The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
President Obama welcomes the Baylor Lady Bears to the White House to celebrate their NCAA women's basketball national championship and their historic, undefeated season.
President Barack Obama welcomes Coach Kim Mulkey and the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Champion Baylor Bears to the East Room of the White House, July 18, 2012, to congratulate them on their historic 40-0 season and their NCAA Championship victory. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
President Obama welcomed the Baylor Lady Bears to the White House yesterday to celebrate their NCAA women's basketball national championship and their historic, undefeated season.
“[If] there’s one thing to describe this team, it was dominant,” the President told the crowd gathered in the East Room. "Last season, the Lady Bears scored more points than any team in women’s college basketball history. They became the first team ever -- men’s or women’s -- to win 40 games in a season."
President Barack Obama greets Haley Klepper in the East Room of the White House, July 18, 2012, during a ceremony for the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Champion Baylor Bears. The President mentioned Haley during his remarks. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Among those on hand for the event was Haley Klepper -- a ten year old girl from Waco, Texas with a rare disorder -- who through the course of the season became an unofficial part of the Baylor team.
President Obama made a point to pause and acknowledge Haley, saying: "[When] the team found out about Haley and all the stuff that she goes through every day, and she’s such a brave little girl, they immediately took her under their wing. So she has her own spot reserved in the Baylor locker room, and -- she’s a pretty big fan."
