Warner, Kaine Congratulate Virginia Members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today congratulated the players, coaches and staff of the U.S. women’s national soccer team on winning the World Cup by sponsoring a Senate resolution recognizing the team’s accomplishments and contributions to U.S. soccer history.

“We couldn’t be prouder of all the players and coaches on the U.S. Women’s National Team for bringing home our nation’s third World Cup title,” said Sens. Warner and Kaine. “Their teamwork, determination and extraordinary talent shattered records on the field in front of the largest soccer audience in American TV history. Congratulations to every member of the team who contributed to this outstanding victory.”  

U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) head coach Jill Ellis played forward at the College of William and Mary from 1984 to 1987 and later spent a year as assistant coach of the women’s soccer team at the University of Virginia. Current Cavaliers head coach Steve Swanson is a member of Ellis’ staff for the World Cup as well as serving as the head coach of the United States U-23 Women’s National Team. USWNT player Ali Krieger is a Virginia native born in Dumfries and raised in Alexandria, Va., and plays for the Washington Spirit along with fellow national team member Ashlyn Harris, while USWNT players Morgan Brian and Becky Sauerbrunn are alumnae of the University of Virginia soccer program.

This 5-2 victory over Japan is the highest scoring Women’s World Cup Final in history, included the fastest hat trick in World Cup history by Carli Lloyd in the 16th minute, and made the United States the first country to win the Women’s World Cup three times.

The full text of today’s resolution appears below:

Congratulating the United States Women’s National Team for winning the 2015 FIFA World Cup.

Whereas on July 5, 2015, in Vancouver, Canada, the United States Women’s National Team won the FIFA Women’sWorld Cup;

Whereas during the FIFA World Cup the United States Women’s National Team finished first in its group before eliminating teams representing the Republic of Colombia, the People’s Republic of China, and the Federal Republic of Germany in the knockout stages to reach the final;

Whereas the United States secured a resounding 5 to 2 victory over Japan in the highest scoring Women’s World Cup Final in history, which included the fastest hat trick in World Cup history by Carli Lloyd by the 16th minute of the game;

Whereas the run of the United States Women’s National Team in the 2015 World Cup included a record-tying 540 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal;

Whereas the United States Women’s National Team became the first team to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup 3 times;

Whereas all 23 players on the roster should be congratulated, including captains Christie Rampone and Abby Wambach, Golden Ball winner Carli Lloyd, Golden Glove winner Hope Solo, as well as Shannon Boxx, Morgan Brian, Lori Chalupny, Whitney Engen, Ashlyn Harris, Tobin Heath, Lauren Holiday, Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg, Ali Krieger, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Alyssa Naeher, Kelley O’Hara, Heather O’Reilly, Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez, and Becky Sauerbrunn;

Whereas head coach Jill Ellis displayed extraordinary leadership, adjusting the team’s starting lineup as the FIFA Women’s World Cup progressed in order to promote teamwork and capitalize on the talents of each player; and

Whereas dedicated fans, including a group of supporters known as the American Outlaws, and citizens across the United States showed their unmitigated support for the United States Women’s National Team as the team competed in Canada, and can now celebrate because the United States women are world champions again:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1)   congratulates the United States Women’s National Team for winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup through teamwork and determination;

(2)   recognizes the achievements of all of the players, coaches, and staff who contributed to the FIFA World Cup winning team; and

(3)   celebrates the contributions of the millions of fans across the Nation who cheered the United States Women’s National Team to victory, and made the players the best supported team in the world.

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