Joe Biden Has Major Praise For LSU Women's Basketball Team

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 26: U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for photographs with co-captains Emily Ward (L) and Angel Reese during a celebration for the Louisiana State University NCAA Division I women’s basketball national championship team in the East Room of the White House on May 26, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

There were no hard feelings between Joe Biden, Angel Reese and the rest of the LSU women’s basketball team, as the White House hosted the 2023 national champions on Friday.

During the ceremony, president Biden had some strong praise for Kim Mulkey’s Tigers. Explaining, “Folks, we witnessed history. In this team, we saw hope, we saw pride and we saw purpose. It matters.”

Before adding that, “we need to support [women’s] sports, not just during the championship run but during the entire year. … The way in which women’s sports has come along is just incredible. It’s really neat to see, since I’ve got four granddaughters.”

LSU almost didn’t show up to the White House after Jill Biden suggested that both the Tigers and the runner-up Hawkeyes should be extended an invite. Something Reese called “A JOKE.”

All parties involved were able to put that behind them thought and the First Lady contributed some kind words of her own.

“In this room, I see the absolute best of the best …pure magic,” she said. “Every basket was pure joy and I kept thinking about how far women’s sports have come. We’ve made so much progress and we still have so much more work to do.”