Baylor Lady Bears becomes first women's team to visit White House under Trump
President Trump welcomed the 2019 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Champions Baylor Lady Bears to the White House Monday afternoon, making that team the first women's championship sports team to visit the White House solo under Donald Trump.
The Baylor University players clinched their third championship title earlier this month when they defeated Notre Dame 82-81. In the Oval Office, Mr. Trump declared their victory the culmination of an incredible year. The team presented Mr. Trump a jersey with his name on it.
"I love those short sleeves. I'll give it to Melania. You know, I love those short sleeves," the president joked, rubbing his upper right arm. "Such beautiful arms. Great definition."
The team's coach, Kim Mulkey, joked back, "Like I said, Melania may look better in it."
Mulkey and previous Bears teams also visited the White House and met with both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama after winning titles in the past.
Championship sports team visits to the White House have become more controversial with Mr. Trump in the Oval Office. In 2017, the South Carolina's women's basketball team was invited to the White House, but declined a visit, saying they had to focus on the upcoming season. The University of Virginia men's basketball team won't be attending the White House after their championship win.
"We have received inquiries about a visit to the White House," UVA coach Tony Bennett said in a statement posted to Twitter. "With several players either pursuing pro opportunities or moving on from UVA, it would be difficult, if not impossible to get everyone back together. We would have to respectfully decline an invitation."
Mulkey told the Associated Press she doesn't view the visit to the White House as a political one.
"I've been every time for every president," she told the Associated Press at the WNBA draft earlier this month. "It's not a political issue for me. It's an honor to go to the White House. I want everyone to say they went to the White House."