"I'm not sure how it was that it remained so male-dominated for so long," said Silver last month. Holtkamp-Sterling has become a big sister figure to the other women in the program. It's something that the NBA's senior vice president spoke about last year, pointing out how there hasn't been a concentrated effort to hire female referees. Taking a look at the numbers behind Nikola Jokic's historic season for the Nuggets. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. "There's no reason why we shouldn't have more women as officials, coaches and basketball executives in our league," Silver said. 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. 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 . Today, Palmer counts men she worked with among her best friends. Entry-level NBA referees earn $250,000 per year as "rookies." The first female NBA referees Chuck Solomon/Getty Images. None of it bothered me. 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 . The Orlando forward played only 11 games this season after missing two years with a torn ACL. The former Cedar Crest and Millersville guard wasn't planning to be a ref at all but a college . NEW YORK The WNBA today announced the 15 referees who have earned spots to serve as on-court and/or alternate officials in the WNBA Playoffs 2021 presented by Google. Touchy, touchy. The setting was a local recreation center in her home state of Missouri, where she'd previously played four years of college basketball at Drury University before becoming a referee. Were looking for the best referees, McCutchen said. 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. Women's Champ Week predictions: Which teams will win the auto bids in all 32 conferences? [She's] always been my biggest role model. They get only $180,000 a year or $425 per match. Referee - August 12, 2021. "They congratulated me for getting hired and being in the WNBA, I was like, that . G League referee ShaRae Mitchell becomes the 15th woman in NBA history picked to work a regular-season game. The hiring of Holtkamp-Sterling (the "Sterling" comes from Jonathan, her husband and fellow NBA referee) was a first domino of sorts with Silver's modern NBA, after almost two decades of no upward movement for women referees. I was totally fan-girling. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. It does not store any personal data. Captaincy chaos and Waldrum ultimatums - Will Nigeria be ready for World Cup. The entry-level referees are paid around $600 per match. I see the competitive spirit of coaches treating everyone the same, he said. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Professional basketball has broken world barriers by having star players from countless different countries and broken the gender barrier as well. Not Available. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. WNBA referee Kevin Fahy is facing criticism for his extravagant ejection of Chicago Sky center Astou Ndour. Skype chats gave way to lengthy group texts, including several that persist to this day. WNBA referees even less. The NBA Referee's salary varies according to the job distinction as well as the experience of the referee. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". But now, in 2021-22, the NBA has six female referees on its full-time officiating staff, the most ever. may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. College Park Skyhawks GM Tori Miller is breaking barriers in the landscape of pro sports. When shes not working a game or traveling to the next city, the four-year NBA official remains dedicated to the league 24-7 from studying film to communicating with her associates. "They say I'm the sixth female referee in the NBA," said Schroeder, the sixth woman officially hired as a full-time NBA referee. Boger, 67, joined the NFL in 2004 as a line judge. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Flores and Mosher join Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Simone Jelks, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, Natalie Sago, Jenna Schroeder and Danielle Scott as women at the full-time NBA referee level. Penn Manor wrestler Trinity Mowery taking part in the PIAA junior officiating program referees a match at the Elizabethtown Optimist Club Junior High wrestling tournament at Elizabethtown High . The initiative is one that comes straight from the top of the NBA hierarchy. 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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? Moyer-Gleich officiated three seasons in the NBA G League, including the 2018 playoffs. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Sago says she will always praise the WNBA for helping prepare her for the NBA. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. (See the clip below.) Moyer-Gleich officiated three seasons in the NBA G League, including the 2018 playoffs. The other five women officials speak highly and graciously of her and look to her as a mentor as well as a trailblazer for referees. The league is ahead of its peers here, although progress must be viewed relatively. Probably. Sago, Holtkamp-Sterling, Schroeder and Moyer-Gleich were all on-hand in Clearwater, Florida to celebrate Sago's 30th birthday a couple summers ago (Jelks wasn't yet a full-time official). NEW YORK - NBA G League referees Cheryl Flores, Robert Hussey, Matt Kallio and Dannica Mosher have been promoted to full-time NBA staff officials for the 2022-23 season . 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. The NBA's roster of female referees continues to grow. February 4, 2021. In 1997, Violet Palmer and Dee . UFC 285's Shevchenko by the numbers: It all adds up to domination, Infighting of Women's World Cup faves Spain, France, Canada reveals big issues in the sport. In 2003, she was the main referee for the 2002-03 Women's DFB-Pokal final between 1. Holtkamp officiated six seasons in the NBA G League and four seasons in the WNBA. The Associated Press released a study Friday regarding the NCAA referee pay gap. San Diego State. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. By TIM REYNOLDS October 18, 2021. While that was the most overtly negative experience Holtkamp-Sterling recalls from her career, it wasn't the only one. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I think that the NBA is very visual and theyve done a great job of showing that. Areas like these come to the forefront as the NBA continues to strive for an earned reputation as a progressive organization. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. "Dee did it in a day where I'm sure she didn't have that support.". The NBA now has the most . Moyer-Gleich played basketball at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. I would love for you guys to be a part of it.' Under scrutiny from her first tipoff, Palmer instantly proved she could withstand the grumbling and ref . Schroeder said she'd love to see her daughter take up officiating when she grows up -- although she joked her wife, Anderson, may represent the more lucrative career path as a physician. Instead, the Farmington, Mo., native spent most of her time traveling with her dad, a high school and collegiate basketball referee for 35-plus years, to all of his games and tournaments. "Being a Black woman herself, being a trailblazer as the first African-American [woman referee] in the NBA, she understands 100% of the challenges that I face," Jelks, 35, said. She joined the pros as a full-time ref in 2018 and had a side career as a bartender while climbing her way up the ranks. We are excited for them to have reached this milestone in their careers.. "She'll always say, if I did it, you can do it. Jul 6, 2018, 01:32 PM EDT. He . Jelks views Palmer as a key mentor in multiple ways. "Lauren took about six of us under her wing a couple summers ago," Sago said. I think when I got hired, that had its own sort of significance and same for all the women after me. WNBA 2020 Playoffs: Points of Education (Part 1) The approval of her peers in the officiating world. The current group of eight full-timers all did games, as did Clare Aubry, ShaRae Mitchell, Blanca Burns and Jenna Reneau. Five full-time women in officiating today eclipses the total of the NFL, MLB and NHL combined. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. MLB umpires rake in an impressive $300,000 annually, and the referees in the NHL receives around $275,000 . In this particular business, thats one of the loftiest goals of diversity: Sameness. The average salary of a male basketball player is put at $7.7 million while that of their female counterparts is a mere $100,658. "Did I hear it? And if it were male officials, you wouldnt call them sensitive.. It'll just be the norm.". Kantner's NBA career was the shorter of the two, spanning until 2002 when she was released by the league. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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.. Simone Jelks, the first Black woman hired in this role since Palmer herself, was also one of several women to attend Palmer's yearly refereeing camps before reaching the NBA level (such camps are common in the refereeing world, both for development and scouting; Palmer's is open to all collegiate officials). 0. Women officials now make up 8% of the 75-member officiating staff as the league continues its focus on hiring the most talented and hardest-working referees in the business. She etched her name into the history books as the first mother to officiate a league game. According to a warrant for Morrow's arrest, he's facing charges of assault by strangulation, second-degree kidnapping and communicating threats. With four more working on a part-time basis and two fill-ins from the NBA G League, the league has a dozen women on call to make calls on any given night. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ability to recognize and appropriately manage shifts in game conditions (intensity, emotions . Before we do, check out a compilation video of every technical foul handed out last season. 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. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Back then, Palmer hardly had time to consider the significance of her accomplishment. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. It was that support and recognition that both of us were sort of in the space that women arent typically in and that we were sort of bolstered by seeing each other there, doing the work, said Holtkamp-Sterling. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. I'm good, I'll tell you whether or not she's cute!' Individual game assignments for referees are posted at NBA.com/official at approximately 9 a.m. 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. Before becoming a ref in 2018, Moyer-Gleich officiated games for the WNBA. Kallio a native of Edmonton, Alberta has seven years of G League experience, five years of WNBA experience and worked the Tokyo Olympics. The NBA's roster of female referees continues to grow. Her love for simply being on the basketball court fused with her desire to prove those naysayers wrong. $425. Women's Euros. Currently, there are six female referees who work NBA games, up from one, Lauren Holtkamp, seven years ago. Holtkamp-Sterling, now 40, had just finished officiating a youth boy's game as the solo referee. She also enjoys Bikram yoga and swimming. WNBA announces officials for WNBA Playoffs 2021 presented by Google, WNBA Draft 2023 presented by State Farm to be held on April 10, NBA legend Pau Gasol named recipient of 2023 Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, WNBAs streaming platform, WNBA League Pass, to include 2023 Athletes Unlimited basketball games, First-ever WNBA Canada game to feature Sky and Lynx in Toronto, Defending WNBA champion Aces to host AT&T WNBA All-Star 2023, DICKS Sporting Goods becomes Official Sporting Goods Retail Partner of the WNBA. Included aren't just the five women who have achieved full-time NBA status, but also many more working their way up through the G League or WNBA training ranks. "Here we are in a very male-dominated space, and the league was very proactive to make sure I had what I needed.". Our women officials give technical fouls at the same rate as anyone else., Said Williams: I hope one day well be able to look at them as officials instead of a lady official or a male official.. Palmer and Kantner were so much more than just trailblazers; the weight they shouldered eased the burden for all who came after. