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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E731-E732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDIANA FEVER
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HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Monday, June 10, 2019
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of
the 20th anniversary of the Indiana Fever basketball team. Founded only
four years after the founding of the Women's National Basketball
Association (WNBA), the Fever have demonstrated a consistent commitment
to providing excellent sports entertainment and to giving back to their
community. The people of the Fifth Congressional District are grateful
for the Indiana Fever and it is my pleasure to congratulate the Indiana
Fever and the entire Pacers Sports & Entertainment organization in
Indianapolis, Indiana, in celebration of this special occasion.
Arriving in Indianapolis in 1999 while I was Deputy Mayor of the City
of Indianapolis, the team became an immediate mainstay of Hoosier
sports. Former President and General Manager of the team, Kelly
Krauskopf, formed the first Indiana Fever Community Advisory Board,
which I was proud to be a part of. With the generous support of owners
Herb Simon and the late Mel Simon, the team quickly climbed the ladder
of success. Today, the team has secured a league-record 13 playoff
appearances--reaching the WNBA Finals three times and claiming the
league title in 2012 to bring the first professional basketball
championship to Indianapolis since the Indiana Pacers' ABA title in
1973. Under the leadership of star player Tamika Catchings, the Fever's
12 consecutive playoff appearances from 2005 to 2012 represented, at
the time, the second-longest active playoff streak in American
professional sports.
The incredible success of the Indiana Fever would not have been
possible without the dedication made by the players who have devoted
their lives to the game of basketball. Among the best athletes in the
world, many Fever players and coaches have gone on to compete in the
Olympics. Nikki McCray, Natalie Williams, Kara Wolters and Tamika
Catchings have played for the United States Olympic Team, while Nell
Fortner has the remarkable distinction of having been appointed as the
first head coach of the Fever while she was still coaching the United
States Olympic Team. During this time, Coach Fortner led the U.S.
Olympic Team to a perfect 8-0 record, claiming the Olympic Gold medal
and claiming the record for the most wins of any coach in Women's USA
Basketball history. Former Fever head coach and Women's Basketball Hall
of Fame inductee, Coach Lin Dunn, led the team to their 2012 WNBA title
after serving as an Assistant Coach for the U.S. Women's Olympic Team
in 1990. During her time as President and General Manager of the team,
Kelly Krauskopf led them to the WNBA playoffs 13 times and helped
further many of their outreach programs. In 2018, Ms. Krauskopf moved
to the Indiana Pacers, becoming the first female assistant general
manager in the history of the NBA. The remarkable success of the
Indiana Fever both on and off the court can be attributed to this
strong legacy of dedication and achievement exhibited by players and
coaches alike.
Through their record of success, the Indiana Fever remind us of the
importance of women in all levels of sport. Under the leadership of the
Simon family, and through their consistent dedication to women's
basketball, the Fever seeks to promote increased participation of women
and girls in sports. With a stated mission to ``promote the development
and well-being of youth and families within our community,'' the team
has done a great deal to make Indiana a better place for families to
live and grow. The team regularly invites members of our community,
including participants in Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls
Club and Girl Scouts, to attend season games at no cost. The Choices
for Champions program combats bullying in schools by educating young
people and hosting them at a pre-season game where they can learn about
the impacts of bullying. The team's Hoops For Troops program seeks to
honor active duty and retired military heroes through military base
visits, in-arena nights and meet-and-greets with Wounded Warriors,
while the Hoops For A Cure Auction has raised over $200,000 in total
for breast cancer patients.
The Indiana Fever has, and continues to do, great things for the
people of Indiana. Players on the team have been honored nineteen
separate times with the WNBA Community Assist Award, with eight of
these going to long-time player Tamika Catchings alone. Ms. Catchings
has also been honored twice with the Dawn Staley Leadership Award, one
of the highest community service awards in the WNBA. Under the new
leadership of Dr. Allison Barber, President, and Tamika Catchings, Vice
President, the Fever are working to continue to build the premiere WNBA
franchise in the country. During their 20-year tenure in Indianapolis,
the team has transformed and improved the lives of countless young
people and their families. On behalf of all Hoosiers, I would like to
thank them for their continued dedication to our communities and wish
them success in the future.
[[Page E732]]
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