UConn women shoot some hoops with Obama

President Obama took time out Monday from solving the world’s problems to meet with members of the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team at the White House.

With a perfect 39-0 record, the UConn Huskies won their sixth national championship by defeating Louisville earlier this month.

Obama congratulated them all on their NCAA championship and recognized individual members for athletic achievement, scholarship and community service.

“Congratulations to Coach Geno (Auriemma) on just the incredible season that took place as a consequence of these extraordinary young women,” Obama said. “I want to just say it is a thrill. This is one of my favorite things about the job. I am a big fan.”

Obama said he was especially happy to have the UConn women present, alluding to his two daughters.

“Young women today look at themselves differently,” the president said, “partly because they see women playing sports on television. This is particularly true of tall girls, like my daughters. As a father, I want to thank all of you.”

The Huskies gave Obama a signed basketball and a team jersey with the numeral “1″ on the back, prompting him to say, “Number 1 - that’s what I’m talking about.”

After shaking hands with the team’s parents and members of Congress who showed up, the president walked the team over to his basketball court to shoot hoops.

White House pool reporters were held back from the stroll down the drive and around the corner. Pool reporters could hear periodic cheering coming from the other side of the bushes.

After about 10 minutes, the president  and the Huskies  walked back up along the West Wing and came back up the walk.

Asked who won, point guard and two-time All-American Renee Montgomery replied, “He did. The president can shoot.”