LSU player passes out during title ceremony at White House

All the past drama and painful feelings associated with LSU’s invitation to the White House were seemingly forgotten or cast aside on Friday when President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the championship women’s basketball team to the mansion with a smiles, hugs and lavish praise all around.

The visit was once jeopardized after Jill Biden suggested inviting the losing Iowa team as well. But none of that was said when Biden praised the players for their performance and the way they have moved women’s sport forward.

“People, we have witnessed history,” Biden said. “In this team we saw hope, we saw pride and we saw purpose. It matters.”

The ceremony was halted for about 10 minutes after striker Sa’Myah Smith appeared to collapse onstage as she and her teammates stood behind Biden. A wheelchair was brought in and coach Kim Mulkey later told the crowd that Smith was fine.

Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, Biden said, more than half of all college students are women, and there are now 10 times more female athletes in college and high school. He said most sports stories are still about men and that needs to change.

Title IX prohibits gender discrimination in publicly funded educational programs and activities.

“People, we need to support women’s sports, not just at the championships, but all year long,” Biden said.

After the Tigers defeated Iowa for the NCAA title in April in a game attended by the first lady, she caused a stir by suggesting that the Hawkeyes also come to the White House.

LSU star Angel Reese called the idea “A JOKE” and said she would rather visit former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle instead. The LSU team is mostly black, while top Iowa player Caitlin Clark is white, as are most of her teammates.

Nothing came of Jill Biden’s idea, and the White House only invited the Tigers. Reese eventually said she would not skip the visit to the White House. She and co-captain Emily Ward presented team jerseys with the number “46” to Biden and the first lady. Hugs were exchanged.

Jill Biden also praised the team, saying the players showed “what it means to be champions”.

“In this room, I definitely see the best of the best,” she said, adding that watching them play was “pure magic.”

“Every basket was pure joy and I couldn’t stop thinking about how far women’s sport has come,” the first lady added, pointing out that she grew up before Title IX was passed. “We’ve made so much progress and we still have so much work to do.”

The president added that “the way women’s sport has developed is just incredible. It’s really nice to see, as I have four granddaughters.”

After Smith was wheelchair-bound, Mulkey told the audience that the player was fine.

“As you can see, we leave our tracks wherever we go,” Mulkey joked. “Sa’Myah is fine. She’s a little embarrassed now.’

A few members of Congress and Biden aides past and present with Louisiana roots dropped what they were doing to attend the East Room event, including White House budget director Shalanda Young. Young is in full negotiations with House Republicans to reach a deal by the middle of next week to avoid what would be a globally catastrophic US financial bankruptcy if the US can no longer borrow the money it needs to pay its bills. to pay.

Biden, who wore a tie shaded by LSU’s purple, said Young, who grew up in Baton Rouge, told him, “I’m leaving the talks to be here.” Rep. Garret Graves, one of the House GOP negotiators, was also in attendance.

Biden concluded the sport Friday at the White House by welcoming UConn’s men’s championship team for a separate celebration at the White House. The Huskies won their fifth national title by beating San Diego State 76-59 in April.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Sa’Myah Smith