Oct 15, 2022. After a successful college career, she began working her way up as an official. More than anything, it's that normalcy that today's women NBA referees aspire to. Individual game assignments for referees are posted at NBA.com/official at approximately 9 a.m. 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. Were capable and not just capable but like beyond excellent and can do the job just as well as our male counterparts.. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Please logout and login again. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Rather, Hopkins said afterward that in general the Liberty got the short end of the stick, both in this game and all season long. And thats the way our society should be, McCutchen said. For female basketball referees, men's college basketball may be the bleakest of frontiers. 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.. McCutchen said the league has no data indicating referees are challenged more or less based on gender. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. "She'll always say, if I did it, you can do it. If they are working full then they are paid $250,000 per season. 4 Sean Wright, Katie Patterson. The Australian was the first female to officiate the A-League series in 2015. With the second half of the 2021-22 season well underway, shes now starting to develop those relationships as she gets more reps across the league. And thats not where the NBA or any other meritocracy wants to be if its goal is to have the most talented, hardest-working members get the most opportunities and rise highest. Now, there are five different women officiating games on a nightly basis. Earning a high school diploma or GED is the minimum education requirement for referees across league levels. She struggled at times with the constant demands from those she encountered, both stated and implied, to justify herself or explain her pursuit of success in a heavily male-dominated field. There was an error submitting your subscription. 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. Basketball Referee Salaries for Other Leagues. Once an individual reaches senior level, they make an average of $500,000 per year. View. RotoWire names five under-the-radar players who could add value to your rosters as we approach fantasy playoffs. The first category is WNBA referees, the second is entry-level referees and the third is the top of the line senior referees the best of the best. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Adding women to the refereeing positions has been a priority for McCutchen and other NBA executives, including Commissioner Adam Silver. Cheryl Flores and Dannica Mosher have been promoted to the level of full-time staff officials, the NBA said Thursday. . Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee has approved the 11 game officials, who will bring a combined experience of 63 Women's Final Four appearances, to officiate the three games . In 2014, Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling became the first woman hired as a full-time NBA official in nearly two decades. 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. These goals are attainable now in ways they just couldn't have been even a generation prior. Inspiration was even easier to come by for Jenna Schroeder, 35, another former collegiate athlete who, like Holtkamp-Sterling, transitioned to the officiating side following college. Before we do, check out a compilation video of every technical foul handed out last season. "She really did an awesome job of reaching out to us and saying, 'Hey, I really want to start this group. "It's almost normal now. Its just fantastic. She would love to see the MLB bring women into the umpire ranks, just as the NBA has demonstrated with its own officials throughout the years. . And as the first to reach this plateau since, she's turned around and served a similarly important role for those following her. "I'm not sure how it was that it remained so male-dominated for so long," said Silver last month. 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. Bonner already had started working NCAA Division I women's . 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. 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. 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 2019: Points of Education (Part 3), 2020 WNBA Inside the Rulebook: Block, Charge, WNBA 2020 Playoffs: Points of Education (Part 1), WNBA 2020 Playoffs: Points of Education (Part 2), 2019 WNBA Inside the Rulebook: Continuation. 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. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. That doesn't bother me, because we're all just referees and we have to be able to co-mingle. "I remember learning about Dee and Violet being NBA referees," Holtkamp-Sterling said of her younger self. 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.. I had absolutely no idea you could be a referee and make a living out of it. Weve all been rookies, whether youre a coach, a player or a referee. Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling remembers feeling vulnerable, but not intimidated. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. When we see three females working the G League together, we're empowered, we're inspired. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. 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? 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. ET. None attempt to discount their own burdens that they overcame. Her love for simply being on the basketball court fused with her desire to prove those naysayers wrong. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. In recent years there has been a massive uptick in female referees in the NBA. 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.. The first female NBA referees Chuck Solomon/Getty Images. According to Career Trend, those who officiate WNBA games earn a salary of $180,000 per year to start. Compared to other sports, referee's earnings in the NBA and WNBA are among the best. . Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. "While there were times it could wear on my spirit, it was also a real test of what I want to do and why it's important that I'm choosing to pursue this," Holtkamp-Sterling said of those initial struggles. To amplify your resume, you can try to get involved with your school's basketball team as either a student manager, player or referee assistant if possible. And Silver . I love that Im a part of an organization that hires you based on if you can do the job and based on your skills. Flores and Mosher earned promotions from the G League level, as did another pair of new hires Matt Kallio, who becomes the NBAs first international full-time official, and Robert Hussey. She played through college and worked her way up the high school, college . Just as meaningful, though, is the broader support structure that's been created. Copyright 2022 Referee Enterprises Inc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Those changes include separate dedicated locker rooms for women officials. In the second game, the fifth-seeded Phoenix Mercury faces the eighth-seeded New York Liberty at 10 p.m. 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 other five Sage, Schroeder, Simone Jelks, Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling and Ashley Moyer-Gleich are active in the league today and among . "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. Collect, curate and comment on your files. The two even got to officiate two high school games together, a moment that seems like yesterday in her memory even as she's gone on to call contests in both the WNBA and NBA. Holtkamp-Sterling has become a big sister figure to the other women in the program. . Grasping it entirely is a struggle. Turner is permitted to get to a spot twitter.com/i/web/status/1, TONIGHT The NBA feels very strongly that this should be a meritocracy. "Like Vice President Harris, she worked her way to the . She is the leagues longest-tenured woman official. The NBA now has eight women at the full-time referee level, the most the league has ever had at one time. Jelks, along with her female counterparts, dont pay much attention to what fans or critics have to say and know they wouldnt be here if it wasnt for their esteemed skillset. Referee - August 12, 2021. They all worked between 20 and 26 games as non-staff referees last season. