It’s always better later than ever. More than a year after locking down the 2020 WNBA title, the Seattle Storm are set to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as they visit the White House on Monday.
“I think for a very long time, up until 2016, going to the White House was an honor. It wasn’t necessarily political. It was to meet the president of the United States. The person who holds that office acknowledging your team’s success,” Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird said.
“It was an incredible honor. Even when you watch a movie like ‘Forrest Gump,’ I’m dating myself a little bit, you understand in that movie what an incredible honor it was. It wasn’t political. I think that all shifted in 2016.”
The Seattle Storm are the first WNBA or NBA championship team to visit the White House since former President Barack Obama formally left office in January 2017. Former President Donald Trump often found himself at odds with WNBA legends and NBA stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry.
“Now that it’s back in a place where it’s considered an honor and you’re recognized by the highest office in the country is exciting, it’s fun,” Bird added.
“It’s not just about meeting the president or hopefully the vice president is there. It’s about the whole experience of being in the White House. Having a day that’s about your team and celebrating what you’ve accomplished.”
The Storm will battle the Washington Mystics in Washington, D.C. on Sunday. One day later, the White House visit will commence.
