The WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx announced Tuesday that they plan to host a community service event in Washington, D.C., after not receiving a White House invite from President Trump.
The announcement comes amid an ongoing controversy over how the administration handles sports champions with whom it disagrees. The day before the Lynx made their announcement, Trump disinvited the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles from a White House ceremony.
The WNBA team will partner with Samaritan’s Feet Shoes of Hope Distribution, a nonprofit organization that provides shoes to children, to commemorate winning their fourth WNBA championship with a community service event at Payne Elementary, the team said in a press release.
Payne Elementary is a Title 1 school, where 30 percent of the students are homeless and 100 percent fall under “low income status,” according to the press release.
So far Nike, Jordan Brand and DTLR Villa have donated new socks and shoes to the cause for all 340 enrolled at the school. The distribution of shoes will also include cleaning the children’s feet.
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The day will conclude with a ceremony in which the Minnesota Lynx will celebrate their accomplishments on and off the court.
Last year, Trump withdrew an invitation for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors after star Stephen Curry said he didn’t want to attend.
NBA star Lebron James on Tuesday criticized Trump for not inviting the WNBA champions for a visit to the White House, telling reporters that it was “laughable” for the Minnesota Lynx to be excluded.
“For them not to be invited playing our beautiful game of basketball … those women are unbelievable at doing it,” he said.
WNBA championship winning teams frequently visited the White House under former Presidents George W. Bush and Obama.