The repeat NCAA championship Gamecocks finally made it to the White House on Tuesday.
President Joe Biden welcomed the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team to Washington to celebrate the team’s third national championship under coach Dawn Staley. It was her first time bringing the team to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
“I think it’s fair to say everyone — everyone watches women’s sports now,” Biden said.” And when new fans watch for the first time, when young girls see their idols, they see the power of your example.”
Biden praised the team for an undefeated season (38-0) and joked with South Carolina’s only Democrat in Congress: “My name is Joe Biden. I work for Jim Clyburn,” he said as an introduction.
Biden highlighted Staley’s accomplishments. Beyond leading the Gamecocks to three national titles, Staley won gold medals as an Olympian in 1996 in Atlanta, 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens. And she was head coach of the basketball team that won gold at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
“All of those who hold public office in South Carolina — better hope she keeps coaching and doesn’t run,” he said, which drew a chuckle from Staley.
Staley kept her remarks short, thanking her team, fans and the state of South Carolina.
She also highlighted the moment the Confederate flag was removed from the Statehouse grounds in summer 2015. It was a sign, she said, of South Carolina’s journey to a more inclusive future.
“That moment wasn’t just about a symbol being removed, it was about people coming together, uniting for a shared vision of justice of progress, justice and equality,” Staley said. “Today my staff, my team and I stand here embodying diversity, inclusiveness and unity.”
The team presented Biden with a jersey emblazoned with the number 46, a reference to the fact that Biden is the 46th president. No team member has ever worn that number, a spokesperson confirmed, as the NCAA didn’t allow numerals above five on jerseys until last year.
A bipartisan group of South Carolina officials attended the event. According to a White House release, in addition to Clyburn, they included four Republicans in South Carolina’s congressional delegation: Sen. Lindsey Graham along with U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace, Russel Fry and Ralph Norman.
Three Statehouse Democrats attended: House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford of Columbia, and Reps. John King of Rock Hill and Annie McDaniel of Fairfield County. Other attendees included Columbia’s mayor, Daniel Rickenmann.
Staley and her team had been invited to the White House to celebrate championships previously but never actually attended.
After winning the first national title in 2017, Staley said the team would go if invited, telling The Associated Press, “It’s what national champions do.” But when the invitation from then-President Donald Trump finally came seven months later, she declined, saying the team was focused on the upcoming season.
After the Gamecocks won in 2022, Clyburn announced the team would be invited to the White House. But a visit was never scheduled.
Tuesday’s visit came a month after Staley was part of the presidential delegation for opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
