Obama welcomes NCAA champion Huskies to White House

WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday the NCAA women's basketball champion Connecticut Huskies are "one of the great sports dynasties of our time."

Welcoming the Huskies to the White House, the president pointed out they have won eight championships since 1995 and said head Coach Geno Auriemma has "spent more time than some presidents in the White House."

"Keep in mind, a lot of presidents don't even get eight years in the White House," he said.

Connecticut had not won a women's basketball title since 2010, before beating Louisville 93-60 for the title April 10 in New Orleans.

"So I have to say to the Huskies, I've missed you guys," Obama said.

"To get to that national title, they had to go through a team that, let's face it, had had your number during some previous games: Notre Dame," the president said. "Heading into this season's tournament you had played them three times, you had lost three -- that heartbreaker in the Big East finals."

Obama congratulated the Huskies on their community involvement -- visiting camps for children with serious illnesses, participating in the Walk for Autism and helping raise $30,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

"And so that's why we're so happy to have you all back to the White House," he said. "These are just some incredible athletes. They've made their mark as one of the great sports dynasties of our time, but they're also just really outstanding young women."