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 is a famous American basketball referee. She was born on July 20, 1964. Violet Palmer made history as the first woman to become a top referee in a major professional sports league in the United States. She worked in both the NBA and the WNBA.
Violet Palmer also played basketball herself. She was part of two championship teams in college. She retired from refereeing in 2016. She is recognized for her important role in sports history.
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Early Life and Education
Violet Palmer was born in Lynwood, California. She grew up in Compton, California. She went to Compton High School. After high school, she attended Cal Poly Pomona.
Playing Basketball in College
At Cal Poly Pomona, Violet Palmer played point guard for the women's basketball team. She helped her team win two national championships. These were the NCAA Division II women's championships in 1985 and 1986.
Helping Young Referees
In 2001, Violet Palmer started a special camp. It is called Violet Palmer's Official Camp. This camp helps young people learn how to be good sports officials. The camp happens every year in July.
Becoming a Professional Referee
Violet Palmer has refereed many basketball games. She worked in both the NBA and WNBA. Her journey to becoming a top referee was very important for women in sports.
Making History in the NBA
In 1996, Violet Palmer was almost chosen to referee a men's college basketball tournament. But the offer was taken back. Some people were not ready for a woman to referee men's games.
However, in 1997, the NBA hired Violet Palmer. She and another woman, Dee Kantner, became the first female officials in a major U.S. professional sport. On October 31, 1997, Violet Palmer refereed her first NBA game. It was between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. This was a huge moment in sports history.
Challenges and Successes
Many people celebrated Violet Palmer's achievement. Magazines like Ebony and Sports Illustrated wrote about her. Some male basketball players were unsure at first. But Violet Palmer showed that she could do the job well. She refereed games without major problems related to her gender.
On April 25, 2006, Violet Palmer became the first woman to referee an NBA playoff game. This was a game between the Indiana Pacers and the New Jersey Nets. She also refereed an NBA All-Star Game in 2014. This was another first for a woman in major U.S. sports.
Retirement and Later Work
Violet Palmer retired from refereeing NBA games on September 22, 2016. She had knee problems that made it hard to continue. By then, she had refereed 919 NBA games.
After retiring from the court, she started working for the NBA. She became a manager in their referee operations department. She helps train and manage other referees. She also works as a coordinator for women's basketball officials for different college conferences.
Recognition and Awards
Violet Palmer has received many honors for her pioneering work.
In 2022, her college, Cal Poly Pomona, gave her an honorary doctorate degree. This recognized her achievements and contributions.
In 2025, Violet Palmer will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a very high honor for anyone involved in women's basketball.
Images for kids
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Palmer in 2009
