Obama greets WNBA champions

WASHINGTON, June 29 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Wednesday welcomed the 2010 WNBA champion Seattle Storm to the White House.

During a reception in the Rose Garden, the president noted that the WNBA has, in 15 years, become the "most successful women's professional sports league in the world," and congratulated the ownership group -- four season-ticket holders who bought the team three years ago when its future was uncertain and went on to become the first U.S. all-female ownership group to win a championship.

The Storm last season tied the WNBA record for most regular-season wins, went undefeated at home and became the first team in league history to go 7-0 in the post-season.

"It was the result of true teamwork and unselfish play," the president said. "When you meet these women, you can't help but be struck by their humility. You ask them how they'd describe a champion, and they say things like 'somebody that makes the people around them better.'"

He also commended Storm players for "playing their part in the life of Seattle communities by running healthy lifestyle programs for girls, and reading and mentoring in the schools."

Following the reception, Storm players, a part of first lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative and the WNBA Fit program, held a clinic for young players on the White House basketball court.