Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty
After working hard and winning the Women’s NCAA tournament title on April 1, the ladies of Baylor University’s basketball team were forced invited to visit the White House this week. They were the first women’s team to get an invite.
The Lady Bears were President Trump’s special guests on Monday, April 29, and they brought him a signed basketball, a championship hat and a customized Baylor basketball jersey. In return, the women were fed the new normal in meals for championship-winning teams who come to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: fast food. They were given a spread of Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A and pizza. This same spread was offered to the football teams of Clemson and North Dakota State. When Clemson visited in January, the government shutdown was still in effect and the chefs who could have made an elaborate meal were not available. Trump bought more than $800 worth of food for the team in response to that.
By the time the Lady Bears came to the White House on Monday, the meal was expected. Overall, the ladies followed their coach’s lead, Kim Mulkey, and kept it cute, but the photos show the team, majority Black, wasn’t really feeling it:
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty
They forced out some smiles here and there, but not the wide grins reminiscent of visits to the White House during the Obama years:
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty
Kalani Brown, graduating senior and star player who was recently drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks, went with the team and had some colorful thoughts about the food and overall visit. Still, the 22-year-old made the most of her experience, which she shared on Instagram:
Of course, because the women’s team is part of Baylor University, they likely had no say in whether or not they could go. As they’ve proven time and time again, they were good sports:
