Mon Sep 23 22:22:17 UTC 2024: ## Gotham FC Makes History as First NWSL Team to Visit the White House
**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – President Joe Biden welcomed Gotham Football Club, the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) champions, to the White House on Monday, making them the first NWSL team to receive this honor.
Biden praised the team’s remarkable comeback story, highlighting their transformation from last place in the league to defeating all odds and becoming champions. He lauded their perseverance, noting, “You never gave up, and you kept the faith, as my mother would say… something clicked.”
The president also acknowledged the growing popularity of women’s sports, stating that “everyone watches women’s sports” and praising the record-breaking attendance at last year’s NWSL final.
Former national team star and Gotham FC player Ali Krieger, who represented her team at the White House, spoke about the historic significance of the moment. She reflected on the league’s evolution, highlighting the increased support and recognition women’s soccer has received since its humble beginnings.
Krieger emphasized the importance of paving the way for future generations of female athletes, stating, “This moment is not just about titles or trophies; it’s about paving the way for them. Being the first is historic, but it’s even more important that we ensure we are not the last.”
Gotham FC’s White House visit comes amidst a period of growth and progress for the NWSL. The league has seen a significant increase in viewership and attendance, and its players recently secured a new collective bargaining agreement that provides them with greater control over their careers and increased benefits.
The NWSL, however, is not the first women’s soccer league to receive a White House invitation. President Barack Obama welcomed Sky Blue FC, the New York and New Jersey team of the now-defunct Women’s Professional Soccer league, in 2010.
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