White House backtracks on Jill Biden's invitation to winning and losing women's basketball teams


First lady Jill Biden's office backtracked Tuesday on her suggestion that both the winning and losing teams from the NCAA women's basketball championship should be hosted at the White House.
The first lady "loved watching the NCAA women's basketball championship game alongside young student-athletes and admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX," Vanessa Valdeeva, Biden's press secretary, tweeted, adding, "Her comments ... were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship."
Biden was on hand to watch Louisiana State University beat the University of Iowa to win their first national championship. Following the game, the first lady said during an event in Colorado, "I know we'll have the champions come to the White House, we always do. So, we hope LSU will come," The Associated Press reported. However, she then added, "You know, I'm going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While it is standard for college and professional championship teams to get a day at the White House, the first lady's apparent invitation to Iowa caused a stir on social media, as ABC News noted that "the Biden administration has welcomed a host of sports champions to the White House — but never a runner-up team."
Angel Reese, a sophomore on the LSU basketball team, called Biden's comments "A JOKE."
Keith Boykin, a former White House aide with the Clinton administration, shared a similar sentiment. "No Ma'am! When Black women win a national championship, they should not be forced to share the stage with the losing team," he tweeted.
Following Valdeeva's statement, President Biden himself tweeted that he was looking forward to hosting LSU at the White House — with no mention of Iowa.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Japan's surname conundrum
Under the Radar Law requiring couples to share one surname hinders women in the workplace and lowers birth rate, campaigners claim
-
How successful would Elon Musk's third party be?
Today's Big Question Musk has vowed to start a third party after falling out with Trump
-
Music reviews: Bruce Springsteen and Benson Boone
Feature "Tracks II: The Lost Albums" and "American Heart"
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding