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Violet Palmer

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Palmer in 2009

Violet Renice Palmer (born July 20, 1964) is a retired American basketball referee in the NBA and WNBA[1] and the first female official to reach the highest competitive tier in any major U.S. professional sports league. She also earned recognition as a member of two NCAA Division II women's championship basketball teams. Palmer was the first woman to officiate an NBA playoff game when she did so in the April 25, 2006 match between the Indiana Pacers and New Jersey Nets. In the NBA, Palmer wore uniform number 12.[2] She retired in 2016.

Biography

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A native of Compton, California, Palmer grew up in the same neighborhood where Serena and Venus Williams lived as small children. She attended college at Cal Poly Pomona,[3] where she played point guard on the 1985 and 1986 NCAA Division II women's championship teams.

In 2001, Palmer established Violet Palmer's Official Camp to train youths in the art of officiating games. The camp runs annually from July 9 to July 11.[citation needed]

In 2010, Palmer was part of a family team on the game show Family Feud.[4]

In 2022, Palmer received an honorary doctorate of science from her alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona.[5]

Officiating career

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Palmer has officiated hundreds of NBA and WNBA games.

After years of refereeing at various levels, including NBA pre-season and exhibition games, Palmer was offered an opportunity to officiate the NCAA Division I men's tournament in 1996. She accepted, but the offer was later retracted when NCAA members balked at the idea of having a female referee male players.[6]

In 1997, Palmer and Dee Kantner were signed by the NBA to together become the first top-level female officials in any major U.S. professional sport. On October 31, 1997, Palmer made history when she officiated the NBA season opener between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks, in British Columbia, Canada.[7]

As a woman, Palmer's achievement was received with mixed feelings. While magazines such as Ebony[8] and Sports Illustrated[9][10] generally celebrated her achievement, some NBA players were critical. Charles Barkley: "Violet, I was wrong about you. I apologize. You're all right with me."[11] Former basketball player Dennis Scott, who played for the Phoenix Suns at the time, also expressed concern at having females referee male players.[12] Scott, in particular, worried that female referees would feel verbally or physically abused. However, Palmer has been officiating without any major gender issues so far.

Palmer was one of three NBA referees who officiated the brawl-marred December 16, 2006, game between the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. The officiating crew, which also consisted of Dick Bavetta and Robbie Robinson, ejected all 10 players who were on the court when the brawl broke out.

On May 28, 2009, Palmer was hired as coordinator of women's basketball officials for the West Coast Conference.[13]

On February 16, 2014, Palmer became the first female to officiate an All-Star Game in any of the four major United States sports.

On July 6, 2015, Palmer was named coordinator of women's basketball officials for the Western Athletic Conference.[14]

On September 22, 2016, Palmer retired from on-court duties with the NBA due to knee issues. Afterward, she began work as a manager in the NBA's referee operations department. At the time of her retirement, she had refereed 919 NBA games.[15]

On June 20, 2022, Palmer was hired as coordinator of women's basketball officials for the Big West Conference.[16]

Personal life

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Palmer is an out lesbian.[17] In July 2014, she announced plans to marry her girlfriend of 20 years, celebrity hair stylist Tanya Stine.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Pantorno, Joe. "NBA's First Female Referee, Violet Palmer, Retires from On-Court Work". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  2. ^ "Howard: Violet Palmer paved the way for other women". ESPN.com. November 27, 2013.
  3. ^ "Cal Poly Pomona". CSU Mentor. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  4. ^ Ryan, Chris (April 3, 2013). "Video: NBA Referee Violet Palmer Being Delightful on Family Feud".
  5. ^ "Violet Palmer and Larry Gates to Receive Honorary Doctorates". CPP.edu. Cal-Poly Pomona. March 21, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "The NBA's First Female and Openly Lesbian Ref Recalls 19 Years of Close Calls". www.vice.com.
  7. ^ "Dallas Mavericks at Vancouver Grizzlies Box Score, October 31, 1997". Basketball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Meet Violet Palmer". EBONY. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  9. ^ Kellogg, Aaliyah (29 September 2015). "Violet Palmer: Still Breaking Barriers". SI Kids: Sports News for Kids, Kids Games and More. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  10. ^ Lawrence, Andrew (27 April 2007). "Andrew Lawrence: NBA's female ref stays out of limelight". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Violet Palmer Biography". Notable Biographies.
  12. ^ https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1997/11/03/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/PALMERS-WEEKEND-FREE-OF-INCIDENT-DEEMED-A-SUCCESS.aspx [bare URL]
  13. ^ https://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/052809aaa.html[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Western Athletic Conference Official Site - Palmer Named WAC Coordinator of Women's Basketball Officials". Archived from the original on 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
  15. ^ Pantorno, Joe. "NBA's First Female Referee, Violet Palmer, Retires from On-Court Work". Bleacher Report.
  16. ^ https://bigwest.org/news/2022/6/20/the-big-west-welcomes-violet-palmer-as-womens-basketball-coordinator-of-officials.aspx [bare URL]
  17. ^ "Out lesbian NBA referee Violet Palmer being honored with award". 28 November 2017.
  18. ^ "NBA ref Violet Palmer to marry longtime partner". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
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