HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 12220
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
April 19, 2021
The Honorable City Council
Palo Alto, California
Proclamations Honoring Stanford's NCAA National Champion
Women's Basketball Team and Head Coach Tara Vanderveer
ATTACHMENTS:
• Attachment A: Tara VanDerveer (PDF)
• Attachment B: Stanford Women's Basketball Team - 2021 NCAA National Champions (PDF)
Department Head: Beth Minor, City Clerk
Page 2
Proclamation
__________________________
Tom DuBois
Mayor
HONORING TARA VANDERVEER
WHEREAS, Tara VanDerveer has led her teams to three national championships, including this trying and
uniquely challenging COVID-19 year of 2021 which saw the team on a road trip of almost ten weeks, playing
only 6 real home games; also compiling a remarkable record of 14 NCAA Final Four appearances; 21 NCAA
Elite 8 appearances; 27 Sweet 16 appearances; 33 NCAA Tournament appearances and 24 PAC 12/10
championships; and
WHEREAS, Tara VanDerveer has been honored by her peers and others associated with women’s basketball
by being named National Coach of the Year five times, including this current year; three times named the
Naismith Coach of the Year, including this current year and 16 times PAC 12/10 Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, during the 2020-2021 season, Tara VanDerveer became the winningest women’s basketball
coach by surpassing the record held by late Tennessee coach Pat Summitt and finished the season with 1125
career wins, beginning at Idaho and Ohio State and with over 970 of those at Stanford University; and
WHEREAS, Tara VanDerveer coached the 1996 US National Team to Olympic Gold going undefeated in
60 games; and
WHEREAS, Tara VanDerveer, teacher, motivator and mentor has played an important part in her players’
lives, encouraging and enabling them to succeed wherever their journeys have taken them. She has had 30 of
her players go on to play in the WNBA, including 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike. She has 21 coaches or women
engaged in basketball management to her credit; and
WHEREAS, Tara VanDerveer has been an outspoken advocate for equity not only for the young women
engaged in her program and in the sport of basketball but for women who aspire to enter the field of coaching.
For her work and inspiration in this endeavor, she has been honored by the Women’s Sports Foundation by
establishment of the VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Tom DuBois, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto on behalf of the entire City Council
do hereby recognize and applaud Tara VanDerveer, the Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women’s Basketball at
Stanford University and look forward to her continued success both on and off the court.
PRESENTED: April 19, 2021
Proclamation
__________________________
Tom DuBois
Mayor
STANFORD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
2021 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
WHEREAS, the Stanford Women’s Basketball Team overcame the hardships and uncertainties of this
COVID-19 pandemic year, spending almost 10 weeks on the road, travelling almost 7500 miles; living out of
suitcases in hotels; having only their teammates, coaches and staff as in person contacts and in the end
persevered to win the 2021 Women’s National Championship; and
WHEREAS, the team captured the PAC 12 season crown; won the PAC 12 tournament and had six of its 12
roster players recognized with PAC 12 honors; and
WHEREAS, the team packed their bags once again and traveled to San Antonio, TX where all of the NCAA
Women’s Tournament games were played, playing six games in two weeks, in the process breaking the
tournament all-time 3-point shot record by scoring on 59 of their attempts; and
WHEREAS, as Coach VanDerveer noted, this team was like an orchestra with a different soloist each night.
During the tournament each of the 12 rostered players saw playing time in at least two of their six games. Over
the course of the tournament eight different Stanford players scored in double figures. Lexie Hull was named to
the All-Tournament Team along with teammate and Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Haley Jones; and
WHEREAS, throughout the season, the team outpaced its opponents in scoring, field goals attempted and
made, 3-point shots attempted and made, free throw percentage, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Tom DuBois, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto on behalf of the entire City Council
do hereby recognize and send up a big cheer for the 2020-2021 Stanford Women’s Basketball Team and
applaud them for their extraordinary perseverance, resilience and excellence that has brought honor to their
team, their university and to our community.
PRESENTED TO: Francesca Belibi, Cameron Brink, Agnes Emma-Nnopu, Lacie Hull, Lexie Hull, Alyssa
Jerome, Haley Jones, Hannah Jump, Ashten Prechtel, Jana Van Geytenbeek, Kiana Williams, Anna Wilson,
Tara VanDerveer, Head Coach, Kate Paye, Associate Head Coach, Katy Steding, Assistant Coach, and Britney
Anderson, Assistant Coach.
PRESENTED: April 19, 2021