Photo: #Minnesota Lynx forward Charde Houston, center, hoists the championship trophy after the Lynx defeated the Atlanta Dream 73-67 to complete a three-game sweep of the WNBA championship series, Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, in Atlanta.
Photo: #Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus (33) dribbles past the reach of Atlanta Dream guard Angel McCoughtry during the second quarter of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals on Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, in Atlanta. The Lynx entered the game with a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five series.
Photo: #Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx celebrates a win against the Atlanta Dream after Game One of the 2011 WNBA Finals on October 2, 2011 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lynx defeated the Dream 88-74.
Photo: #Minnesota Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen moves around Los Angeles Sparks guard Kristi Toliver in the first half of a July WNBA basketball game in Minneapolis.
Photo: #Minnesota Lynx's Taj McWilliams-Franklin during an WNBA basketball game against the San Antonio Silver Stars Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Minneapolis.
Photo: #Minnesota Lynx's Seimone Augustus, left, holds the championship trophy as teammate Lindsay Whalen waves during a celebration parade for the WNBA championship basketball team on the Nicollet Mall Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 in Minneapolis. Augustus was named the MVP of the Lynx championship series win the Atlanta Dream.

A year after championship win, Minn. Lynx to finally meet president

by Matt Sepic, Minnesota Public Radio

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Nearly a year after winning the WNBA championship, the Minnesota Lynx are finally making a long-planned trip to the White House.

The Lynx won the title last October after sweeping the Atlanta Dream in three games. But with three Lynx players in the Olympics this summer and President Barack Obama's busy schedule, the team could not schedule a meeting until today — nearly a year after winning the WNBA championship.

"It's going to be exciting for some of the players who have never met him, and all the great things that go along with the tour, and seeing the White House and getting to talk with him one on one," said Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Lynx forward.

The president is an avid basketball fan and player, however the team said there is no time in the schedule for shooting hoops.

It's an honor to represent the WNBA at the White House, said Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, on the court at Target Center just before Monday night's game.

"It's a special day for us, honoring a special season. To be standing there with the president, it's going to be awfully exciting," Reeve said. "We'll get our one-on-one time with him. It's one of those days that you don't forget for a very long time."

This season, the Lynx are in first place in the WNBA's western conference and also lead the entire league in wins.