President Barack Obama welcomed the NCAA champion University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball team to the White House on Monday , applauding the team’s undefeated season as the best in all of sports and commending the example they set to women and girls around the country .

“ This team has had an unbelievable run . These women beat their own NCAA record to become the first women’s basketball team in history to win 78 games in a row over the past two years. Which is just a staggering achievement , ” Pres . Obama said .

It was the team’s second visit to the White House in as many years. It is customary for national champion teams to be invited to receive personal congratulations from the President . The event , originally scheduled in the Rose Garden , was moved indoors due to a spring rainstorm in Washington .

Members of the team stood on risers behind the podium , as the President praised their accomplishments on the court , in the classroom and in the greater Storrs community .

The President applauded Coach Geno Auriemma for having a 100 percent graduation rate among his team’s student-athletes over the past 25 years, including this year.

“ Every single one of these youngwomen sets a terrific example for girls as women today – as athletes , as scholars and as leaders , ” said Obama .

He offered special recognition to Tina Charles on her number one WNBA draft pick and on winning the Naismith Trophy and to Maya Moore on being named the Final Four’s most outstanding player and an Academic All-American for three consecutive years.

Before the White House ceremony , the team visited wounded soldiers from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in nearby Bethesda , Md .

“ When you’reat home youapply that same winning attitude off the court . You read with elementary children and spend time with cancer patients , ” the President said of the championship team . “ It’s that perseverance and dedication and that will to succeed that makes [ you] so special , ” he said .

The last time the team lost a game was April 04 , 2008 , prompting the President to joke that they’ve been on a winning streak since he was elected .

The President also shared that he followed the team’s season by watching ESPN’s SportsCenter in the mornings while working out in the White House gym .

“ I just kept on repeating [ to the First Lady ] , and I truly believed , that this was the best team in all of sports , any sports , any gender , by far , ” he said .

“ It is not easy to improve on perfect , but that’s exactly what the UConn Huskies did in 2010 , ” Congressman Joe Courtney , who represents Storrs , said in a statement . “ Coach Auriemma has built a basketball dynasty in Eastern Connecticut and his team is an inspiration to student-athletes everywhere . ”