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. "This isn't, 'Let's go out and do social work,'" Monty McCutchen, NBA's vice president of referee development and training, said. Senior-level referees are the best of the best. So my predecessors recognized this and put those seeds into the G League. But she viewed the NBA as a challenge to conquer, plus she took comfort in the fact that at the time, NBA mechanics were actually pretty similar to those she was used to at the women's college level. Whether they are sharing experiences from their rookie seasons or answering any of her questions, she finds comfort knowing she can trust her peers in any situation. WNBA. Moyer-Gleich recounts similar experiences. She served as a WNBA referee in 2018. But now, in 2021-22, the NBA has six female referees on its full-time officiating staff, the most ever. The NBA has always been a league that prides itself on giving equal opportunity to everyone. . (Suggested reading: Floyd Mayweather interested in buying NBA team). Referee assignments are posted at approximately 9:00am ET each game day. He was promoted to referee in 2006 and has overseen gameday officiating crews since. THE FIRST NBA INDIAN ORIGIN REFEREES JOURNEY FROM PRE-MED TO PRE-REF, NBRA ANNOUNCES RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT FOR G LEAGUE START OF SEASON, While Turners arms are vertical, he is jumping A to B into the path of Brown. Bonner already had started working NCAA Division I women's . But, its hard for someone whos a player to sit down and read the rule book and understand it because its so its not relatable to how a player understands the game.. But when she made the transition from basketball player to basketball referee, her perspective on those tough moments shifted dramatically. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Of course," Palmer, who retired from the NBA in 2016, said. The other five Sage, Schroeder, Simone Jelks, Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling and Ashley Moyer-Gleich are active in the league today and among . Maj Forsberg, who came from Denmark and played for the Rainbow Wahine from 1996-2000, sat behind . Then, five years later, there was one: Palmer. Basketball Referee Salaries for Other Leagues. "Once or twice a week in the summer, we would get on a Skype call and spend an hour or two hours talking rules, talking scenarios, situations. Referee. 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. Fahy walked into Ndour during the second quarter while looking in the opposite direction . Natalie Sago says her time officiating games in the WNBA prepared her for an NBA officiating job. "I just hope one day we can stop counting. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the Privacy Policy / Your California Privacy Rights and Terms of Use. Today, we're going to be taking a look at all three categories, how much each make and how a referee can climb their way up to the top level. . WNBA 2021: Points of Education (Part 1) When we see three females working the G League together, we're empowered, we're inspired. RotoWire names five under-the-radar players who could add value to your rosters as we approach fantasy playoffs. "In recent years, we have focused on expanding our pipeline of officials to greatly increase the pool of potential hires, and we have seen encouraging results, not only in the NBA but in the WNBA and the G League as well," Adam Silver, who became NBA commissioner in 2014, said to ESPN. Because the Women's National Basketball Association is less successful than the NBA and has a shorter season, WNBA officials earn significantly less than NBA officials. As the buzzer sounded, the father of one of the boys in the game approached and accosted her over her gender. 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. The NBA feels very strongly that this should be a meritocracy. We can look at data, say from the 2011-12 season, to get an . Those whispers Holtkamp-Sterling would hear as she entered the league years later? . Danielle Scott and Angelica Suffren officiated an NBA Summer League game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat on Tuesday evening. These goals are attainable now in ways they just couldn't have been even a generation prior. . Conley was in the G League for seven seasons, Schwab for five and, like Scott, they also worked WNBA games this season. In recent years there has been a massive uptick in female referees in the NBA. Tickets for the WNBA's first-ever preseason matchup in Canada featuring the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx go on sale Wednesday, March 8, on International Women's Day. Playoff officials are selected by the WNBA Referee Operations management team based on three specific criteria throughout the season: WNBA Referee Operations graded rankings, play-calling accuracy and team feedback. "Like Vice President Harris, she worked her way to the . "Those girls get to see me on this platform, working with men in a male-dominated field.". The NBA promoted Danielle Scott to a full-time official on Monday, making her the sixth woman on the league's current staff. With the . Earning a high school diploma or GED is the minimum education requirement for referees across league levels. All that self-affirmation has finally come full circle. Chicago Sky centre Astou Ndour was walking down the court in . Top 5 NBA female referees in the game today 1) Lauren Holtkamp . The NBAs roster of female referees continues to grow. Simone Jelks worked her first game in the NBA in 2019. Six women referees took part in the . Danielle Scott decided to join the family business. