During a ceremony to honor the Las Vegas Aces, President Biden mistakenly referred to retired WNBA star Candace Parker as one of the greatest all-time coaches in WNBA history.
President Biden welcomed the back-to-back reigning WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, to the White House on Thursday, but his speech was marred by a notable flub.
While addressing the team, Biden singled out recently retired star Candace Parker, who was a member of the Aces' championship squad last season. However, instead of acknowledging her accomplishments as a player, Biden mistakenly called her "one of the greatest all-time coaches" in WNBA history.
Parker has not coached a single game in her career, and her retirement in late April ended a remarkable playing career that included two Olympic gold medals, two regular season MVPs, and a Finals MVP award.
The error sparked confusion and laughter among the attendees, and Parker herself took the incident in good humor. She tweeted: "I think I need to add 'coach' to my resume after this one."
Biden's gaffe underscored the importance of ensuring accuracy in public speeches, especially when honoring individuals for their accomplishments.
Despite the mistake, Biden paid tribute to Parker's illustrious career and her impact on the sport of basketball. He hailed her as "one of the greatest to ever play the game."
Vice President Kamala Harris also addressed the team, praising their resilience and determination. She said: "You have shown us what is possible when women come together and work as one."
Biden also used the occasion to emphasize his support for women's sports. He said: "As a nation, we need to support women's sports. It matters to girls and women, finally seeing themselves represented."
The Aces defeated the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals last October to secure their second consecutive title.
The White House visit by the Aces marks a return to the tradition of honoring championship teams. The Denver Nuggets, the current NBA champions, declined an invitation earlier this year, citing their pursuit of the Western Conference's top seed.
The Golden State Warriors, who won the 2022 NBA championship, visited the White House in January 2023.
The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers, the 2019 and 2020 NBA champions respectively, did not visit the White House during former President Donald Trump's tenure.
The Milwaukee Bucks, who won the 2021 NBA championship, visited President Biden in November 2021.
The last championship team to visit Trump in office was the 2019 Washington Nationals, five days after their World Series victory over the Houston Astros.
The COVID-19 pandemic made championship team visits to the White House more challenging, but the practice has resumed under President Biden.
In addition to the Aces, President Biden has also welcomed the UConn men's basketball team and the LSU women's basketball team to the White House in the past year.
