WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden honored the 2020 WNBA champion Seattle Storm on Monday, celebrating their success on the court and hailing the four-time title holders for changing lives with their activism.
The visit marked the first time that an NBA or WNBA team has visited the White House since the Cleveland Cavaliers were feted by Barack Obama in 2016.
Presidents typically host college and major league sports champions for a White House ceremony. But the two big basketball leagues skipped such celebrations during Donald Trump’s administration as several prominent players and coaches were outspoken about their opposition to Trump’s rhetoric and policies.
Biden marveled at the team — which includes five Olympic gold medalists — and its feats on the court.
He also took a moment to note team members’ efforts to spotlight the issue of police brutality in Black communities, promote voter registration, speak out about violence against transgendered people and encourage Americans to get vaccinated.
“What makes this team remarkable is they don’t just win games, they change lives,” Biden said. “That’s what winners do. They shine the light and lift people up. They’re a force for change. That’s the Seattle Storm, that’s the WNBA.”
Before the visit, Seattle guard Sue Bird said that with Trump out of office, she was happy to visit the White House “now that it’s back in a place where it’s considered an honor.”
Many WNBA players, including Bird, have been outspoken in their embrace of social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter, which Trump characterized as a violent, radical ideology. Trump was also critical of Bird’s fiancée, U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe.
“I think for a very long time, up until 2016, going to the White House was an honor — it wasn’t necessarily political,” Bird said before the visit. “It was to meet the president of the United States. The person who holds that office acknowledging your team’s success.”
