Whereas, on Sunday, April 2, 2017, the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team won the 2017 NCAA National Championship (in this preamble referred to as the national championship ) by defeating the Mississippi State University Bulldogs by a score of 67 to 55 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas; Whereas the victory by the Gamecocks in the championship game earned South Carolina its first national title in program history; Whereas the head coach of the Gamecocks, Dawn Staley, has been an outstanding role model to the players, the University, and the community; Whereas Coach Staley has been supported by assistant coaches and staff including: Lisa Boyer, Nikki McCray-Penson, Fred Chmiel, Melanie Balcomb, Cynthia Jordan, Freddy Ready, Ariana Moore, Hudson Jacobs, Marcella Shorty, and Katie Fowler; Whereas A’ja Wilson, of Hopkins, South Carolina, was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four and she and Alaina Coates, of Irmo, South Carolina, both won First Team All-SEC honors; Whereas the full roster of the 2016–2017 National Champion South Carolina team includes: Victoria Patrick, Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Kaela Davis, Doniyah Cliney, Allisha Gray, Araion Bradshaw, Tiffany Davis, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, A’ja Wilson, Alexis Jennings, Alaina Coates, and Tyasha Harris; Whereas the University of South Carolina ranked first in average home women’s basketball attendance this year, averaging over 14,000 fans per game; Whereas at the beginning of the season, the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team dedicated the season to the theme of 100 , thereby establishing their commitment to— (1) one goal, one dream, one team, one family, and one focus; (2) zero boundaries or complaints; and (3) zero excuses or selfishness; Whereas Assistant Coach Nikki McCray-Penson was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and throughout her treatment has been supported by the staff and players and, according to Coach Staley, never missed a day of work