You really dont know until you sit down and read a rule book, says Moyer-Gleich. Violet Palmer, first female NBA ref, to marry longtime partner: 'This However, her journey was slightly different from some of her female counterparts. And to the people who run the NBA's officiating program, efforts in recent years to open recruiting pathways and increase diversity are far from merely symbolic: They're practical for a league always striving to improve. Female NBA Referees Are Becoming a Normal Part of the Game. Schroeder explains the disparities within the NCAA when women officials were not being paid the same as the men and how that growing theme troubled her. As far as WNBA referees, they make considerably less. Referee, the world's original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. As our numbers are increasing, that sort of noteworthiness is becoming more about this collective experience and collective momentum that is here and thats just really, really rewarding.. Moyer-Gleich played basketball at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. Including various bonuses and incentives, NBA referees can make a total of $550,000 annually. She's taken it to a new level. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. Sago would eventually work with all three superstars during her path to the NBA, which included stops at various levels including high school college, the G League and the WNBA. They congratulated me for getting hired and being in the WNBA, I was like, thats crazy because I was watching you guys when I was 12 years old and now were working together.. The ability to advance in this career is evident. any players who have declared for the 2022 WNBA draftincluding seniors, . Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. I commend those women [in hockey] because first of all, you have to know how to skate, and I would be out there busting my butt trying to do that, Sago said with a laugh. Palmer and Kantner were so much more than just trailblazers; the weight they shouldered eased the burden for all who came after. And this is exactly what a true meritocracy looks like., More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. "Here we are in a very male-dominated space, and the league was very proactive to make sure I had what I needed.". Report: Significant Gender Pay Gap Remains for NCAA Referees The former Cedar Crest and Millersville guard wasn't planning to be a ref at all but a college . If you've ever wondered why Finals games seem like they're officiated by many of the same people year after year, it's because those are senior-level referees. 12 12. And as the first to reach this plateau since, she's turned around and served a similarly important role for those following her. G League referee ShaRae Mitchell becomes the 15th woman in NBA history picked to work a regular-season game. They were audible conversations for Palmer and Kantner, and sometimes more. Referee Michael Oliver, however, waved play on and the VAR, Darren England, saw no reason to ask him to look again at his decision. In the second game, the fifth-seeded Phoenix Mercury faces the eighth-seeded New York Liberty at 10 p.m. 2021 Women's National Basketball Association. There was an error submitting your subscription. Not only that, but the grind to becoming a professional referee requires true dedication. She heard whispers from some corners of the sport. It put tears in her eyes "that someone would actually put me in that class of people." My ideals completely match up with the NBAs and I think it would be difficult to work for a company if your ideals didnt and I just feel very fortunate that they believe in everything I believe in.. None of it deterred her -- in fact, quite the opposite. But now, in 2021-22, the NBA has six female referees on its full-time officiating staff, the most ever. ncaa home, women, post season history: men, women 2022-23 2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 NCAA Women Referee Leaders. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. . Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling | Offical #7 | NBRA To that effect, there have been real efforts toward promoting equality and diversity within the officiating ranks, the sort that may not make headlines but truly advance a progressive agenda. #NBA #NBAReferees twitter.com/i/web/status/1. They make up 8% of the 75-member officiating staff. The other five Sage, Schroeder, Simone Jelks, Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling and Ashley Moyer-Gleich are active in the league today and among . :-). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Sun Belt apologizes to Troy for refs' late blunder, Irish move past Wolfpack as Miles still sidelined, Spirit make NWSL history by signing 15-year-old, Volynets stops Stearns to reach first WTA semi, Shiffrin 4th in super-G, still chasing 86th win, Sheldon gives Buckeyes lift vs. Michigan in return, White out as Pitt hoops coach after 42-99 mark, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. The first category of referees we're going to be looking at is WNBA referees. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Furthermore, a lot of WNBA referees spend their off-season refereeing Division I women's (and men's) college basketball games. She will return for her 10th season in the WNBA, all of which have been in Phoenix, after she missed last year because of a 10-month detainment in Russia. How Much Do NBA Referees Make? - FanBuzz WNBA 2020: Points of Education (Part 1) "She really did an awesome job of reaching out to us and saying, 'Hey, I really want to start this group. We [officials] are human, too. Jelks views Palmer as a key mentor in multiple ways. All we have to do is find the best referees and open our eyes to half of the population.. 6 Women Are Changing What the Modern NBA Referee Looks Like The NBA now has eight women at the full-time referee level, the most the league has ever had at one time. "I just hope one day we can stop counting. They allow the league's scouts to evaluate larger swaths of the population and identify greater cumulative talent. $18K. