Violet Palmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Violet Palmer
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Palmer in 2009
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| Born | July 20, 1964 |
| Alma mater | Cal Poly Pomona |
| Occupation | Basketball referee |
| Years active | 1997–2016 |
| Employer | National Basketball Association |
Violet Renice Palmer (born July 20, 1964) is an American retired basketball referee. She made history as the first female official to reach the highest level in any major U.S. professional sports league. This was a huge step for women in sports!
Violet Palmer also played college basketball. She was part of two NCAA Division II women's championship teams. After her playing career, she became a referee. She was the first woman to officiate an NBA playoff game on April 25, 2006. She retired in 2016 and was later honored in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. She was also recognized for her inspiring journey and contributions to sports in 2025.
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Violet Palmer: A Pioneer in Basketball Officiating
Early Life and College Basketball Success
Violet Palmer was born on July 20, 1964, in Lynwood, California. She grew up in Compton, California. This was the same neighborhood where famous tennis players Serena and Venus Williams lived when they were young.
Violet went to Compton High School. Later, she attended Cal Poly Pomona. There, she played point guard for the college basketball team. Her team won the NCAA Division II women's championship in both 1985 and 1986.
After her college days, Violet continued to be involved in basketball. In 2001, she started "Violet Palmer's Official Camp." This camp helps young people learn how to officiate basketball games. It runs every year from July 9 to July 11.
In 2010, Violet Palmer and her family appeared on the popular TV game show Family Feud. In 2022, her old college, Cal Poly Pomona, gave her an honorary doctorate degree. This recognized her amazing achievements.
Making History as an NBA Referee
Violet Palmer has refereed hundreds of games in both the NBA and the WNBA. Her journey to the top was not always easy.
In 1996, she was offered a chance to officiate a men's college tournament. However, the offer was later taken back. Some people were unsure about having a female referee for male players.
But Violet did not give up. In 1997, the NBA hired her and Dee Kantner. They became the first two women to officiate at the highest level of any major U.S. professional sport. This was a truly historic moment!
On October 31, 1997, Violet Palmer officiated her first NBA regular season game. It was between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. This game took place in British Columbia, Canada.
Her achievement was celebrated by many. Magazines like Ebony and Sports Illustrated praised her. However, some NBA players were surprised at first. They wondered if a woman could referee men's games.
Violet Palmer proved them wrong with her skill and fairness. She showed everyone that gender does not matter when it comes to being a great referee. She handled many challenging games throughout her career.
For example, she officiated a very intense game in December 2006. It was between the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. In that game, she and her fellow referees had to make tough decisions. They ejected many players to keep the game fair and safe.
Inspiring Others and Retirement
Violet Palmer continued to break barriers. On February 16, 2014, she became the first female to officiate an NBA All-Star Game. This is one of the biggest games of the year.
Beyond the court, Violet also helped organize women's basketball officiating. She worked as a coordinator for the West Coast Conference starting in 2009. Later, she took on similar roles for the Western Athletic Conference in 2015 and the Big West Conference in 2022.
Violet Palmer retired from refereeing NBA games on September 22, 2016. She had knee issues that made it hard to continue on the court. By then, she had refereed an amazing 919 NBA games!
After retiring from on-court duties, she joined the NBA's referee operations department. She now works as a manager, helping to train and support new referees. Violet Palmer's career shows that with hard work and determination, you can achieve anything.
Violet Palmer's Family Life
Violet Palmer shares her life with her partner, Tanya Stine. They planned to marry in July 2014. Her family life provides strong support for her demanding career.
