UGA women's tennis champions visit White house — and stand behind the men

"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 the University of Georgia to comment on the visit and image, but they have yet to respond.

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 ismith@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UGA women's championship tennis team pictured behind men at White House