The national champion University of Connecticut women's basketball team was at the White House Tuesday for their fourth year in a row and President Barack Obama and coach Geno Auriemma hugged after some heartfelt words this afternoon.
"We couldn't be prouder of them, we couldn't be prouder of their coach," Obama said while meeting with the team.
While meeting with the Huskies to celebrate their fourth consecutive NCAA championship last month, Obamemma joked that the team busted the cliche that you can't win all the time.
He also joked that coach Geno Auriemma is a frequent White House visitor with his own room.
"It's a small room, with a cot," Obama joked. "He doesn't get the Lincoln Bedroom. He does seem to spend an awful lot of time here."
The president commended Auriemma's record.
"He's now broken the record set by the legendary John Wooden for the most championships by a head coach in Division One spots, In this season, the Huskies broke another NCAA record. They won the most consecutive national championships by one team."
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The president also gave special attention to UConn Husky and NCAA player of the year, Breanna Stewart, whose goal as a freshman was to win four championships, Obama said.
“If you got it, if you can bag it up, then you’re not being cocky. You’re just being accurate and this team embraced her challenge,” Obama said.
The president also gave special attention to UConn Husky and NCAA player of the year, Breanna Stewart, whose goal as a freshman was to win four championships, Obama said.
“If you got it, if you can bag it up, then you’re not being cocky. You’re just being accurate and this team embraced her challenge,” Obama said.
Auriemma took the podium after the president and reflected on their trip at the end of Obama's first term and what he said to the president.
"I said, 'You know, your fourth year's coming up,' and I said, 'I don't know what the future holds.... I know we're going to be back.' And he said, "So am I," Auriemma said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Officials from the White House said the visit allows the president to continue his tradition of honoring teams for their efforts in giving back to the community.
The president commended the team, not only for their athleticism, but also their academic successes and their community service, including a basketball clinic for children at Halloween, a food drive before Thanksgiving, a blood drive for the Red Cross, and collections of toiletries from hotel stays throughout the year to donate to families in need and a video for elementary students on the importance of being kind to one another.
“I have a feeling that this team will be back again,” Obama said. "I will not be. I'll be honest coach, I will miss the visits, our annual phone calls, but I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of all that they have achieved."
UConn's visits to the White House date back to 1995, when the first of the Huskies' 11 championship teams met with President Bill Clinton.
