The University of South Carolina fight song flowed through the White House Tuesday.
President Joe Biden Tuesday morning celebrated the NCAA champions USC women's basketball team, led by coach Dawn Staley. He also recognized the new fandom and excitement surrounding women's sports.
"I know why you're so good. You got a girl from Philly running this team," Biden said of Staley. "I married a Philly girl. You don't screw around with a Philly girl. Man, they're tough."
Though it was the third national title for the women's team, it was their first visit to the White House. (The USC women's team did not visit after their 2017 and 2022 wins.)
Biden congratulated the team on an "incredible run of excellence."
In attendance included state lawmakers, members of South Carolina's federal delegation and former Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, a senior advisor to Biden.
"Second in three years, with 109-3 record in that span," Biden said. "Just the 10th team ever to go undefeated in women's college basketball. That's not to say you weren't challenged all the way to your 38-0 effort. You had to replace five starters due to the WNBA draft and graduation. And there were doubts all over about contending for the title this year."
For the record, Biden added, "I picked you to win."
"You never gave up," he added. "You kept the faith, and you just finished the job."
More than 18 million viewers tuned in to watch South Carolina's title game with Iowa, with numbers peaking at 24 million viewers.
"Everyone watches women's sports now. It's amazing," Biden said. “When new fans watch for the first time, when young girls see their idols, they see the power of your example.”
Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and former coach of the U.S. women's basketball team, told her players Tuesday that "this moment is yours."
"To stand here in the White House, the house that symbolizes hope, unity and opportunity for all, is a reminder that is not lost on me," Staley said.
Not so long ago, Staley reflected, South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, a flag that represented division and exclusion, she said. The flag was removed from the grounds following the 2015 racist shooting deaths of nine Black churchgoers at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
The flag's removal "wasn't just about a symbol. It was about people coming together, uniting for a shared vision of progress, justice and equality," she said. "Today, my staff, my team and I stand here embodying diversity, inclusiveness and unity. My hope is that this moment lands on you, as my team, as a powerful reminder of the beauty that can come from unifying for a common goal and doing things the right way."
Before the basketball talk, Biden did get some jokes — or slight humorous jabs — in.
"My name's Joe Biden. I work for Jim Clyburn," Biden said in his initial remarks to laughs of his longtime ally, credited often with helping to boost Biden to the nomination in 2020.
"And, by the way, get him back in line, will ya?" Biden said to Congressman Clyburn, referring to fellow South Carolinian Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is supporting former President Donald Trump's 2024 bid. "He used to be my close friend. We're going to get that way again."
In response, Clyburn said, "I'm working on it."
