President Joe Biden is set to welcome the 2024 NCAA basketball champions, South Carolina and Connecticut, to the White House on Tuesday to celebrate their recent national titles. South Carolina's women's team achieved a remarkable 38-0 record on their way to becoming just the fifth women's program in NCAA history to go undefeated. Led by head coach Dawn Staley, this marked the Gamecocks' third championship since 2017.
On the other hand, UConn's men's team, coached by Dan Hurley, secured their second consecutive title with a 37-3 record. This victory marked the school's sixth men's national title, joining an elite group of teams that have successfully defended their championship.
The ceremonies for the two teams will be held separately in the East Room of the White House, where President Biden will honor their outstanding achievements. South Carolina's dominant season was particularly impressive as they managed to maintain their unbeaten streak despite losing all five starters from the previous year's team that reached the Final Four.
UConn's success adds to their rich basketball legacy, with this being their sixth men's national title. The team's back-to-back championships place them in rare company alongside other notable repeat champions in NCAA history.
This will be the first White House visit for South Carolina, as they did not attend previous championship celebrations in 2017 and 2022. Vice President Kamala Harris had the opportunity to meet with the team during her visit to Columbia, South Carolina, earlier this year.
Coach Staley, a decorated Olympian and coach of the U.S. women’s basketball team, has been actively involved in promoting women's sports and recently represented the U.S. as part of the presidential delegation at the Paris Olympics.
President Biden previously honored UConn at the White House following their fifth championship win, continuing the tradition of recognizing excellence in collegiate basketball.
