A resolution commending and congratulating the Las Vegas Aces professional basketball team on winning the 2025 Women's National Basketball Association championship.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 535
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Sports and Recreation
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-08: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8533; text: CR S8532)
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-15T17:58:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate Resolution (S. Res. 535) aims to formally commend and congratulate the Las Vegas Aces professional basketball team for winning the 2025 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) championship. It highlights the team's achievements and recognizes their contributions to women's sports and the Las Vegas community.
Key Provisions
- Preamble ("Whereas" Clauses): Provides background on the team's success, including:
- Their championship win on October 10, 2025, marking their third title in four years (previously back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023).
- Overcoming a poor start (14-14 record) with a 16-game winning streak, tying the second-longest in WNBA history.
- Regular season record of 30-14 and playoff record of 9-3, with series wins over the Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever, and Phoenix Mercury in the first best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
- Individual honors, such as A'ja Wilson becoming the first player to win MVP (her fourth), Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season; Chelsea Gray holding the most championships among active players (four); and Head Coach Becky Hammon securing her third title in four seasons.
- Contributions from all team members, including players, coaches, support staff, and owners who invested in facilities and advancement of women's sports.
- Representation of fans, the Las Vegas community, and the State of Nevada.
- Resolved Section:
- Congratulates the Las Vegas Aces on their 2025 WNBA championship.
- Recognizes the team's perseverance, dedication, and the achievements of all players, coaches, and staff.
- Requests that the Secretary of the Senate send an enrolled copy of the resolution to Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis, President Nikki Fargas, and Head Coach Becky Hammon.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a ceremonial resolution with no binding legal effect, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. Senate resolutions like this express the sense of the Senate but do not create enforceable obligations.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens and Community: Provides symbolic recognition that could boost pride among fans in Las Vegas and Nevada, promote women's sports, and inspire participation in athletics, particularly for women and girls.
- On Government Agencies: Minimal impact; the Senate's clerical staff (e.g., Secretary of the Senate) handles transmission of the document, but no ongoing responsibilities or funding are involved.
- On International Relations: None, as the resolution is focused on a domestic sports team and league.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Las Vegas Aces Organization: Directly honored, including owners (e.g., Mark Davis), executives (e.g., Nikki Fargas), coaches (e.g., Becky Hammon), players (e.g., A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray), and staff.
- WNBA and Women's Sports Community: Benefits from broader visibility and congressional endorsement of achievements in professional women's basketball.
- Local Community: Fans, residents of Las Vegas, and the State of Nevada, who are represented as supporters of the team's excellence.
- Sponsors of the Resolution: Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who introduced it to highlight Nevada's sports pride.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: As a simple resolution agreed to by the Senate, it has no force of law and does not require presidential approval or House concurrence. It aligns with Congress's constitutional role in expressing commendations but carries no enforceable implications.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan or Nevada-specific support for promoting women's athletics, potentially enhancing the visibility of gender equity in sports. It underscores the growing cultural and economic importance of the WNBA without entering partisan debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-08: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8533; text: CR S8532)
- 2025-12-08: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-12-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Commending and congratulating the Las Vegas Aces professional basketball team on winning the 2025 Women’s National Basketball Association championship. — issued 2025-12-08 — PDF (3 pages)