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". During the 2021-22 NFL season, the . Within several years, for the 2014-15 season, Holtkamp-Sterling would become the first woman hired as a full-time NBA official in nearly two decades. Her expediated journey, as she describes, to the NBA began by navigating a very competitive, male-dominated, officiating industry where she quickly moved up the referee ladder. No portion of NBA.com Palmer broke barriers in 1997 when she became the first female to referee an NBA game. Before becoming a ref in 2018, Moyer-Gleich officiated games for the WNBA. NBA adds 4 new full-time referees, including 2 more women RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Friday's 10-game slate. Chicago Sky centre Astou Ndour was walking down the court in . Officiating is ostensibly the main subject, and certainly a common thread. Top 5 NBA female referees in the game today 1) Lauren Holtkamp . First, the sixth-seeded Chicago Sky hosts the seventh-seeded Dallas Wings at 8 p.m. Holtkamp-Sterling finds comfort in having close working relationships with other NBA officials. She also enjoys Bikram yoga and swimming. Today, there are five full-time women referees in the NBA -- the most in the . While top NBA stars such as LeBron James and Steph Curry pocket about $38 million to $40 million annually, the highest-paid WNBA stars don't even broach half a million. After playing college basketball in Millersville, Pennsylvania, Ashley Moyer decided to pursue a career in officiating. Im sure we would have been open to it, said Sam Perkins, forward/center who played for four teams from 1984 to 2001 and is now the treasurer for the National Basketball Retired Players Association. Flores has spent nine seasons in the G League and 10 in the WNBA, and is also an accomplished women's college referee with two Final Fours on her resume. Both entered the league fully in 1997, and Palmer, now 56, got the honor of making history when she donned the whistle for a late October game that year. The women that are coming on the scene now are helping us -- we're not helping them.". . The referees had to be ready and so did the players, coaches and fans. The NBA feels very strongly that this should be a meritocracy. Tramel: Referee Amy Bonner earns ultimate compliment in historic debut season in Big 12. Referee - August 12, 2021. Young women shouldn't have to look at officiating, or so many other traditionally male-dominated professions, as rarified air for only the chosen few. They all worked between 20 and 26 games as non-staff referees last season. But neither supply nor demand were what they are now. In the beginning, back in 1997, there were two: Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner. Ex-Rainbow Wahine Maj Forsberg makes mark in WNBA landscape as league's Add onto that insurance, retirement plans and the opportunity to travel the country for free, it's no wonder referees stick around for the long haul. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Philadelphia Basketball Referee - NCAA-W D1 Referee Leaders - PhillyRef If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. In this particular business, thats one of the loftiest goals of diversity: Sameness. . Career Explorer Guide also estimated . WNBA 2019: Points of Education (Part 1) These were different times. The NBA wants female head coaches. But how feasible is that goal? Moyer-Gleich tells multiple stories of NBA security staff confusing her for a cheerleader or a referee's wife when she entered the building to officiate games; to varying degrees, her peers have similar experiences. And 25 of the 63 referees in the G-League are women. After finishing up her studies in physical education at the University of Missouri-St. Lois decided to make her way into a career of reffing basketball. I would love for you guys to be a part of it.' She was working a high school AAU tournament one weekend when a bystander approached her with a simple question: Why dont you do this for a living? There's no jealousy here, no bitterness over an "easier" path faced by today's young women. Cheryl, Robert, Matt and Dannica have demonstrated the ability and professionalism required to be a full-time NBA officiating staff member, said Monty McCutchen, the NBAs senior vice president overseeing referee development and training. Two women make NBA history, ref Magic game together ET. It would quickly give way not only to an increase in gender diversity among officials, but to an inspiring tale of women empowerment and mentorship at the highest levels of a traditionally male field -- one full of locker room anecdotes, weekly Skype chats, group birthday vacations and a number of challenges. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Women's College Basketball. The 2022-23 Stanford Cardinal women's basketball team will represent Stanford University during the 2022-23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. With more female referees officiating games, fans have begun to wonder if there's a pay gap between female referees and male referees. Any player or coach would be ill-advised to go there. (Suggested reading: Floyd Mayweather interested in buying NBA team). She was the first female referee in German professional football. We won't send you spam. It stuck for good, always as a term of endearment. CHICAGO --Prior to Game 3 of the 2021 WNBA Finals on Friday night, Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi addressed the $2,500 fine she received from the league for making "inappropriate contact . A record 12 women worked games last season in the NBA, some getting called up from the G League and non-staff levels to help when the leagues officiating roster was decimated by COVID-19. While standing on the free-throw extended line during a timeout, Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling recalls a quiet yet powerful moment early in her NBA officiating career. So my predecessors recognized this and put those seeds into the G League. "They congratulated me for getting hired and being in the WNBA, I was like, that . Cheryl Flores and Dannica Mosher have been promoted to the level of full-time staff officials, the NBA said Thursday. The NBA's roster of female referees continues to grow. NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee Guide, Proficient in Referee and Umpire positions, High-level play calling, partnering skills, and tools for handling any game situation, including interpersonal communication, Understands the importance of extending into their secondary area of coverage, with accuracy, Proficient in all Umpire position requirements, Effectively the glue for a crew through consistency, teamwork, and communication - makes partners better by carrying a larger portion of the crews load than an Umpire, Capable of handling some plays in secondary area of coverage, Ability to recognize and appropriately manage shifts in game conditions (intensity, emotions, decorum, style of play etc. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. There won't be a number anymore. rights reserved. I [grew up] admiring Allen Iverson because I felt like he was just so unapologetically himself, despite what society or what the basketball community thought of him, good or bad, says Jelks. Similar to Holtkamp, Jelks played basketball at a highly competitive level before entering the world of officiating. The 2004 graduate of Brush High School worked 16 regular-season NBA . Effectively the glue for a crew through consistency, teamwork, and communication - makes partners better by carrying a larger portion of the crew's load than an Umpire. How much do NBA referees make? This is their average - Interbasket What is NBA Referee Salary in 2022?Latest - CareerExplorer Earning a high school diploma or GED is the minimum education requirement for referees across league levels.