WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 All of the past drama and sore feelings associated with Louisiana State's invitation to the White House were seemingly forgotten or set aside Friday as President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed the championship women's basketball team to the mansion with smiles, hugs and lavish praise all around.
The visit had once appeared in jeopardy after Jill Biden suggested that the losing Iowa team be invited, too. But none of that was mentioned as both Bidens heralded the players for their performance and the way they have helped advance women's sports.
鈥淔olks, we witnessed history,鈥 the president said. 鈥淚n this team, we saw hope, we saw pride and we saw purpose. It matters.鈥
The ceremony was halted for about 10 minutes after forward Sa'Myah Smith appeared to collapse as she and her teammates stood behind Biden. A wheelchair was brought in and coach Kim Mulkey assured the audience that Smith was fine.
LSU said in a statement that Smith felt overheated, nauseous and thought she might faint. She was evaluated by LSU and White House medical staff and was later able to rejoin the team. 鈥淪he is feeling well, in good spirits, and will undergo further evaluation once back in Baton Rouge,鈥 the LSU statement said.
Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, Biden said, more than half of all college students are women, and there are now 10 times more female athletes in college and high school. He said most sports stories are still about men, and that that needs to change.
Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally funded education programs and activities.
鈥淔olks, we need to support women sports, not just during the championship run but during the entire year,鈥 President Biden said.
After the Tigers beat Iowa for the NCAA title in April in a game the first lady attended, she by suggesting that the Hawkeyes also come to the White House.
called the idea 鈥淎 JOKE鈥 and said she would prefer to visit with former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, instead. The LSU team largely is Black, while Iowa鈥檚 top player, Caitlin Clark, is white, as are most of her teammates.
Nothing came of Jill Biden's idea and the White House only invited the Tigers. Reese ultimately said she would not skip the White House visit. She and co-captain Emily Ward presented team jerseys bearing the number 鈥46鈥 to Biden and the first lady. Hugs were exchanged.
Jill Biden also lavished praise on the team, saying the players showed 鈥渨hat it means to be a champion.鈥
鈥淚n this room, I see the absolute best of the best,鈥 she said, adding that watching them play was 鈥減ure magic.鈥
鈥淓very basket was pure joy and I kept thinking about how far women's sports have come,鈥 the first lady added, noting that she grew up before Title IX was passed. 鈥淲e've made so much progress and we still have so much more work to do."
The president added that 鈥渢he way in which women's sports has come along is just incredible. It's really neat to see, since I've got four granddaughters.鈥
After Smith was helped to a wheelchair, Mulkey told the audience the player was OK.
鈥淎s you can see, we leave our mark where we go,鈥 Mulkey joked. 鈥淪a'Myah is fine. She's kind of, right now, embarrassed.鈥
A few members of Congress and Biden aides past and present with Louisiana roots dropped what they were doing to attend the East Room event, including White House budget director Shalanda Young. Young is in the thick of negotiations with House Republicans to reach a deal by the middle of next week to stave off what would be a globally calamitous U.S. financial default if the U.S. can no longer borrow the money it needs to pay its bills.
The president, who wore a necktie in the shade of LSU's purple, said Young, who grew up in Baton Rouge, told him, 鈥淚'm leaving the talks to be here.鈥 Rep. Garret Graves, one of the House GOP negotiators, also attended.
Biden closed sports Friday by changing to a blue tie and welcoming the UConn's men's championship team for its own celebration. The Huskies won their by defeating San Diego State, 76-59, in April.
鈥淐ongratulations to the whole UConn nation,鈥 he said.