III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 493 

Congratulating the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame women’s 

basketball team for winning the 2018 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s basketball championship. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 26, 2018 

Mr. DONNELLY (for himself and Mr. YOUNG) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre 

Dame women’s basketball team for winning the 2018 

National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s basketball championship. 

Whereas, on Sunday, April 1, 2018, the University of Notre 

Dame Women’s Basketball Team (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘Fighting Irish’’) won the 2018 National 

Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘NCAA’’) Division I title with a 61–58 win 

over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, becoming 1 of only 

7 women’s basketball programs to win multiple NCAA 

championship titles; 

Whereas the Fighting Irish displayed their grit and determination to overcome a 15-point disadvantage to the 


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•SRES 493 ATS 

Bulldogs in the championship game, setting a record for 

the largest comeback in a NCAA title game; 

Whereas the victory marked the second national title, the 

first of those titles coming on Sunday, April 1, 2001, for 

the Fighting Irish under the leadership of Head Coach 

Muffet McGraw; 

Whereas Head Coach McGraw has excelled during her 31 

seasons with the Fighting Irish, having— 

(1) led the Fighting Irish to their 800th win under 

her leadership to secure their second national championship title; 

(2) been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017; and 

(3) been named 2018 AP, USA Today, and espnW 

Coach of the Year; 

Whereas Head Coach McGraw has been supported by assistant coaches and staff including— 

(1) Carol Owens; 

(2) Niele Ivey; 

(3) Beth Cunningham; 

(4) Katie Capps; 

(5) Erica Williamson; and 

(6) Sharla Lewis; 

Whereas the full roster of the 2017–2018 national championship Fighting Irish team includes— 

(1) Kristina Nelson; 

(2) Lili Thompson; 

(3) Mychal Johnson; 

(4) Kathryn Westbeld; 

(5) Brianna Turner; 

(6) Marina Mabrey; 

(7) Maureen Butler; 


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•SRES 493 ATS 

(8) Arike Ogunbowale; 

(9) Jessica Shepard; 

(10) Kaitlin Cole; 

(11) Jackie Young; 

(12) Mikayla Vaughn; 

(13) Nicole Benz; and 

(14) Danielle Patterson; 

Whereas Arike Ogunbowale, junior guard for the Fighting 

Irish, was awarded Most Outstanding Player of the Final 

Four and scored 145 total points throughout the course 

of the 2018 NCAA tournament, which included the 

game-winning shots in both the semifinal and final 

rounds of play; 

Whereas Jackie Young, sophomore guard and a native of 

Princeton, Indiana, led the Fighting Irish to a victory 

over the then-undefeated University of Connecticut 

Huskies with a dominant, breakout performance, racking 

up 32 points and pulling down 11 rebounds; 

Whereas the tradition of the Fighting Irish of excelling in 

both athletics and academics continues to advance the 

sport of women’s basketball and provide inspiration for 

future generations of young female athletes; and 

Whereas the spirit and achievement of the Fighting Irish in 

the face of adversity and the dramatic conclusion of their 

championship run inspired the respect and admiration of 

the basketball-loving State of Indiana: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the University of Notre Dame 

3 women’s basketball team for its victory in the Na4 tional Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in 


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•SRES 493 ATS 

1 this resolving clause as the ‘‘NCAA’’) tournament 

2 claiming the 2018 NCAA Division I title; 

3 (2) recognizes the dedication, perseverance, and 

4 hard work of the players, coaches, students, alumni, 

5 administration, and support staff that directly con6 tributed to the victory of the University of Notre 

7 Dame in the NCAA women’s basketball champion8 ship; and 

9 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

10 the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu11 tion to— 

12 (A) Reverend John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., 

13 President of the University of Notre Dame; 

14 (B) Muffet McGraw, Head Coach of the 

15 University of Notre Dame women’s basketball 

16 team; and 

17 (C) Jack Swarbrick, Vice-President and 

18 Athletic Director of the University of Notre 

19 Dame. 

Æ 


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