VIDEO: Obama honors UConn women for 2015 basketball title

September 15, 2015 12:00 am • Last Updated: September 15, 2015 6:38 pm

President Barack Obama tosses up a basketball that was presented to him as a gift by UConn Huskies head basketball coach Geno Auriemma, left, during ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, where the president honored the NCAA Champion UConn Huskies Women's Basketball. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)

Washington — President Barack Obama says the University of Connecticut women's basketball team is "certified to provide White House tours" because of their frequent wins and visits to the executive mansion.

Obama honored the team Tuesday for their third straight national title. The UConn women won the 2015 NCAA championship in April with a 63-53 win over Notre Dame. It is the program's 10th title.

Obama also noted the team's work in the Hartford community, including Thanksgiving and winter food drives, Christmas parties for terminally ill children, basketball clinics and bike rides for children.

Obama said the team serves as an example to young women, including his two daughters, because they are empowered when "they've got a whole bunch of people ahead of them who are doing great stuff."

UConn women team members react as President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, during a ceremony honoring the 2015 NCAA Women’s Basketball Champion University of Connecticut Huskies. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

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