U.S. President Joe Biden makes awkward gaffe during Las Vegas Aces White House visit

President Joe Biden made an awkward gaffe as he paid tribute to the 2023 WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, during the team’s visit to the White House.

On Thursday, No. 46 congratulated the Aces on their back-to-back championships while celebrating a banner year for women’s basketball amid the sport’s rise in popularity thanks to players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden gave a rousing speech to the Aces players and later received his own personalized jersey.

But the 81-year-old US president couldn’t resist making a blunder, mixing up some notable names on the Aces and their roles, prompting awkward looks and confused smiles from those behind him.

Biden called recently retired star Candace Parker “one of the greatest coaches of all time,” when in fact she is considered one of the best players in WNBA history after retiring in April after 16 WNBA seasons .

Aces players looked at each other in confusion as 81-year-old Candace called Parker a “coach” in his praise of the now-retired WNBA star

Parker – a three-time WNBA champion – is now Adidas’ president of women’s basketball

“I want to recognize someone we consider one of the greatest coaches of all time, Candace Parker,” Biden said

The 38-year-old forward was announced as Adidas’ women’s basketball chairman on Wednesday, which could be a possible reason behind her no-show at the White House. She signed a one-year contract with the Aces in February 2023 after two seasons with the Chicago Sky and 14 years with the LA Sparks.

Biden said, “Although she couldn’t be here, I want to recognize someone we consider one of the greatest coaches of all time, Candace Parker.

“She played 16 seasons in the league, two Olympic gold medals, two regular season MVPs and one [WNBA] last MVP, and look, she’s going over the top with her third ring.

“She announced her retirement from football, but I would like to thank her for an incredible career. We know she has a whole world ahead of her. A whole world.’

Both Biden and Vice President Harris received the winning team’s usual jerseys.

Holding his up, Biden shouted, “Put me in coach, I’m ready to play!”

In her own remarks, Harris praised the team for playing with “so much joy” and being role models both on and off the basketball court.

“You just inspire people in our country and around the world,” Harris said.

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty in the WNBA Championship last October to win their second straight WNBA title. As he began his remarks, Biden made a not-so-veiled reference to his own reelection prospects, noting, “I kind of like that kind of back-to-back stuff.”

Biden’s comment drew awkward looks and confused smiles from those behind him

Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson presents jerseys to Biden and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris

In April, Biden asked for WNBA players to get their “fair share” after Caitlin Clark’s rookie deal was revealed, despite the league’s revenues being notoriously lower than the NBA’s.

In April, Biden demanded that WNBA players get their “fair share” when he rejected Caitlin Clark’s rookie contract with the Fever after it was revealed she would be paid a fraction of what men make.

‘Women in sport continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all. But right now we see that even when you are the best, women don’t get their fair share,” Biden wrote in a post on X.

Social media lit up after it was announced that the 22-year-old college basketball star, the first pick of the 2024 WNBA draft, would make just $76,535 in her first season in Indiana.

By comparison, the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama, made $12,160,680 in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs.

“It’s time we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women get what they deserve,” Biden wrote.

Clark’s performance in this year’s NCAA tournament galvanized the nation, with Iowa Hawkeyes games breaking viewership records.

For the first time ever, the NCAA women’s basketball championship drew more viewers than the men’s basketball.