As Connecticut watched the UConn women secure a spot in sports history on Tuesday night, President Barack Obama was also watching.
He’s played hoops with the country’s top women’s team and he surprised head coach Geno Auriemma last night with a phone call.
Auriemma was in a post-game news conference to talk about his team’s 89th consecutive victory, when President Obama called to congratulate him.
“No, you're not interrupting anything. … If I called you with a bunch of reporters around you, you would be dying to take my call,” Auriemma said. “It's an incredible thing these kids have done. …. We owe you some gratitude for that lesson you gave them on the White House basketball court. It really paid off. … We have not lost since you were inaugurated. Let's keep that streak for a couple more years.”
Maya Moore was the leading scorer, and President Obama apparently mentioned her when he called.
“I heard about that and it’s one of the highlights of (Moore’s) life and I appreciate you inviting her. I know it meant an awful lot to her,’’ the Hartford Courant reports.
After the call, Auriemma made a joke.
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“That was the new president from the University of Connecticut. We just wanted to get off on the right start. (It) was a woman by the way so I don't want to hear any wise cracks,” he said.
