    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [June 23, 2008]
    [Pages 861-862]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Honoring the 2007 Women's National Basketball Association
    Champion Phoenix Mercury
    June 23, 2008

        The President. Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Welcome to the
    White House. And it is fitting that we use the East Garden because, one,
    this is rarely used; and two, it is an opportunity for me to welcome a
    lot of people to the--that are here to see the WNBA champs, Phoenix
    Mercury. And we're glad you came.
        People who follow sport in America will know that the Phoenix
    Mercury played together as a great team, and they brought new glory to
    women's athletics and the sport of basketball. As they like to say,
    ``Mighty Mercury, we are number one!'' [Laughter] And these women proved
    it.
        I want to thank Jay Parry, president and COO
    of the Phoenix Mercury, for joining us. Ann Meyers Drysdale, the general manager of the Phoenix Mercury--
    where is your son? There he is. Kind of looks like the big right-hander.
    You're right. [Laughter]
        Corey Gaines, the head coach--Coach, thanks
    for coming, proud you're here. I particularly want to pay my respects to
    the cocaptains of the team, Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi.
        Now, this is not the first time that Diana has been here to the White House. She came with the mighty
    UConn Huskies. And she told me she was going to amount to something in
    life when I saw her. [Laughter] She said, ``I will be back,'' and she
    is, as the champion. Welcome. Glad you're here.
        And I wish these two great athletes all the best at the Olympics in
    Beijing. They're going to be carrying on the great tradition of women's
    basketball here in the United States. And even though it's going to be
    tough--a lot of teams are getting ready for them--they're going to come
    back with the gold. And America will be proud.
        I welcome the other athletes on the stage and the newly--the new
    athletes who have joined the Phoenix Mercury. Must be pretty cool to be
    playing with champs. I bet it's wearing off on you, what it means to
    make the sacrifices necessary to win the title and be invited here in
    the White House.
        I want to welcome Congressman Trent Franks.
    Congressman, thanks for coming. Thanks for taking an interest in the
    Phoenix Mercury. I know they're proud to have your support.
        I welcome members of the Jr. WNBA that have joined us. Thanks for
    coming. Thanks for taking an interest in women's basketball. I want to--
    do thank--do want to thank the WNBA representatives and personnel who've
    joined us; appreciate you promoting women's athletics. As the father of
    twin girls, there's
    nothing better than having good role models for girls to look at. And
    there are no better role models than women basketball players. They're
    great athletes; they're well-conditioned people; they're disciplined.
        I want to welcome the Phoenix fans here, professionally known as the
    X-Factor. I know these women really love the fact that they play in a
    city that supports them. And I hope the fans that, you know, aren't here
    recognize that even here in Washington, DC, we've heard of the Phoenix
    Mercury, and proud to have them come.

    [[Page 862]]

        The team's playoff slogan was, ``One team, one city, one goal.'' And
    they've fulfilled the goal. You became the first WNBA team in history to
    win a championship on the road. For the second year in a row, you set
    the record for the highest scoring average in WNBA history.
        You were led ably by Coach Paul Westhead.
    I know he is proud of the women. And Corey Gaines was the assistant coach, so he had the pleasure of
    being part of a championship program. And he knows what it takes to get
    you in a position where you can win this year as well. Of course, I'm
    not going to be around to welcome you, but play hard anyway. [Laughter]
        A thing I love about this team--and a lot of champions that I get to
    recognize here at the White House--is the fact that they understand
    you're a champ on the courts and you're a champ off the courts. The--
    this team spent weekends on a Habitat for Humanity program called Women
    Build. They served meals at homeless shelters. They honored breast
    cancer survivors. They helped sign up runners for Race for the Cure.
    They collected water bottles from fans and donated them to the Salvation
    Army's Extreme Heat Emergency Project. They participated in Read to
    Achieve. They helped stuff backpacks with supplies for underprivileged
    children.
        They support the Jr. WNBA program, fully understanding that
    promoting healthy lifestyles is good for America. And there's no better
    way to have a healthy lifestyle than to participate in athletics.
    They've done their duty as citizens of the United States. I'm honored to
    welcome you. I'm proud of your championship trophy. I thank you for what
    you do for the country. May God bless you all.
        Ann Meyers Drysdale. Mr. President,
    on behalf of the 2007 WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury, we'd like to thank
    you for your invitation to the White House. The Phoenix Mercury and the
    WNBA is all about leadership, being a strong role model, teamwork, and
    making a difference in others' lives.
        This team accomplished a lot last year and had a lot of firsts. The
    coaches, fans, and players never stopped believing in themselves. Mr.
    President, we know your support for the Phoenix Mercury is genuine
    because of the influence of the women in your life.
        The President. Yes.
        Ms. Meyers Drysdale. All First
    Ladies--your graceful mother, your classy wife----
        The President. Thank you.
        Ms. Meyers Drysdale. ----your very
    strong-willed daughters. [Laughter] You think?
        The President. Yes, that's why my hair is white. [Laughter]
        Ms. Meyers Drysdale. We are very
    proud of this team. And on behalf of the Phoenix Mercury, we'd like our
    two Olympians, Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter, to present you with a
    Phoenix Mercury jersey and a replica banner of our championship.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:02 a.m. in the East Garden at the White
    House.