Violet Palmer

Violet Palmer

Class of 2024

  • Officiated her first NCAA Division I women's basketball game (1991)
  • Joined the NBA's referee training program (1995)
  • Selected to officiate in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament (1996)
  • Officiated the WNBA's inaugural season and the first WNBA Championship (1997)
  • Became the first woman to officiate an NBA game, alongside Dee Kantner, and the first woman to officiate in any major U.S. men's professional sports league (1997)
  • Naismith Award Women's Official of the Year (1999)
  • Officiated five NCAA Women's Final Fours, including two national championship games
  • Became the first woman to officiate an NBA playoff game (2006)
  • Named coordinator of women's basketball officials for the West Coast Conference (2009) and Pac-12 Conference (2010), later adding the WAC, Big Sky, and Big West
  • Became the first woman to officiate an All-Star Game in any major U.S. professional sport, at the NBA All-Star Game (2014)
  • Retired from on-court officiating after 19 NBA seasons and 919 games, moving into an NBA referee development role (2016)
  • Inducted into the Cal Poly Pomona Athletics Hall of Fame (2020)
  • Received an honorary doctorate from Cal Poly Pomona (2022)
  • National Association of Sports Officials Gold Whistle Award (2023)
  • Inducted into the California Collegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame (2023)
  • Starting point guard at Cal Poly Pomona under Coach Darlene May, leading the Broncos to a 107-20 record, four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, three regional titles, and four CCAA regular season championships (1982-1986)
  • 2x NCAA Division II National Champion with Cal Poly Pomona (1985, 1986)

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