President Joe Biden celebrated the NCAA’s 2024 college basketball champions at the White House on Tuesday, hosting both University of Connecticut men’s team and the University of South Carolina’s women’s squad for ceremonies in the East Room. 

“For the first time in 17 years, there was back-to-back men’s college basketball champions: the UConn Huskies,” Biden said to those gathered on Tuesday to mark Connecticut’s win, a group that included the state’s two senators, Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, as well as Education Secretary and UConn alum Miguel Cardona. 

“Every single one of you,” the president told the players standing on risers behind him, “embodies the possibilities of your school, your state, this great nation.” 

Coach Dan Hurley’s UConn basketball team notched a double-digit 75-60 win over Purdue earlier this year to notch their second championship in a row – the first men’s basketball team to achieve such a feat since 2007 – and cement their sixth title overall. 

“And for the sixth time in just 25 years, the UConn Huskies are atop the men’s basketball world again – that's pretty cool,” Biden said. 

Earlier the president noted the team’s dominance with a joke about his own retirement: “I won’t be here next year but you may be,” he said. 

Addressing the room next, Hurley told the room he thought his second year at the White House to celebrate a win “would be easier.”

“‘Oh man, I’ve been to the White House before’ – this is scary as …” Hurley said using profanity, before quipping that he should “stick to the script.” 

“We said it last year – we wanted to make this thing an annual visit for us and here we are again as back-to-back champs,” he said. 

Biden made a reference to the championship coach’s infamous lucky dragon underwear when Hurley took the podium. 

“I actually got the dragons on right now as a reward for the dragons,” Hurley responded. 

President Joe Biden, right, holds up a jersey that was presented to him by University of South Carolina Women's basketball team members Bree Hall, left, and Te-Hina Paopao, center, during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, to celebrate their 2023-2024 NCAA championship season. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Just hours earlier, Biden stood alongside Coach Dawn Staley and her South Carolina championship team to mark their undefeated season and 87-75 title-winning victory over Iowa and Caitlin Clark. 

The president used his remarks to praise South Carolina’s part in the increasing popularity of women’s sports, declaring “everyone watches” now. 

“When new fans watch for the first time, when young girls see their idols, they see the power of your example,” Biden said. 

Viewership of the Gamecocks’ championship win over Iowa surpassed the men’s title game this year. The women’s contest averaged 18.7 million viewers and peaked at 24 million – a fact Biden pointed out on Tuesday. 

The president on Tuesday also specifically lauded Staley, who was tapped by Biden earlier this summer to attend the Paris Olympic Games as part of his presidential delegation, for “paying it forward.” He noted that after her first title game, Staley, sent a piece of the net to every Black woman head college in division I basketball.

“That network is your legacy, kid,” Biden said.

The president also gave a shout out to former South Carolina player and current WNBA star A'ja Wilson, who visited the White House earlier this year to celebrate her 2023 WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces. Wilson also led the U.S. women to their eighth-straight gold medal in the Paris Olympics, ekeing out a win over France.

Among those in attendance on Tuesday morning was Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., a close ally of Biden’s, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.