NEW YORK — The Seattle Storm are heading to the White Dwelling to rejoice their 2020 WNBA championship.
The workforce was formally invited by President Joe Biden to visit Monday afternoon. The Storm participate in at the Washington Mystics on Sunday.
“I think for a really long time, up till 2016, going to the White Home was an honor. It was not essentially political. It was to satisfy the president of the United States. The particular person who holds that place of work acknowledging your team’s success,” mentioned Seattle guard Sue Bird, who will be making her third journey to meet a president. “It was an amazing honor. Even when you enjoy a motion picture like ‘Forrest Gump,’ I am dating myself a little bit, you understand in that motion picture what an outstanding honor it was. It wasn’t political. I believe that all shifted in 2016.”
With Donald Trump out of business, Chicken stated she was joyful to be heading back. Several WNBA players, together with Hen, have been outspoken in their embrace of social justice actions this sort of as Black Life Issue, which Trump characterized as violent, radical ideology. Trump was also vital of Bird’s fiancée, U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe.
“Now that it can be again in a area exactly where it truly is deemed an honor and you are recognized by the maximum place of work in the region is interesting, it’s enjoyment,” Fowl claimed. “It’s not just about conference the president or hopefully the vice president is there. It is about the whole expertise of being in the White Residence. Acquiring a working day that is about your team and celebrating what you’ve achieved.”
In addition to her two prior White Household visits, Bird has been invited 3 other times soon after winning championships — when with UConn and 2 times with the Storm — but couldn’t attend.
The Storm, who have received four titles, will be joined by the team’s ownership team and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The group very last visited the White Residence in 2011.
No NBA or WNBA team has frequented the White Home because the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, Barack Obama’s past calendar year in place of work.