[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 169 (Thursday, October 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 677--CONGRATULATING THE SEATTLE STORM WOMEN'S 
    BASKETBALL TEAM ON WINNING THE 2018 WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL 
                        ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 677

       Whereas, on September 12, 2018, the Seattle Storm women's 
     basketball team (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``Seattle Storm'') won the 2018 Women's National Basketball 
     Association (referred to in this preamble as the ``WNBA'') 
     championship;
       Whereas the 2018 WNBA championship is the third national 
     championship that the Seattle Storm has won and the first 
     national championship that team has won since 2010;
       Whereas the Seattle Storm beat the Washington Mystics 
     women's basketball team in the WNBA finals and bested the 
     Phoenix Mercury women's basketball team in the WNBA 
     conference finals;
       Whereas the Seattle Storm became the sixth team in the 
     history of the WNBA to sweep the WNBA finals in three games;
       Whereas the Seattle Storm dominated the regular season, 
     with the best record of any team in the WNBA of 26-8, and 
     earned the top seed;
       Whereas the Seattle Storm championship team exhibited 
     stellar teamwork from its 12 highly talented professional 
     athletes, including Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Natasha 
     Howard, Jewell Loyd, Alysha Clark, Sami Whitcomb, Jordin 
     Canada, Crystal Langhorne, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Noelle 
     Quinn, Courtney Paris, and Mercedes Russell;
       Whereas Breanna Stewart received the 2018 WNBA Finals Most 
     Valuable Player award and the 2018 WNBA League Most Valuable 
     Player award;
       Whereas Natasha Howard received the 2018 WNBA Most Improved 
     Player award;
       Whereas Sue Bird received the 2018 WNBA Kim Perrot 
     Sportsmanship award, finished her 16th season in the WNBA, 
     led the WNBA with 2,831 career assists, and became the All-
     Time Games Played leader in the WNBA;
       Whereas the Seattle Storm was led during the 2018 season by 
     Head Coach Dan Hughes and Assistant Coaches Gary Kloppenburg, 
     Ryan Webb, and Crystal Robinson;
       Whereas the players of the Seattle Storm were supported 
     during the 2018 season by exceptionally committed operational 
     and medical staff, including Talisa Rhea, Perry Huang, Emily 
     Blurton, Susan Borchardt, Dr. Adam Pourcho, Dr. Jeff Cary, 
     Tom Spencer, Abby Gordon, Dana McCracken, Susan Kleiner, and 
     Erica Nash;
       Whereas the owners of the Seattle Storm, Lisa Brummel, Dawn 
     Trudeau, and Ginny Glidel, are just 1 of 2 all-female 
     ownership groups in the WNBA;
       Whereas the Seattle Storm has exhibited dedication to 
     social impact by strengthening communities through the 
     StormCares partnership with organizations in the greater 
     Puget Sound region; and
       Whereas the dedication and hard work of the Seattle Storm 
     have inspired and empowered girls, boys, women, and men of 
     all ages: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes--
       (1) the achievements of the players, coaches, fans, and 
     staff whose dedication has helped the Seattle Storm women's 
     basketball team win the 2018 Women's National Basketball 
     Association championship;
       (2) the State of Washington and the City of Seattle for 
     their enthusiastic support of women's professional 
     basketball; and
       (3) the continuing progress toward ensuring equity in men's 
     and women's professional sports.

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