Las Vegas Aces visit White House to celebrate 2022 championship

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Las Vegas Aces visited the White House to celebrate their 2022 WNBA championship.

Players and coaches met with Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff on Friday. The team presented Harris with a special Aces jersey labeled with the number 49, in recognition of her being the 49th vice president of the U.S.

Harris shared glowing remarks for head coach Becky Hammon and several of the star players, but she also emphasized that winning last year's title was a team effort.

"The Aces brought home that trophy because you are not only a team, you are a family. You support each other on and off the court, and you represent your fans, your teammates, your city with poise and with heart," Harris said.

Aces team president Nikki Fargas thanked the White House for the invitation and noted how their visit coincided with Women's Equality Day, which is observed on Saturday.

"With increasing frequency, our players and our teams have embraced their roles as leaders in the community and used their growing platforms to act as a force for change, fighting for social justice and equality for all," Fargas said in her remarks.

Several dignitaries attended the celebration, including former Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, Attorney General Aaron Ford, U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford and North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were originally planned to meet with the team, though they remain on vacation at Lake Tahoe.

Las Vegas defeated Connecticut in the WNBA Finals last year to win the first major professional sports championship in the history of the city and the state of Nevada.

It's a tradition for American sports teams to visit the White House after winning a title, and the Aces' visit was timed with a road game at the Washington Mystics on Saturday.