President Trump feted a women’s team for a solo event at the White House for the first time Monday, honoring the Baylor Lady Bears for their dramatic win in the college basketball title game.
Mr. Trump was so impressed by Baylor coach Kim Mulkey, who guided the team to an 82-81 victory over Notre Dame on April 7, that he asked her if she’d like to work in the White House.
“No,” Ms. Mulkey replied quickly.
The Lady Bears presented Mr. Trump with a “Trump 1” vest, a basketball and a cap, prompting the president to quip: “I’ll mess up my hair, but that’s OK.”
Reps. Bill Flores and Louie Gohmert of Texas and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joined the festivities.
The visit marked the first time a women’s team got their own White House celebration under Mr. Trump. Previous women’s squads joined a mass celebration of NCAA teams in 2017, though WNBA winners haven’t been invited, and Notre Dame was passed over after winning the women’s NCAA basketball title in 2018.
Like the men’s teams in the past, fast food was served beforehand, keeping up with the tradition.
Though athlete visits have been tinged by politics in the past, the rate of teams declining to show up has reached new levels under Mr. Trump.
The men’s champion, the University of Virginia, recently declined an invitation, though claimed it was because the number of players pursuing pro opportunities or “moving on” would make it logistically impossible.
Ms. Mulkey, who visited the White House with her 2005 and 2012 teams, told the Associated Press she viewed White House visits as an honor and not “a political issue.”
Mr. Trump extolled the virtues of an Oval Office visit, saying some “strong, tough people start crying” when they stop by.
“Was that Hillary?” quipped Mr. Gohmert, sparking laughter.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.