President Barack Obama welcomed the U.S. women's 2015 World Cup champion soccer team to the White House Tuesday, saying the team's 5-2 victory over Japan inspired the whole country.
"They've inspired millions of girls to dream bigger and, by the way, inspired millions of boys to look at girls differently, which is just as important," Obama said to applause in the White House East Room. "This team taught all America's children that playing like a girl means you're a bad ass."
Adding, "Perhaps I shouldn't have used that phrase. Playing like a girl means being the best."
And with everyone from the World Cup championship team gathered at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Obama called out several players by name including Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd, Sydney Leroux, Becky Sauerbrunn, Megan Rapinoe and Heather O'Reilly.
Adding, "Perhaps I shouldn't have used that phrase. Playing like a girl means being the best."
And with everyone from the World Cup championship team gathered at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Obama called out several players by name including Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd, Sydney Leroux, Becky Sauerbrunn, Megan Rapinoe and Heather O'Reilly.
But Obama distanced himself from Hope Solo ... with POTUS refusing to acknowledge the goalie at the ceremony.
Solo — who won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper in the World Cup — was notably left off the list of shout-outs.
And it's a good guess it has to do with the soccer star's domestic violence case.
Hope is facing criminal charges for allegedly beating up her half sister and nephew in a drunken rage back in 2014 ... allegations Solo still denies.
Solo was arrested following the alleged rampage — and cops say she went on a tirade, berating several police officers calling one a "bitch" and saying she'd kick his ass.
And, despite the charges, soccer's bad girl was allowed to play.
While the President's apology for using the term 'bad ass' scored as a joke — his shut out of Solo said much more.
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