Congratulating Seattle Sounders FC on winning the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup. Whereas, on November 10, 2019, Seattle Sounders FC won the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup; Whereas that win on November 10, 2019, is the second Major League Soccer championship won by Seattle Sounders FC in the 11 years that Seattle Sounders FC has been in Major League Soccer; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC beat the Toronto Football Club 31 in the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC (1) dominated the competition in the regular season, with 16 wins and 10 losses; (2) qualified for the Major League Soccer Cup Playoffs for an unprecedented 11th straight season; and (3) earned the number 2 seed in the Major League Soccer Western Conference; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC plays home games at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington, and, on November 10, 2019, 69,274 Seattle Sounders FC fans from across the State of Washington packed CenturyLink Field and set the record for the largest crowd at a sporting event in the 17-year history of the stadium; Whereas the 2019 roster of Seattle Sounders FC players includes (1) Saad Abdul-Salaam; (2) Xavier Arreaga; (3) Will Bruin; (4) Handwalla Bwana; (5) Jonathan Campbell; (6) Emanuel Cecchini; (7) Jordy Delem; (8) Justin Dhillon; (9) Stefan Frei; (10) Bheem Goyal; (11) Joevin Jones; (12) Kim Kee-hee; (13) Kelvin Leerdam; (14) Danny Leyva; (15) Nicols Lodeiro; (16) Chad Marshall; (17) Bryan Meredith; (18) Jordan Morris; (19) Trey Muse; (20) Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez; (21) Vctor Rodrguez; (22) Cristian Roldan; (23) Alex Roldan; (24) Ral Ruidaz; (25) Harry Shipp; (26) Luis Silva; (27) Brad Smith; (28) Gustav Svensson; (29) Nouhou; and (30) Romn Torres; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC defender Kelvin Leerdam scored the first goal in the 57th minute of the championship game; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Vctor Rodrguez (1) scored the second goal in the 76th minute; and (2) received the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup Most Valuable Player award; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC forward Ral Ruidaz scored the third and final goal in the 90th minute; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris (1) scored a career-high 13 goals and a career-high 8 assists throughout the 2019 season; and (2) received the 2019 Major League Soccer Comeback Player of the Year award after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2018; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer won his second Major League Soccer Cup; Whereas the 2019 Seattle Sounders FC coaching and technical staff includes (1) Head Coach Brian Schmetzer; (2) Assistant Coach Gonzalo Pineda; (3) Assistant Coach Djimi Traore; (4) Assistant Coach Preki; (5) Club Director of Goalkeeping Tom Dutra; (6) General Manager and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey; and (7) Vice President of Soccer Chris Henderson; Whereas the owners of Seattle Sounders FC, Adrian Hanauer, Drew Carey, Jody Allen, and Peter Tomozawa, and the 11 families that joined the ownership contingent in 2019, have built a culture of success and contributed greatly to Seattle, Washington, and the surrounding region through philanthropy; Whereas Seattle Sounders FC has exhibited dedication to positive social impacts by strengthening communities through the RAVE Foundation partnership with organizations in Seattle, Washington, and the surrounding region; and Whereas the dedication and hard work of Seattle Sounders FC has inspired and empowered girls, boys, women, and men of all ages: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) recognizes Seattle Sounders FC for winning the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup; (2) applauds the people of Seattle, Washington, and the surrounding region for their enthusiastic support of Seattle Sounders FC; (3) supports equity in mens and womens professional sports; and (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Seattle Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, Assistant Coach Gonzalo Pineda, Assistant Coach Djimi Traore, Assistant Coach Preki, Club Director of Goalkeeping Tom Dutra, General Manager and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey, Vice President of Soccer Chris Henderson, and the existing ownership contingent of Adrian Hanauer, Drew Carey, Jody Allen, and Peter Tomozawa and the 11 families who shall be mentioned by name below: (A) Terry Myerson and Katie Myerson. (B) Russell Wilson and Ciara. (C) Benjamin Haggerty Macklemore (D) Satya Nadella and Anu Nadella. (E) Amy Hood and Max Kleinman. (F) Joe Belfiore and Kristina Belfiore. (G) Soma Somasegar and Akila Somasegar. (H) Chee Chew and Christine Chew. (I) David Nathanson and Sabina Nathanson. (J) Brian McAndrews and Elise Holschuh. (K) Mark Agne and Tomoko Agne.

Summary: This resolution (1) recognizes Seattle Sounders FC for winning the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup, and (2) supports equity in men's and women's professional sports.