President Joe Biden made an awkward mistake by paying tribute to the 2023 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces during the team’s visit to the White House.
On Thursday, No. 46 congratulated the Aces on their back-to-back championships, while celebrating an “exceptional year” for women’s basketball amid the sport’s rise in popularity thanks to the likes of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
Joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden gave a rousing speech in front of Aces players and later received his own personalized jersey.
But the 81-year-old American president couldn’t help but make a blunder, confusing some of the Aces’ notable names and their roles, prompting awkward glances and confused smiles from those behind him.
Biden called recently retired star Candace Parker “one of the greatest coaches of all time” when, in fact, she is considered one of the greatest players in WNBA history, having retired in April after 16 seasons in the WNBA. .
US President Joe Biden made another mistake when he hosted the Las Vegas Aces at the White House on Thursday.
Aces players looked confused when the 81-year-old called Candace Parker ‘coach’ in his praise of the now-retired WNBA star.
Parker, a three-time WNBA champion, has been the president of Adidas women’s basketball since Wednesday.
The 38-year-old forward was announced as Adidas’ president of women’s basketball operations on Wednesday, which could be a possible reason behind her absence from the White House. She signed a one-year contract with the Aces in February 2023 after two seasons with the Chicago Sky and 14 years with the LA Sparks.
Biden said, “Even though she couldn’t be here, I want to recognize someone who we consider one of the greatest coaches of all time, Candace Parker.”
“She played 16 seasons in the league, two Olympic gold medals, two regular season MVPs and one [WNBA] Final MVP, and look, going out to the top of the world with his third ring.
‘She announced her retirement from the game but I want to thank her for an incredible career. We know that she has a whole world ahead of her. A whole world.’
Both Biden and Vice President Harris received the winning team’s usual jerseys.
As he raised his, Biden yelled, “Put me on the trainer, I’m ready to play!”
In his own comments, Harris praised the team for playing with “so much joy” and being role models both on and off the basketball court.
“You just inspire people in our nation and around the world,” Harris said.
The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty in the WNBA championship last October to win their second consecutive WNBA title. Beginning her remarks, Biden made a not-so-veiled reference to her own reelection prospects, noting, “I like those back-to-back things.”
Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson hands out t-shirts to Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris
In April, Biden called for WNBA players to be paid their “fair share” after Caitlin Clark’s rookie deal was revealed despite the league’s revenue being notably lower than the NBA’s.
In April, Biden demanded that WNBA players be paid their “fair share” while criticizing Caitlin Clark’s rookie contract with the Fever after it was revealed she would be paid a fraction of what the players make. men.
‘Women in sport continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all. But now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women don’t get their fair share,” Biden wrote in a post on X.
Social media lit up after it was revealed that the 22-year-old college basketball star, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, would make just $76,535 in her first season in Indiana.
By comparison, the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama, earned $12,160,680 in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs.
“It’s time we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women get the pay they deserve,” Biden wrote.
Clark’s performance in this year’s NCAA Tournament brought the nation to its feet, with Iowa Hawkeyes games breaking viewership records.
For the first time, the NCAA women’s basketball championship attracted more spectators than the men’s game.