HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 98-4705, by Representatives Cody, Murray, Anderson, Zellinsky, Backlund, Conway, Dyer, Skinner, Hatfield and D. Schmidt

      WHEREAS, The Seattle Reign is the first professional women's basketball team in the state of Washington; and

      WHEREAS, The Seattle Reign is one of the nine teams of the American Basketball League, the premier women's basketball league in the United States; and

      WHEREAS, The Seattle Reign is composed of eleven exceptional women from around the nation, including Kate Starbird, Shalonda Enis, Kate Paye, Angela Aycock, Kira Orr, Christy Hedgpeth, Rhonda Smith, Joy Holmes, Astou Ndiaye, Linda Godby, and Val Whiting; and

      WHEREAS, There are many notable members of the Seattle Reign, such as:  Kate Starbird, recently named 1997 Seattle Post-Intelligencer Female Sports Star of the Year, a native of Tacoma, Washington, who attended Stanford University, where she was awarded the Naismith Award as the nation's top college women's basketball player and was first-team All American and Pac-10 player of the year two consecutive seasons as she led the conference in scoring; Shalonda Enis, who was named MVP for the first ABL All-Star Game this year; Linda Godby who was the first professional female player to dunk a basketball in the ABL competition, where she received third place; Astou Ndiaye, who led her college team to four straight National Championships; and Val Whiting, who was one of the leading scorers last year for the ABL's San Jose Lasers; and

      WHEREAS, All the Seattle Reign athletes provide a vital and necessary contribution to the state of Washington by serving as positive role models and mentors for girls and boys throughout the state; and

      WHEREAS, The Seattle Reign players and coaches continue to be active throughout the community by visiting schools and speaking to local groups; and

      WHEREAS, The Seattle Reign and the American Basketball League are committed to five key principles:  Providing affordable family entertainment, contributing community service, serving as positive role models, being accessible to fans, and providing high-quality, competitive basketball games;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize, and express appreciation for, the accomplishments, dedication, spirit, and hard work of the players and coaches of the Seattle Reign; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Seattle Reign players and coaches.

      I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

      Resolution 4705 adopted by the House of Representatives

                        February 25, 1998.

                 ________________________________

                  Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk