Obama Honors UConn Women for 2015 NCAA Basketball Title

President Barack Obama says the University of Connecticut women's basketball team is "certified to provide White House tours" because of their frequent wins and visits to the executive mansion.

Obama honored the team Tuesday for their third straight national title. The UConn women won the 2015 NCAA championship in April with a 63-53 win over Notre Dame. It is the program's 10th title.

Obama also noted the team's work in the Hartford community, including Thanksgiving and winter food drives, Christmas parties for terminally ill children, basketball clinics and bike rides for children. 

Obama said the team serves as an example to young women, including his two daughters, because they are empowered when "they've got a whole bunch of people ahead of them who are doing great stuff."

The president's 2015 NCAA tournament bracket had UConn winning the whole thing and he called Coach Geno Auriemma to congratulate him the day after the winn and welcome the team back to Washington, DC.

UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma said he plans to win a fourth national title in a row and return to the White House before President Obama leaves.

Today's trip was be at least the 10th White House visit for UConn's women's basketball program.

The visit is a tradition President Obama started to honor sports teams "for their efforts to give back to their communities," according to a news release from the White House.

Contact Us