President Barack Obama welcomed the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team to the White House on Tuesday to celebrate its victory in the 2015 World Cup, applauding the team for inspiring the nation and changing the conversation about female athletes.
"This team taught all of America’s children that playing like a girl means you’re a badass," Obama said.
"Perhaps I shouldn’t have used that phrase, playing like a girl means being the best," he added, laughing.
"This team taught all of America's children that playing like a girl means being a badass" - President @BarackObama. pic.twitter.com/O3eYhNGTGq— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 27, 2015
"They’ve inspired millions of girls to dream bigger and by the way inspired millions of boys to look at girls differently which is just as important," Obama said. "This victory was about more than just soccer. It was about dominance, and skill, and inspiring our whole country."
Obama praised midfielder Carli Lloyd for her outstanding performance during the World Cup final against Japan, noting that by the end of the match, someone had briefly changed her title on Wikipedia to President of the United States.
“By the way the job is about to open up, what’s another candidate in the mix," Obama said, before using it as an opportunity to make a jab at 2016 Republican contenders. "I guarantee Carli knows more about being president than some of the candidates who are running."
The team also presented Obama with a No. 44 U.S. team jersey bearing his name before Abby Wambach snapped an epic team selfie with the commander-in-chief.
Selfie with the President. NBD. #USWNT pic.twitter.com/ENYG6qA0nt— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) October 27, 2015