The president vs. the ‘tall girls’

What does an undefeated basketball season get you these days? Some pickup hoops with the commander-in-chief.

In fact, President Barack Obama admitted early on in greeting the UConn women’s basketball team, congratulating sports teams is already “one of my favorite things about the job.”

Greeting a women’s team also was personal for the president.

“Thanks to players like each of these women and those who came before them, our young women today look at themselves differently, especially tall young women, like my daughters. My girls look at the TV when I’m watching SportsCenter and they see women staring back.”

The women gave Obama a signed basketball and a team jersey with the numeral 1 on the back, prompting him to say, “No. 1 — that’s what I’m talking about. I will wear it when I’m playing.”

“It’s clear these women have a competitive streak,” he said of the team, then gave them a chance to prove it, as they wandered over to the White House basketball court and took some shots.

After about 10 minutes everyone returned. When the print pool asked All-American Renee Montgomery who won, she replied, “He did! The president can shoot!”

On Monday night, the House was also expected to pass a resolution commending the team for its season.