A championship women’s basketball team has joined the list of athletes who’ve turned down the White House.
South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley officially declined an invitation to an NCAA reception at the White House, claiming that the team needs to focus on the upcoming season.
This is a big change from April when the Gamecocks won the NCAA women’s basketball title, which is the University of South Carolina’s first national championship. At that time, Staley seemed enthusiastic about a White House visit, saying that”it’s what national champions do.”
Her enthusiasm had waned considerably by September when it was reported that the Gamecocks hadn’t received an invitation yet. Since both the Golden State Warriors and the Pittsburgh Penguins had gotten invitations despite winning their titles months after the Gamecocks, Staley took the oversight personally.
While Staley and the Gamecocks weren’t as confrontational as Steph Curry about declining their invitation, they may get some blowback from President Trump. Trump has already lashed out at both the NFL and individual basketball players on Twitter in recent months.
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