WASHINGTON — Under the leadership of Coach Dawn Staley, the South Carolina women’s basketball team has secured three national championships. However, this Tuesday marked their first visit to the White House for a celebration.

After defeating Iowa in the title game five months ago, Staley and the Gamecocks were honored by President Joe Biden, who praised the coach’s guidance and commended the team’s perseverance in achieving an impressive 38-0 record.

“You had to fill five starting positions because of the WNBA draft and graduations. There were plenty of skeptics saying you wouldn’t contend this year,” Biden remarked. “But I’m telling you, I picked you to win. Made some good bets − just kidding.”

The President was accompanied by Staley, who recently represented the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Olympics, part of the official delegation led by First Lady Jill Biden. He acknowledged the reasons behind South Carolina’s reputation as a powerhouse in women’s basketball, highlighting that “you have a girl from Philly leading this team.” (It’s worth noting that the First Lady also hails from the Philadelphia area.)

After Biden handed the microphone to Staley, she expressed that the occasion “is significant for me.” Staley had opted not to visit the White House after the Gamecocks claimed their first national title in 2017 due to the early days of Donald Trump’s presidency, and they also skipped the 2022 celebration because of scheduling conflicts.

Staley described the visit as “a teachable moment for my team”, referencing the 2015 event when the confederate flag was removed from the South Carolina state capitol grounds, a “symbol of division and exclusion.”

“That was not just about removing a symbol. It represented people coming together for progress, justice, and equality,” Staley reflected. “Today, my staff and my team represent diversity, inclusivity, and unity. My aspiration is for this moment to serve as a powerful reminder of the beauty that can arise from collaborating towards a common purpose and doing things right.”

Following her speech, the audience erupted in applause, prompting Biden to speak again.

“Anyone in public office in South Carolina: you ought to hope she continues coaching and doesn’t decide to run for office,” he said, drawing laughter from the room.

The Gamecocks are set to kick off their season on November 4.

Biden to UConn Men: ‘I Won’t Be Here Next Year, But You Might Be’

Later on Tuesday, after celebrating the South Carolina women, Biden welcomed the University of Connecticut, the reigning men’s basketball champions, to the White House for the second year in a row.

“Let me be the first to extend a warm welcome back,” Biden said, garnering applause. “I may not be here next year, but you very well could be.”

The Huskies clinched their second consecutive title with a remarkable 37-3 record, demonstrating domination in the NCAA tournament by outscoring their opponents by an average of 23 points across six games.

“I thought Year 2 would be easier because I’ve been to the White House before, but this feels really intimidating,” coach Dan Hurley admitted during his speech in the East Room. “Stick to the script? Okay.”