Watch: POTUS greets 2023 national champs Dawn Staley and South Carolina crew at White House

The South Carolina Gamecocks, with their coach Dawn Staley, were in Washington D.C. for their official visit to the White House on Tuesday. The team celebrated their third NCAA championship win in April 2024 with President Joe Biden.

Overtime WBB shared photographs from the meeting on Instagram, including a video of Biden interacting with the players as they gathered for a photograph.

The Gamecocks won the championship with a perfect 38-0 run, becoming the fifth team in the NCAA to have an undefeated season. Biden pointed at coach Dawn Staley as the reason for the team's success and added (via Greenville News):

"I know why you’re so good, you got a girl from Philly running this team. I married a Philly girl. You don’t screw around with a Philly girl, man. They’re tough. Jilly from Philly," Biden said.

Dawn Staley comments on significance of Gamecocks' visit to Washington

Although they have won the NCAA championship thrice, this is South Carolina's first time at the White House. That is because, following their first win in 2017, the White House only extended their invitation after Dawn Staley shared that the Gamecocks were not contacted about a visit despite other teams receiving their invitations.

When they did reach out, South Carolina had already started their practice for the 2017-18 season and declined to attend. Later, in 2022, after the second championship, Rep. James Clyburn invited the Gamecocks on behalf of the President. However, the team and the White House were unable to decide on a date and eventually did not visit.

Now finally at the White House, Dawn Staley spoke about the importance of the visit for her team and the state of South Carolina (via CNN.com):

“I feel like this is a teachable moment for my team. I’m reminded of the journey of our state, our home state, South Carolina,” Staley said. “Not so long ago, the Confederate flag was taken down from our state Capitol, a symbol that represented division and exclusion.

“Today, my staff, my team, and I stand here embodying diversity, inclusiveness, and unity. My hope is that this moment lands on you, as my team, as a powerful reminder of the beauty that can come from unifying for a common goal and doing things the right way,” she added.

With the new college basketball season set to begin in November, Staley and her team are hopeful of recreating their success from last season.

The Gamecocks are the favorites to win the NCAA championship again, but this time, they are expected to face heavy competition from the USC Trojans and UConn Huskies.