UGA women's tennis champions visit White house — and stand behind the men
Irene WrightUPDATE: This story was updated to include a statement from the UGA Athletic Association.
The University of Georgia women's national championship tennis team are celebrating their 2025 win this week with a trip to the White House — and the internet has some thoughts.
After beating Texas A&M in a dominating 4-0 sweep last year to bring home the university's third national championship and first since 2000, eleven players swapped out their skirts and rackets for blazers and headed to Washington, D.C.
The team and the White House posted about the players' visit on social media, but while the women were there to celebrate their victory, it was quickly overshadowed by the wall of men.
UGA women's team visits White House
The University of Georgia's 2025 National Championship women's tennis team visited the White House on Tuesday to celebrate their title with President Trump.
Trump said the iconic "Go Dawgs" as he entered the room, then chatted with the players and coaches before posing for a photo.
In a video shared by the special assistant to the president, Trump approaches the group and shakes the hands of the five men standing in front of the players, but not the team members.
"An honor to represent the University of Georgia at the White House today!" the team said on the official X account. "(President Trump) thanks for having us out!"
The team then shared a photo from the meeting, in which Trump is center in the photo with the team, and the five men are lined up in front of the team.
"We are thrilled to be able to represent UGA and the state of Georgia at the White House today," head coach Drake Bernstein said in a text message to the Athens Banner-Herald, part of the USA TODAY network, on Tuesday. "This is a terrific experience and memory for these young ladies to be able to share for the rest of their lives."
Posing of team and staff ignites debate
While many on social media congratulated the women on their success and national championship, they were quick to point out that the team was largely hidden behind the standing men, none of whom actually played.
"Aren't you embarrassed to be sharing this photo? We can't even see the women..." one user wrote on X.
"Women are being honored but they are in the back of the photo," another wrote. "Do you have another version of this with the women in the front?"
"Congrats on making the women's achievement appear cheap and unimportant. But you should've known better," another user said.
"Institutionalized misogyny in one picture. Protect women's sports though, amiright?" another added.
On the right side of the photo is the team's coaching staff, including Bernstein, associate head coach Jarryd Chaplin and assistant coach Will Reynolds.
On the left side of the photo is the University of Georgia's athletics director, Josh Brooks, and executive director of The Georgia Bulldog Club Ford Williams, along with the president in the center.
USA TODAY reached out to Bernstein and has not received a response.
"This was a day set aside to recognize numerous national champions across the country. We were honored that our women's team was chosen and continue to be proud of their outstanding success," the UGA Athletic Association said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova reacts
Martina Navratilova, a tennis hall of famer with 18 singles majors titles, chimed in on X.
"A photo is worth a thousand words," said the nine-time Wimbledon champ.
Navratilova is an activist for gay rights and competitive fairness in women's sports.
Sports visits continue to spark controversy at the White House
The new photos add to the growing list of controversial sports visits at the White House.
Earlier this year, the gold-medal winning U.S. women's hockey team declined an offer to visit the White House after a video emerged of FBI Director Kash Patel and the gold-meld winning U.S. men's hockey team chatting with the president on the phone after their win.
In the call, the president says, "I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that?" which was met by laughter from the men's team.
Trump said, "I do believe I probably would be impeached," if he didn't invite the women.
Some men from the U.S. team also abstained, adding to a growing list of professional athletes from the NBA to the MLB to the NFL who have said no to an invitation from a presidential administration, either due to logistics or as a sign of protest.
Irene Wright covers politics in Georgia as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at [email protected].