[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 193 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7135-S7136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 869--COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE PORTLAND 
THORNS FOOTBALL CLUB ON WINNING THE 2022 NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE 
                              CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 869

       Whereas, on October 29, 2022, the Portland Thorns FC 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``Thorns''), a 
     professional women's soccer team, won the 2022 National 
     Women's Soccer League (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``NWSL'') championship;
       Whereas the Thorns defeated the Kansas City Current by 2 to 
     0 in the NWSL championship, which was played in Washington, 
     DC;
       Whereas the 2022 championship is the third for the Thorns 
     franchise, making the Thorns the first NWSL team with 3 
     championships;
       Whereas the Thorns are the first team in NWSL history to 
     qualify for 4 NWSL championship games;
       Whereas the enthusiastic fan support of the Thorns once 
     again placed the benchmark franchise among the NWSL leaders 
     in attendance;
       Whereas, in 2022, the Thorns scored the most team goals in 
     the entire NWSL with 49 goals;
       Whereas Rhian Wilkinson, head coach of the Thorns who was 
     also a former player for the Thorns in 2015, led the Thorns 
     to the championship in her first year as head coach, becoming 
     the second woman head coach to win the NWSL championship;
       Whereas Karina LeBlanc, general manager of the Thorns who 
     was also a former player for the Thorns during the 
     championship season of the Thorns in 2013, became the first 
     person to win a NWSL championship as a player and general 
     manager;
       Whereas Thorns player Sophia Smith--
       (1) was named NWSL 2022 Most Valuable Player (referred to 
     in this preamble as ``MVP''), making her the youngest league 
     MVP winner in NWSL history;
       (2) was named NWSL championship MVP, becoming the first 
     player in NWSL history to win the league MVP and championship 
     MVP in the same season;
       (3) became the youngest NWSL championship goalscorer and 
     the highest single-season scorer in Thorns franchise history 
     by scoring her 15th goal of the season in the championship 
     game; and
       (4) became the youngest NWSL player to score more than 10 
     goals in a season;

[[Page S7136]]

       Whereas Thorns player, and former University of Portland 
     standout, Christine Sinclair--
       (1) is the first player to win 3 NWSL championships with 
     the same club;
       (2) is the most prolific player in the NWSL, charting the 
     most playoff minutes of any player in league history with 
     1,022 minutes played; and
       (3) is the all-time leader of the Thorns in games played 
     and goals scored;
       Whereas Thorns players Bella Bixby, Natalia Kuikka, Kelli 
     Hubly, Sam Coffey, Rocky Rodriguez, Hina Sugita, Olivia 
     Moultrie, Morgan Weaver, Sophia Smith, Yazmeen Ryan, and 
     Janine Beckie made their NWSL championship debut in the game 
     on October 29, 2022;
       Whereas Thorns players Sam Coffey and Sophia Smith were 
     named to the NWSL Best XI First Team for the 2022 season;
       Whereas Thorns players Kelli Hubly and Becky Sauerbrunn 
     were named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team for the 2022 
     season;
       Whereas, at 17 years old, Olivia Moultrie became the 
     youngest player in NWSL history to play in the championship 
     game;
       Whereas the entire Thorns squad should be congratulated for 
     its dedication, the resilience of its players in the face of 
     hardship, its teamwork, and its impressive display of 
     athletic talent;
       Whereas the ongoing success, camaraderie, sportsmanship, 
     and joy demonstrated by the Thorns has inspired young women 
     to dedicate themselves to soccer and to pursue sports;
       Whereas the Thorns donated $140,000 of ticket profits from 
     the NWSL semifinal game on October 23, 2022, to 4 different 
     charities, including--
       (1) Girls on the Run, which helps young girls learn life 
     skills through physical education;
       (2) Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, which mentors 
     girls and supports lifelong education;
       (3) SHE FLIES, an initiative of the Sport Oregon Foundation 
     to connect women and girls to sports in Oregon; and
       (4) Street Soccer USA, which brings soccer to low income 
     communities nationwide.
       Whereas the donation by the Thorns was only one example of 
     the tradition of philanthropy of the Thorns, which was 
     celebrated by the Portland Business Journal as one of the top 
     philanthropic businesses in Portland in 2022;
       Whereas the Thorns, in association with the Portland 
     Timbers, have donated more than $550,000 to Oregon charities 
     in 2022;
       Whereas the Thorns, in association with the Portland 
     Timbers, raised more than $600,000 for humanitarian 
     assistance in Ukraine in April of 2022; and
       Whereas the Thorns, its fans, and the Oregon soccer 
     community came together in the wake of a devastating report 
     by the NWSL and NWSL Players' Association condemning former 
     team management and ownership for its treatment of 
     allegations of abuse, demonstrating the resilience of the 
     Thorns players, commitment to one another, and dedication to 
     player welfare and safety: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends and congratulates the Portland Thorns FC on 
     winning the 2022 National Women's Soccer League championship 
     and completing a successful 2022 season;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of all players, coaches, 
     and staff who contributed to the success of the Portland 
     Thorns FC during the 2022 season; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the interim president and general counsel of the 
     Portland Thorns FC, Heather Davis;
       (B) the general manager of the Portland Thorns FC, Karina 
     LeBlanc; and
       (C) the captain of the Portland Thorns FC, Christine 
     Sinclair.

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