SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1998-8706

By Senators Kohl, Spanel and B. Sheldon

     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 11 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, 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 Pac-10 in scoring, who was recently given the great honor of being named 1997 Seattle Post-Intelligencer Female Sports Star of the Year;  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 in the ABL competition where she received third place; Astou Ndaiye, 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, giving back to the community through 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 Senate recognize and express its 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 Secretary of the Senate to the Governor, and to the Seattle Reign players and coaches.

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1998-8706,

adopted by the Senate February 25, 1998.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate