


The Lady Tigers might be headed to the White House after all.
One day after star Louisiana State University forward Angel Reese offered a noncommital response about celebrating the Tigers’ first national championship in Washington, D.C., the university’s athletic department said Wednesday they’d “certainly accept an invitation,” according to CNN.
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The 20-year-old Reese has been unapologetic in her rejection of First Lady Jill Biden’s invitation to the White House following the Tigers’ 102-85 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday.
Reese took issue with Biden’s invitation after the First Lady — who was in attendance for the championship contest in Dallas — suggested that both LSU and Iowa visit the White House.
The invitation to the White House is typically reserved for the national champions.
“I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House, we always do,” Biden said Monday in Denver.
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“So, we hope LSU will come. But, you know, I’m going to tell [President] Joe [Biden] I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game.”
Reese, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA women’s tournament, called Biden’s suggestion “A JOKE.”
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Reese and her teammate, guard Alexis Morris, later floated the idea that the Lady Tigers celebrate with former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, after he congratulated the team on Twitter.
Morris, a fifth-year senior who declared for the 2023 WNBA Draft, initially wrote: “Michelle OBAMA can we (LSU NATIONAL CHAMPS) come celebrate our win at your house?”
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said Sunday she would go to the White House if the team was invited.
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In the wake of the invitation gaffe, Biden backtracked on the matter, with spokesperson Vanessa Valdivia explaining Tuesday that the First Lady’s remarks were intended to applaud all women athletes.
“The First Lady loved watching the NCAA women’s basketball championship game alongside young student athletes and admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX,” Valdivia wrote on Twitter.
“Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Reese appeared on I Am Athlete’s “Paper Route” show and elaborated on the situation.
“I just know if the roles were reversed, they wouldn’t be the same,” Reese said.
“If we were to lose, we would not be getting invited to the White House.”
Reese explained that she and her teammates began texting in a group chat about whether or not they should visit the White House.
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“As soon as that happened, we [the team] hit the group chat, like, what’re we doing? Are y’all trying to go? … We made a lot of phone calls and that’s why she wants to come and apologize,” she said.
“I’m not going to lie to you, because I don’t accept her apology… I said what I said… You felt like they [Iowa] should’ve came because of sportsmanship, they can have that spotlight. We’ll go to the Obamas. We’ll see Michelle, we’ll see Barack.”
A spokesperson for the Obamas declined to comment on the matter, according to CNN.
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Reese said on “Paper Route” that she’s unsure if she will visit the White House.
“We’re gonna see,” she said. “I don’t know.”
Reese also claimed that LSU declined to meet with Biden prior to defeating Iowa — adding the team “didn’t want her coming into the locker room.”
When asked why the Lady Tigers wouldn’t meet with Biden, Reese said it was due to President Joe Biden’s bracket.
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The president picked Michigan to defeat LSU in the second round and had Villanova winning the national championship.
President Biden invited the Lady Tigers to the White House on Tuesday, along with the men’s national champions, the UConn Huskies.
Star Iowa point guard Caitlin Clark said Tuesday the Hawkeyes shouldn’t be invited to the White House.
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“I don’t think runner-ups usually go to the White House,” she said during an appearance on SportsCenter.
“I think LSU should enjoy that moment for them and congratulations, obviously, they deserve to go there. Maybe I could go to the White House on different terms though.
“That’s for LSU. That’s a pretty cool moment and they should enjoy every single second of being a champion.”
The Lady Tigers celebrated their national championship parade in Baton Rouge on Wednesday.