LSU’s Angel Reese calls Jill Biden’s idea to also invite Iowa to White House ‘a joke’
First Lady Jill Biden said she wants the Iowa women’s basketball team to be invited to the White House in addition to the national title winner LSU.
She was in attendance for LSU’s 102-85 victory over Iowa from the stands on Sunday night.
Biden, speaking at the Colorado state capital in Denver, praised Iowa’s sportsmanship and congratulated both teams on their performance.
“I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House, we always do. So, we hope LSU will come,” she said. “But, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game.”
LSU star Angel Reese wasn’t having it.
She tweeted a link to a story on Jill Biden’s remarks on Monday. “A JOKE,” she wrote, along with three rolling-on-floor-laughing emojis.
The Associated Press reports the White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about whether President Joe Biden would also extend a White House invite to Iowa — and whether it would be a joint visit with LSU or a separate engagement.
Stephen A. Smith, the ESPN host of “First Take,” took to social media to agree with Reese.
“I mean absolutely zero disrespect to the First Lady, but you are 1000% correct,” Smith said. “That is a bad suggestion. Runner-ups don’t get invited to the White House. Why are we trying to change it now? I completely agree with you, Angel.”
After LSU’s victory, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey said she would go to the White House if the team was invited.
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.