[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 392 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         March 9, 2004.
Whereas on September 16, 2003, the Detroit Shock won the 2003 Women's National 
        Basketball Association championship, defeating the 2-time defending 
        champion Los Angeles Sparks;
Whereas the Shock finished at the top of the Eastern Conference with an 
        outstanding 25-win season;
Whereas the Shock defeated the Cleveland Rockers 2 games to 1 in the first round 
        of the playoffs;
Whereas the Shock defeated the Connecticut Sun 2 games to none in the Eastern 
        Conference finals;
Whereas in the finals against the Sparks the Shock won 2 straight games after 
        losing the opening game;
Whereas Ruth Riley scored a career-high 27 points in the final game;
Whereas in the final game Deanna Nolan nailed a 3-pointer with 53 seconds 
        remaining, and made 4 out of 4 free throws down the stretch;
Whereas 22,076 attended the final game, setting a new attendance record for the 
        WNBA;
Whereas the Shock made an unprecedented turnaround in the 2003 season under the 
        leadership of their coach, the former Detroit Piston and NBA champion 
        Bill Laimbeer, who was named 2003 WNBA Coach of the Year;
Whereas Coach Laimbeer and his staff of Laurie Byrd, Pamela McGee, and Korie 
        Hlede provided strong leadership and solid coaching, resulting in a 
        basketball team which has been undeniably dominant in regular and 
        postseason play;
Whereas many other individuals have contributed to the Shock's success, 
        including athletic trainer Laura Ramus;
Whereas the Shock's success resulted from contributions from the entire roster 
        of players, including Swin Cash, Allison Curtin, Barbara Farris, Cheryl 
        Ford, Kedra Holland-Corn, Sheila Lambert, Astou Ndiaye-Diatta, Deanna 
        Nolan, Elaine Powell, Ruth Riley, Stacey Thomas, Petra Ujhelyi, and 
        Ayana Walker;
Whereas 3 Shock players, Cheryl Ford, Swin Cash, and Deanna Nolan, were named to 
        the all-WNBA second team;
Whereas Cheryl Ford was named 2003 WNBA rookie of the year, receiving 49 out of 
        54 possible votes;
Whereas Ruth Riley was named Most Valuable Player of the 2003 WNBA Finals MVP;
Whereas the WNBA and the Shock exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship 
        and success, and help to encourage the participation of women in 
        professional sports; and
Whereas the Shock have displayed great strength, ability, and perseverance this 
        season, which are all reflective of the hardworking people of the 
        metropolitan Detroit region and the great State of Michigan: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates the Detroit Shock for winning the 2003 Women's 
        National Basketball championship and for their outstanding performance 
        during the entire 2003 season, and congratulates all of the 8 WNBA teams 
        who played in the postseason;
            (2) salutes the achievements of all of the players, coaches, and 
        staff of the Shock, who worked hard and who were instrumental in 
        bringing the City of Detroit its first WNBA championship;
            (3) commends the Los Angeles Sparks for a valiant performance during 
        the playoff finals and for displaying their strength and skill as a 
        team; and
            (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an 
        enrolled copy of this resolution to the Shock players, Head Coach Bill 
        Laimbeer, and President and team owner William Davidson.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.