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Miller making history as female G League GM, Women referees among latest called up to work games, Female officials Q&A Part 1: Path to the NBA, Female officials Q&A Part 2: Womens empowerment, Ex-NBA player Morrow facing assault charges, Durant passes 'Big O' for 13th in career points, NBA Fantasy: Under-the-radar additions for playoffs, Magic's Isaac (torn adductor) out for rest of season, Triple-double win streak shows Jokic dominance, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays and strategy for March 3. She worked the 2013 and 2014 NBA G League Finals and the 2014 WNBA Conference Finals. They make up 8% of the 75-member officiating staff. Hussey has worked five G League seasons and two in the WNBA. Similar to Holtkamp, Jelks played basketball at a highly competitive level before entering the world of officiating. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto And thats the way our society should be, McCutchen said. Players, Teams, Seasons, Leaders , . Luka Doncic Arguing With The Female Ref Fouling In Love What? Scott has spent much of her first year in the league building rapport with the players and teams. 2023 Getty Images. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Friday's 10-game slate. . 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. She was the first female referee in German professional football. (Prior to entering the league, Palmer worked as a referee in NCAA Division I women's basketball.) It was the first time that women officiated regular-season games in an all-male U.S. professional league. Browse 1,151 wnba referees stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. FFC Frankfurt and FCR 2001 Duisburg. Before joining the big-league ranks, Natalie Sago was a ref for the G-League and WNBA. The first category of referees we're going to be looking at is WNBA referees. Most notably, then-Celtics broadcaster Cedric Maxwell used a stunningly offensive "get back in the kitchen" line for a game Palmer was officiating in 2007 (Maxwell would later apologize). Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. Consider a theme like locker rooms. You can talk about the girl in the fifth row with the big ta-tas! Mosher has four seasons of G League officiating experience, five seasons in the WNBA and worked both the G League Finals and the WNBA Finals last season. R denotes rookie. any players who have declared for the 2022 WNBA draftincluding seniors, . Those inside the program aren't the only ones seeing this progress anymore, either. | Subscribe to access all D1 ref data. The NBA's roster of female referees continues to grow. There's no jealousy here, no bitterness over an "easier" path faced by today's young women. While the NBA continues to be at the forefront of providing more opportunities for women officials, other leagues such as the NFL and the American Hockey Association (the NHLs minor league affiliate) have taken strides in recent years with hiring their first women officials. #24 Scott, #77 Lane, #17 Sterling 2019 WNBA Inside the Rulebook: Continuation In terms of explaining certain officiating calls during live games, Moyer-Gleich uses her past experience as a player to translate and articulate the rule book into basketball jargon that players and coaches will understand. Its not uncommon, to be honest with you, Schroeder said with a laugh. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. "I feel very grateful that there were people before me to have experienced the initial pushback of what it's like being a female in a male-driven world," Jelks said. Other projections put the base salary for new referees somewhere around $250,000. With no big distinguishable difference between the referee pay for men and women, it's still clear that being a referee is a high-paying job. Cheryl Flores and Dannica Mosher have been promoted to the level of full-time staff officials, the NBA said Thursday. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. New to motherhood another around-the-clock job Moyer-Gleich remembers getting hired in 2018 as the jumping-off point for the league, which has now been a domino effect of more women coming through the officiating pipeline. Camp Hill resident Ashley Moyer-Gleich is in her second month as the fourth-ever female NBA referee. To order copies of Kicking off the list is Lauren Holtkamp. I dont notice whether coaches are hands off. I havent seen any [bullying]. 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. "But did it bother me? These women, who collectively had precious few female sports icons as children, now recognize their own role in inspiring a future generation. "Because I answered those questions early in the process for myself, it helped me create a career that is sustaining and meaningful.". Officials will be evaluated after each round of the playoffs to determine future advancement in the 2021 postseason. This is the league's . The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Today, though, this is frankly the bare minimum; no one in the league office is patting themselves on the back for simply keeping up with the times.