1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring Tessa Johnson and the University of South Carolina women's
1.3basketball team for winning the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball national
1.4championship.
1.5WHEREAS, Tessa Johnson was a 2023 graduate of St. Michael-Albertville High School
1.6and led the Knights to the Minnesota girls state basketball tournament in three out of four years;
1.7and
1.8WHEREAS, in her senior year of high school, Tessa was named Minnesota's Miss Basketball
1.9as well as a McDonald's All-American; and
1.10WHEREAS, this year, Tessa was on the University of South Carolina women's national
1.11championship team. In the championship game in Cleveland on April 7, 2024, she scored 19 points,
1.12a career high, to help lead the Gamecocks to an 87-75 victory over the University of Iowa Hawkeyes;
1.13and
1.14WHEREAS, Tessa became the first college freshman since 2013 to lead her team in scoring
1.15in a championship game; and
1.16WHEREAS, Tessa isn't just a leader on her team, she is a leader in developing the next
1.17generation of basketball players. She volunteered with younger basketball teams, attending their
1.18games and practice and providing mentorship to the players; and
1.19WHEREAS, not only is Tessa a very skilled basketball player, she is an amazing human.
1.20She is kind, a hard worker, dedicated, and a great teammate with outstanding character values; and
1.21WHEREAS, the University of South Carolina women's basketball team remarkably ended
1.22their season with a perfect 38-0 record, and now hold a 109-3 record in the last three seasons; and
1.23WHEREAS, this victory over the University of Iowa Hawkeyes is the third national
1.24championship title for the University of South Carolina women's basketball program; and
1.25NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
1.26congratulates Tessa Johnson and the University of South Carolina women's basketball team on
1.27winning the national championship and extends best wishes to their future pursuits on and off the
1.28court.
1.29BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
1.30enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
1.31Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Tessa Johnson.

Tom BotternSecretary of the Senate

Erin P. MurphyChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Eric LuceroState Senator, District 30