Phoenix Mercury Visit President Obama at the White House

Picture Courtesy of whitehouse.gov

By Francisco Romero. –  The Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association had a very special season in 2014.  The team from the Valley of the Sun won a record 29 regular season games and the WNBA Finals.

In doing so, the Mercury assured themselves of a third WNBA Championship and fourth conference title in franchise history.

On Wednesday the Mercury visited the United States President Barack Obama at the White House.

“It’s been a while since the Mercury last visited here five years ago.  And in that time, this team has appeared in four more Western Conference Finals.  Last year, they cracked the code again.  Last season, the Mercury set a WNBA record with 29 regular season wins.  And obviously their fans have their backs,” said President Obama during his introductory remarks as he welcomed the team to the White House.

The President recognized the work on and off the court of the Phoenix Mercury organization, “that sense of teamwork extends to the work that they’re doing in the Phoenix community as well.  These women have spent more than 150 hours cleaning up courts, and running basketball clinics for underserved kids, and working with high school basketball teams that they adopt every year,” stated the President.

President Obama highlighted the difference the WNBA is making in young women around the country, including his daughters, “This is a team that I think is representative of what the WNBA is all about.  They’re doing good in their community.  They’re great athletes.  They and women across the WNBA are changing the way that young girls, including my daughters, see themselves.”

Mercury’s superstar Diana Taurasi presented President Obama with a gift, “On behalf of the Phoenix Mercury and the WNBA, we want to give you a 2014 WNBA Championship jersey,” Taurasi told President Obama as she presented the jersey.