Caitlin Clark Reacts to Idea of White House Inviting Iowa for Celebration After Loss

The Hawkeyes’ star addressed the invitation from the first lady.

First lady Jill Biden voiced her desire to invite both Iowa and LSU to the White House after the women’s national championship showdown. 

Tigers star Angel Reese was quick to make her opinion on the matter known, tweeting a response in which she called the idea “a joke.”

During an interview with ESPN’s Outside The Lines on Tuesday, Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark addressed the invitation from Biden, indicating that she doesn’t think her team should make the trip to D.C. 

“I don’t think runner-ups usually go to the White House. I think LSU should enjoy that moment for them, and congratulations, obviously, they deserve to go to there,” said Clark. “Maybe I can go to the White House on different terms, though. But I think that’s for LSU. That’s a pretty cool moment, and they should enjoy every single second of being a champion.” 

"I don't think runner-ups usually go to the White House. I think LSU should enjoy that moment for them."

—Caitlin Clark on if Iowa should join LSU at the White House (via @OTLonESPN) pic.twitter.com/M35mGY8oPp

— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2023

Clark went on to say that she appreciates Biden being present at the game in Dallas, but ultimately indicated that—as a runner-up—she would not be making the trip to the White House. 

The junior guard had a historic run during the Big Dance, including breaking the record for most points scored in a single season at an NCAA tournament. She will be back at Iowa next year, so perhaps she can ask the first lady to table the invitation until 2024, when the Hawkeyes will have another chance at making a run for a national title.