspiring young athletes across the country. Biden also joked about wanting to go “back-to-back” like the Aces, referencing the upcoming election later this year. He emphasized the need for the nation to support women’s sports and celebrate the success of female athletes.
The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty in the WNBA championship last October, securing their second consecutive title. Notably, the Denver Nuggets, the defending NBA champions, canceled their visit to the White House earlier this year, citing their focus on maintaining the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The Golden State Warriors, the 2021-2022 NBA champions, visited the White House in January of last year after not doing so during the previous administration. Other championship teams, such as the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers, did not visit the White House to commemorate their titles, but the Milwaukee Bucks made the trip in November 2021.
The last championship team to visit the previous president in office were the 2019 Washington Nationals, following their World Series victory over the Houston Astros. Due to the pandemic, visits to the White House became more challenging, and Biden took office by the time restrictions started to ease. Other sports teams, including the UConn men’s and LSU women’s teams, also visited the White House last year. However, President Biden faced criticism for not initially inviting the University of Georgia football team. Even after receiving an invitation, the Bulldogs chose not to attend, citing a combination of factors, including COVID-19 safety precautions.
Overall, President Biden’s speech at the White House commemorating the Las Vegas Aces’ WNBA championship victory highlighted the importance of supporting women’s sports and recognizing the achievements of female athletes. Despite a minor flub in his remarks about Candace Parker, the president emphasized the impact of representation in sports on inspiring young girls and women across the nation. The event served as a celebration of the Aces’ success and a call to action for continued support for women’s sports in the United States.
