First Lady Jill Biden inviting the LSU Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes to the White House didn’t sit right with viral women’s basketball star Angela Reese to where she doesn’t even want to go.
It’s a tradition for the winning team to celebrate with the president and first lady at the White House. However, Dr. Jill Biden decided to switch things up. According to NPR, Biden, who was at Sunday’s game and watched LSU achieve victory over the Hawkeyes, extended a White House invitation to the Tigers and Hawkeyes.
“I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come,” Biden said in Denver, Colorado. “But, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game.”
She exclaimed, “Winners or losers, that’s sportsmanship!”
Despite Biden’s cheerful voice while making the announcement, Reese wasn’t having it and called it “a joke” on Twitter with three laughing emojis.
???A JOKE. https://t.co/9SiOKQNqbj
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 3, 2023
One of the first lady’s reps, Vanessa Valdivia, tried to reverse Biden’s initial offer via Twitter.
“Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes,” Valdivia tweeted. “She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”
The First Lady loved watching the NCAA women’s basketball championship game alongside young student athletes and admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX.
— Vanessa Valdivia (@vvaldivia46) April 4, 2023
Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.
— Vanessa Valdivia (@vvaldivia46) April 4, 2023
Reese appeared on the Paper Route podcast and was asked if she would attend the White House celebration. She said she didn’t know, but “we’re going to see.”
“I just know if the roles were reversed, they wouldn’t be the same,” Reese said. “If we were to lose, we would not be getting invited to the White House. I remember she made a comment about both teams should be invited because it was sportsmanship. And I’m like ‘are you saying that because of what I did?'”
Later in the podcast, she acknowledged that Biden apologized, but Reese couldn’t accept it. She then said the Hawkeyes could go to the White House while the Tigers go to the Obamas.
Her teammate, Alexis Morris, took to Twitter to agree with her statement, asking Michelle Obama if her team could celebrate at their house.
Michelle OBAMA can we (LSU NATIONAL CHAMPS) come celebrate our win at your house ?
— Lex Luthor (@AlexisMorrisWBB) April 4, 2023
Mrs.Obama made sure we had healthy snacks when I was in middle school, I still eat BAKED HOT CHEETOS !
Come on auntie Michelle
— Lex Luthor (@AlexisMorrisWBB) April 4, 2023
On April 3, former President Barack Obama congratulated LSU on their victory.
Congrats to the new champs, @LSUwbkb! They earned it, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more from them in the years ahead. https://t.co/clrcYwrj9T
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 3, 2023
