WASHINGTON - It was a fitting finale to a remarkable season.

As a lively rendition of "Rocky Top" blared over loudspeakers, Coach Pat Summitt and the Tennessee women's basketball team arrived triumphantly on Tuesday at the White House, where President Bush congratulated the Lady Vols for winning back-to-back national championships.

"It's hard to become a champ, and that's why we love to honor people here at the White House when you become one," the president said during a ceremony on the South Lawn.

The Lady Vols clinched their second consecutive NCAA championship title last April with a 64-48 victory over Stanford. They were one of 20 championship teams from 13 states recognized during Tuesday's ceremony.

"Even more impressive than winning the national title is becoming a repeat champion," the president said, noting that the Lady Vols and several other teams had accomplished that feat.

Before the official ceremony, Summitt and the seven team members who made the trip met privately with Bush and had their photo taken with him.

Senior guard Alberta Auguste of Marerro, La., presented the president with a UT basketball signed by the team members, two baseball caps and a windbreaker for first lady Laura Bush.

The president seemed to know a little bit about the team, Auguste said.

"He shook each individual hand," she said. "He basically knew who we were. He said, 'Oh, Tennessee, that's the national champions, right?' And he winked his eye at me. He was pretty familiar with who we are."

The president also showed a real sense of humor, Auguste said.

"He took the basketball and actually he dribbled it while they were taking the picture, so that was pretty funny," she said. "He told me his wife can't touch the net. Then he said, 'Wait a minute, I can't touch the net either.' He was just hilarious. He was really enjoyable."

It was the eighth time that Tennessee's women's basketball teams have been honored at the White House since 1987, when Ronald Reagan paid tribute to the first Lady Vols squad to win the national championship.

Summitt said the congratulatory event at the White House "puts the stamp of approval on what we accomplished."

"It's truly a tremendous opportunity for these young women to have a chance to visit the White House and to personally get to meet, greet and have a photo with the president of the United States," she said. "Very few people arrive at this position. And fortunately, we've been able to be here back to back. I think that's even more significant for our program."

Earlier Tuesday, members of Tennessee's congressional delegation honored the team at a luncheon at the Sewall-Belmont House & Museum, which recognizes the history of women's equality.

Four departed seniors - Candace Parker, Nicky Anosike, Shannon Bobbitt and Alexis Hornbuckle - are now playing in the WNBA and were unable to attend the festivities because their teams had games scheduled for Tuesday.

Forward Vicki Baugh, who will return next year as a sophomore, said the absent teammates were missed.

"We've been in this from the beginning together," Baugh said. "The team is such great players, and it's good to see how far we've got. We opened this opportunity up for ourselves by coming together as a team, and playing really just brings us closer."

Guard Angie Bjorklund, another returning sophomore, remembered standing outside the White House fence when she was in Washington for training with the USA Basketball Women's U19 World Championship Team just a year ago.

"I've been looking forward to this ever since we won," she said of Tuesday's festivities. "I'm really honored."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.