For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 20, 2005

President Congratulates 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Champions
The Rose Garden

8:28 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations. Welcome. I thought I'd have my picture with you, and then we'll go into the Oval Office.

It is my honor to welcome some highly successful women from the neighborhood. (Laughter.) First, I want to congratulate the Coach. She obviously knows what she's doing. But I love her spirit. I love her can-do spirit that says we're going to win, and we're proud to win.

And I appreciate the women who are here, too. The Lady Bears were really great. And I know I'm supposed to be working hard, but I watched you. (Laughter.) And I was really impressed. And I want to thank you for being such great athletes and such wonderful role models. And I appreciate you representing Baylor University, which is a great university, so well, with such class.

I'm here to welcome you to the Rose Garden and congratulate you for a job well done -- and wish one of you a happy birthday. (Laughter.)

All right, have at it. (Laughter.) Ten, two and four. (Laughter.)

Congratulations. All right, anybody want to see the Oval Office? Let's go look at it. (Applause.)

END 8:29 A.M. EDT