Evan Vucci / AP
A’ja Wilson, of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, right, presents a jersey to President Joe Biden during an event to celebrate the 2023 WNBA championship team, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Washington.
Published Thursday, May 9, 2024 | 2:51 p.m.
Updated Thursday, May 9, 2024 | 4:54 p.m.
President Joe Biden received some inspiration from the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday during their visit to the White House.
“The first WNBA team in over 20 years to win titles back-to-back. I kind of like that back-to-back stuff,” Biden said.
The WNBA champions returned to the White House to celebrate their 2023 championship with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris used one of the franchise rallying calls — “Aces versus everybody” — when addressing the team.
Standouts Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson presented jerseys to Biden and Harris — Biden, the 46th president in U.S. history, got No. 46; Harris No. 49.
“You performed with skill, hustle and heart, and faced every opponent and every obstacle as one team and one family,” Harris said. “It was as we all know, Aces versus everybody.”
Harris complimented Wilson, saying the WNBA Finals MVP was “simply one of the best basketball players in the world.”
Biden talked about the team’s domination since arriving in Las Vegas from San Antonio in 2018. The Aces in 2023 posted the best regular season record in WNBA history at 34-6.
He also praised Candace Parker, who retired after 16 years in the WNBA and was not in attendance for Thursday’s celebration.
“I want to thank her for an incredible career,” Biden said. “We know she’s got a whole world in front of her.”
Biden said this has been “a banner year for women’s basketball,” referring to the 2024 NCAA women’s national championship game that was the most watched women’s basketball game with 24.1 million viewers.
“It matters that the girls and women are finally seeing themselves represented and it matters to all of America,” Biden said. “That’s why as a nation we need to support women’s sports by showing up in person, watching on TV with more sponsorships and programming and helping grow the business of women’s sports.”
Biden and Harris also highlighted the Aces’ work off the court.
Harris talked about the team’s efforts to promote voting and LGBTQ+ rights, along with the Aces’ involvement in the community through the Las Vegas Aces Foundation.
“While you play on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, you have made the entire Vegas community your home,” Harris said. “Another reason I know why Nevada feels such pride in what you all have accomplished.”
Aces president Nikki Fargas, speaking at the ceremony, talked about the growth not just of the WNBA, but women in power over the last 31 years. She cited the 1992 elections, where a record four women were elected to the U.S. Senate.
Multiple media outlets dubbed it “The Year of the Woman” before Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., called out the label saying, ‘We are not a fad,’” Fargas noted, then further quoting Mikulski, said, “‘We are not a fad. We are not fancy. We are not a year.’ We are the WNBA, 28 years strong and counting.”
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