Obama salutes WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury

Obama salutes WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama saluted the champions of women's professional basketball Monday, calling them role models for the nation's girls. Obama, an avid basketball player, welcomed the Phoenix Mercury to the White House after their second WNBA championship. He thanked the players for setting a good example, saying he lives with "three tall, good-looking women who are quite competitive and push me around under the boards all the time." WATCH NBC SPORTS COVERAGE OF OBAMA AND THE WNBA

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Some of the players towered over Obama in their heels as he shook their hands and posed for pictures in the State Dining Room. The president said he wants his daughters, Malia and Sasha, to know there is nothing contradictory about women being beautiful, healthy, athletic and competitive. The players later conducted a workshop as part of first lady Michele Obama's effort to make American children healthier. _Copyright 2010 The Associated Press._