Lynx praised by Obama at White House visit

Minnesota Lynx at White House
The Minnesota Lynx visit with President Barack Obama at the White House on Sept. 18, 2012, nearly a year after winning the WNBA championship.
MPR photo/Brett Neely

President Barack Obama welcomed the Minnesota Lynx to the White House today, honoring the WNBA team for winning the 2011 championship. The president also thanked them for taking time out of their current season for the ceremony and praised the team's stellar on-court performance, as well as their off the court work for charitable causes.

"They're just wonderful examples for my daughters and my niece, and for so many parents I think we all feel really, really great about what the WNBA has accomplished, but what this team in particular has accomplished," Obama said.

The Lynx won the title last October after sweeping the Atlanta Dream in three games. But with three Lynx players in the Olympics this summer and the president's schedule being what it is, the team could not schedule a meeting until today.

Obama, a big basketball fan, seemed especially happy to welcome the Lynx to the White House. He said as the parent of "two, tall fabulous girls", teams like the Lynx make excellent role models.

"There's no question that these are some outstanding basketball players. But they also find the time to raise money for breast cancer research, help local students with their reading," Obama said. "I hear they clean up pretty well for their Cat Walk for a Cure fashion show."