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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
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at the time, also expressed concern at having females referee male players. 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.
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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.
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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
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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." Former basketball player
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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
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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
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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.
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https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1997/11/03/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/PALMERS-WEEKEND-FREE-OF-INCIDENT-DEEMED-A-SUCCESS.aspx
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Palmer is an out lesbian. In July 2014, she announced plans to marry her girlfriend of 20 years, celebrity hair stylist Tanya Stine.
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https://bigwest.org/news/2022/6/20/the-big-west-welcomes-violet-palmer-as-womens-basketball-coordinator-of-officials.aspx
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508:"Western Athletic Conference Official Site - Palmer Named WAC Coordinator of Women's Basketball Officials"
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In 2022, Palmer received an honorary doctorate of science from her alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona.
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On June 20, 2022, Palmer was hired as coordinator of women's basketball officials for the
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On May 28, 2009, Palmer was hired as coordinator of women's basketball officials for the
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On July 6, 2015, Palmer was named coordinator of women's basketball officials for the
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144:, Palmer's achievement was received with mixed feelings. While magazines such as
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354:"The NBA's First Female and Openly Lesbian Ref Recalls 19 Years of Close Calls"
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188:, ejected all 10 players who were on the court when the brawl broke out.
534:"NBA's First Female Referee, Violet Palmer, Retires from On-Court Work"
247:"NBA's First Female Referee, Violet Palmer, Retires from On-Court Work"
372:"Dallas Mavericks at Vancouver Grizzlies Box Score, October 31, 1997"
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On
February 16, 2014, Palmer became the first female to officiate an
314:"Video: NBA Referee Violet Palmer Being Delightful on Family Feud"
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on the 1985 and 1986 NCAA Division II women's championship teams.
54:. In the NBA, Palmer wore uniform number 12. She retired in 2016.
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563:"Out lesbian NBA referee Violet Palmer being honored with award"
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328:"Violet Palmer and Larry Gates to Receive Honorary Doctorates"
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https://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/052809aaa.html
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In 2010, Palmer was part of a family team on the game show
443:"Andrew Lawrence: NBA's female ref stays out of limelight"
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Palmer was one of three NBA referees who officiated the
271:"Howard: Violet Palmer paved the way for other women"
619:Cal Poly Pomona Broncos women's basketball players
421:SI Kids: Sports News for Kids, Kids Games and More
577:"NBA ref Violet Palmer to marry longtime partner"
74:lived as small children. She attended college at
180:. The officiating crew, which also consisted of
66:, Palmer grew up in the same neighborhood where
202:in any of the four major United States sports.
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172:-marred December 16, 2006, game between the
649:Continental Basketball Association referees
30:(born July 20, 1964) is a retired American
684:20th-century African-American sportspeople
689:20th-century African-American sportswomen
417:"Violet Palmer: Still Breaking Barriers"
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415:Kellogg, Aaliyah (29 September 2015).
644:Sportspeople from Compton, California
614:African-American referees and umpires
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699:20th-century African-American people
674:21st-century African-American people
679:21st-century African-American women
664:American women referees and umpires
441:Lawrence, Andrew (27 April 2007).
105:Palmer has officiated hundreds of
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694:20th-century American sportswomen
334:. Cal-Poly Pomona. March 21, 2022
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624:African-American LGBTQ people
312:Ryan, Chris (April 3, 2013).
659:LGBTQ people from California
629:American lesbian sportswomen
207:Western Athletic Conference
16:American basketball referee
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654:Women basketball referees
468:"Violet Palmer Biography"
669:LGBTQ basketball players
376:Basketball-Reference.com
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193:West Coast Conference
160:, who played for the
22:
390:"Meet Violet Palmer"
277:. November 27, 2013.
120:In 1997, Palmer and
28:Violet Renice Palmer
565:. 28 November 2017.
472:Notable Biographies
218:Big West Conference
127:Vancouver Grizzlies
78:, where she played
64:Compton, California
583:. Associated Press
447:Sports Illustrated
153:Sports Illustrated
101:Officiating career
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396:. 2 December 2013
289:"Cal Poly Pomona"
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186:Robbie Robinson
178:New York Knicks
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76:Cal Poly Pomona
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52:New Jersey Nets
34:referee in the
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174:Denver Nuggets
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72:Venus Williams
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48:Indiana Pacers
23:Palmer in 2009
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514:on 2015-07-09
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639:NBA referees
585:. Retrieved
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512:the original
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358:www.vice.com
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254:. Retrieved
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182:Dick Bavetta
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162:Phoenix Suns
158:Dennis Scott
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62:A native of
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27:
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609:1964 births
122:Dee Kantner
91:Family Feud
80:point guard
603:Categories
518:2015-07-06
298:2008-09-12
293:CSU Mentor
256:2021-11-18
232:References
137:, Canada.
32:basketball
581:USA Today
117:players.
58:Biography
587:July 31,
338:June 25,
275:ESPN.com
129:and the
452:18 July
426:18 July
400:18 July
332:CPP.edu
113:games.
68:Serena
394:EBONY
170:brawl
147:Ebony
142:woman
140:As a
133:, in
589:2014
454:2024
428:2024
402:2024
340:2024
184:and
176:and
150:and
111:WNBA
109:and
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50:and
40:WNBA
38:and
107:NBA
36:NBA
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