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The current group of eight full-timers all did games, as did Clare Aubry, ShaRae Mitchell, Blanca Burns and Jenna Reneau. The referees had to be ready and so did the players, coaches and fans. It does not store any personal data. I would love for you guys to be a part of it.' Jul 6, 2018, 01:32 PM EDT. 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. Before joining the big-league ranks, Natalie Sago was a ref for the G-League and WNBA. All parties involved can talk about themes like equality until they're blue in the face, but the truest mark of that state is actually when it's not a constant discussion topic. 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. When it comes to mentors within the officiating world, though, it all comes back to the paths forged before them. She becomes the sixth woman on the current staff, joining Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, Simone . Today, there are five full-time women referees in the NBA -- the most in the . In addition, referees are paid bonus money for working the playoffs and NBA Finals. Natalie Sago, 31, a 2018 addition to the league, had a birthright motivating her: Her father, Dr. Shelton Sago, was a 35-year high school official in Missouri, a local legend in both basketball and football. A native of Cleveland, a city she describes as being filled with underdog energy and soul, her family relocated to the suburbs where Jelks, like many teenagers, yearned to fit in among her peers. Twenty-four of the G League's 57 referees are women, plus several who jump between the NBA and G League (all NBA officials with under four years of experience are commonly assigned as crew chief for G League games to gain experience); 15 of the WNBA's 33 referees are women, nine of whom also work games in the G League. All Rights Reserved. As a lifelong hooper and collegiate player, Ashley Moyer-Gleich knows first-hand about those frustrating moments during a game, like when a whistle is blown against her or not getting a call after thinking she was fouled. The approval of her peers in the officiating world. 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. 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. It was the first time that women officiated regular-season games in an all-male U.S. professional league. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. R denotes rookie. 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. 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. They make up 8% of the 75-member officiating staff. The NFL pays referees an average of $205,000 per annum. As the NBA continues to normalize the notion of women officials in this male-dominated space, Holtkamp-Sterling is confident the league is moving in the right direction. She dedicated herself completely to the game, but also to earning respect just like anyone else. I dont notice whether coaches are hands off. I havent seen any [bullying]. Any player or coach would be ill-advised to go there. 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. As a proud Black and LGBTQ woman, Palmer especially was a barrier-breaker in more ways than one. It put tears in her eyes "that someone would actually put me in that class of people." SHARE. Floyd Mayweather interested in buying NBA team, Blake Griffin trolled by YouTuber courtside. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. The NBA's roster of female referees continues to grow. Hussey has worked five G League seasons and two in the WNBA. 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. In the WNBA, an entry-level referee makes an average of $16,000 a year, or $425 per game . Although she considers herself a basketball junkie, the former collegiate softball player is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan and follows the sport closely. I see the competitive spirit of coaches treating everyone the same, he said. She worked the 2013 and 2014 NBA G League Finals and the 2014 WNBA Conference Finals. Scott has spent much of her first year in the league building rapport with the players and teams. N BA commissioner Adam Silver wants more female referees in the NBA. ET each game day. And that is where the NBA has been busy in recent years. When we see one referee get some type of accolade, we highlight it on our pages on social media. In the 1990s, only two female referees managed to work their way to the top. The ability to advance in this career is evident. They allow the league's scouts to evaluate larger swaths of the population and identify greater cumulative talent. 2023 Getty Images. Referees: Katie Lukanich, Darren Krzesnik, Kyle Bacon. To its credit, the NBA hasn't been satisfied at simply hitting numerical targets for the sake of appearance -- although no one's saying it's been perfect, either. Then, five years later, there was one: Palmer. But when she made the transition from basketball player to basketball referee, her perspective on those tough moments shifted dramatically. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. rights reserved. ET. Referee Kevin Fahy on Sunday ejected Astou Ndour of the WNBA 's Chicago Sky after she appeared to accidentally make contact with his stomach as he walked into her. Note: This article is archival in nature. There's no jealousy here, no bitterness over an "easier" path faced by today's young women. $425. Today, she is best known for the memes that surfaced after an encounter she had with Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic. Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder have made NBA history as the first female referees to work on the same court. . The names she's invoking are Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner, the first full-time women referees to ever work in the NBA. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I grew up watching her.". None of it bothered me. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Looking for a way to soothe anxious nerves, she called Kantner before her first WNBA game, then again before her first NBA preseason game. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. "In that moment, he was being very clear -- there was no micro-aggression or anything: 'I'm going to tell you exactly that I don't think you belong here doing this.'". Consider a theme like locker rooms. The league is ahead of its peers here, although progress must be viewed relatively. Cheryl Flores and Dannica Mosher have been promoted to the level of full-time staff officials, the NBA said Thursday. While that was the most overtly negative experience Holtkamp-Sterling recalls from her career, it wasn't the only one. I'm good, I'll tell you whether or not she's cute!' The three prominent distinctions among the NBA Referees are entry-level referees or rookies, referees for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and senior-level referees. As it turns out, there are three categories that NBA referees fall into. Moyer-Gleich played basketball at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. WNBA 2020 Playoffs: Points of Education (Part 2), 2019 WNBA Inside the Rulebook: Screens And this is not a skill you can learn overnight.. But again, thats counting. Entry-level referees are on the lower end of that scale and receive larger paydays the longer they are in the league. She got her professional start in the WNBA, which was a big deal for her because she grew up idolizing players such as Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi. There aren't many great answers for why 17 years passed between women being hired, for instance, although it's understandable why those at the top of today's league prefer to look forward. 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. WNBA 2020 Playoffs: Points of Education (Part 1) Flores has spent nine seasons in the G League and 10 in the WNBA, and is also an accomplished women's college referee with .