Obama Praises UConn Women's Basketball Team As Great Dynasty

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- President Barack Obama congratulated the NCAA champion UConn Huskies as "one of the great sports dynasties of our time" during an event Wednesday in the East Room of the White House.

President Barack Obama checks out a basketball during the ceremony to honor the NCAA Champion University of Connecticut Huskies for its 2013 NCAA Womens Basketball Championship in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday.
Photo Credit: *Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon*

by The Daily Voice

08/01/2013 5:01 a.m.

The members of the 2013 NCAA Division I women's basketball champion University of Connecticut Huskies inspire communities on and off the court, Obama said.

The trip was a familiar one for the Huskies, who won the tournament and visits to the White House in 2009 and 2010. Obama joked that eight-time NCAA champion UConn Coach Geno Auriemma "spent more time than some Presidents in the White House."

The team presented Obama with a ball and showed off the NCAA trophy.

"As any UConn fan will tell you, folks just love this team -- and it goes beyond what they do on the court. One fan came to the victory parade to take pictures for his daughter and he was quoted as saying, 'We come to as many games as we can because they are truly amazing. They're great role models,'" the president said.

"They’ve made their mark as one of the great sports dynasties of our time, but they’re also just really outstanding young women."

To read Obama's full remarks, visit the White House's official website.

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