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

President Joe Biden made an awkward gaffe while paying tribute to the 2023 WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, during the team’s visit to the White House, as he called recently retired star Candace Parker a ‘coach.’

On Thursday, No. 46 congratulated the Aces for their back-to-back championships, as he celebrated what he called a ‘banner year’ for women’s basketball amid the rise in popularity in the league due to the likes of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

But the 81-year-old U.S. president couldn’t help but confuse some of the notable names on the Aces and their roles, as Parker, considered as one of the best WNBA players in league history, retired after 16 WNBA seasons in April.

The 38-year-old forward was announced as Adidas’ women’s basketball president of operations on Wednesday, which could be a potential reason behind her no-show at the White House. She signed a one-year deal with the Aces in Feb. 2023 after two seasons with the Chicago Sky and 14 years on the L.A. Sparks.

Biden said: ‘While she couldn’t be here, I want to acknowledge someone who we consider one of the greatest all-time coaches, Candace Parker.

US President Joe Biden deliver another blunder when hosting the Las Vegas Aces at the White House on Thursday

Aces players looked at each other in confusion when the 81-year-old called Candace Parker a ‘coach’ in his praise to the now-retired WNBA star

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

‘She played 16 seasons in the league, two Olympic gold medals, two regular-season MVPs and a [WNBA] final MVP, and look, going out on top of the world with her third ring.

‘She announced her retirement from the game but I want to thank her for an incredible career. We know she has a whole world in front of her. A whole world.’

Both, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were given customary jerseys from the winning team.

As he held his up, Biden yelled, ‘Put me in coach, I’m ready to play!’

In her own remarks, Harris praised the team for playing with ‘such joy’ and being role models both on and off the basketball court.

‘You simply inspire people across our nation 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 consecutive 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 back-to-back stuff.’

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

In April, Biden asked for WNBA players to be paid their ‘fair share’ after Caitlin Clark’s rookie deal was revealed despite the league’s revenue being notoriously lower than the NBA

In April, Biden demanded that WNBA players be paid their ‘fair share’ as he slammed Caitlin Clark’s rookie contract with the Fever after it was revealed that she would be paid a fraction to what men earn.

‘Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all. But right now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share,’ Biden wrote in a post on X.

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

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

‘It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve,’ Biden wrote.

Clark’s performance in this year’s NCAA Tournament had the nation on its feet, with Iowa Hawkeyes games breaking viewership records.

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