After facing backlash after First lady Jill Biden said that she wants the defeated Iowa women’s basketball team to be invited to the White House in addition to national title winner LSU, her press secretary has walked back on the first lady’s dual invitation.

Speaking Monday at the Colorado state Capitol in Denver, Mrs. Biden praised congratulated both teams on their performances, saying: “I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come. But, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game.”. In response, LSU star Angel Reese tweeted a link to a story on Jill Biden’s remarks, writing: “A JOKE” along with three rolling-on-the-floor-laughing emojis. Reese — the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player — has gotten a lot of attention ever since she waved her hand in front of her face while staring down Iowa star Caitlin Clark in the final moments of LSU’s win, then pointed toward her finger as if to say a ring was coming. Clark set the record for points scored in an NCAA tournament with 191 in six games, and made similar face-waving gestures during Iowa’s Elite Eight victory over Louisville.

To clarify the situation, the first lady’s press secretary, Vanessa Valdivia tweeted on Tuesday that Jill Biden “admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX … 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.” President Biden also tweeted that he’s looking forward to welcoming the women’s NCAA champions to the White House with no mention of Iowa: “Congrats to @LSUwbkb who demonstrated excellence on and off the court. They showed us what it looks like to win with an unrelenting belief in themselves. And they did it in one of the most-watched women’s sports games in US history. You have an incredible school, @LSUpresident.”  

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder, as well as star player Caitlin Clark, both said on Tuesday that Iowa didn’t earn a trip to the White House; instead, Bluder issued an open invitation for Jill Biden to visit the Hawkeyes’ program.

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