Since Holtkamp-Sterling, four more women have been hired as full-time NBA referees. The prep that goes intothat, June is the master atthose kinds of things. She is from United States. Rather, they've tried to go further. On October 31, 1997, with her heart pumping, hands sweating, and the eyes of the entire world upon her, Violet Palmer stepped onto the basketball court at a game between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. Those whispers Holtkamp-Sterling would hear as she entered the league years later? Rod Thorn, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball operations at the time, told the Washington Post in 1997 that Palmer's being chosen to officiate first was the I look over and see Dee Kantner. I know some of you don't like her so much, but trust me, she was a very impressive woman. Sitting at the bar my wife says, do you see who's at our right? Dee Kantner - Along with Palmer, one of the first two females to officiate in the NBA. Dee Kantner and Phillip Fulmer. This is not an exaggerationand I am sometimes prone tohyperbole, Kantner said. Great story. and an opportunity for me to go back into the archives. [2] For her post-secondary career, Kantner received an athletic scholarship from the University of Pittsburgh and was on multiple sport teams. That means indirectly, Youre kind of better than I am because youre seeing something and I recognize that! So, that makes them feel a little bit better and its like, Shes not dissing me. So now were having a conversation! Youve seen the movie MyBig Fat Greek Wedding where you had the loud family that takes a half-hour to say hi and takes you a half-hour to say goodbye? I was tough, she said. With the NCAA, Kantner has refereed for various Final Four and championship games in women's basketball. With the NCAA, Kantner has refereed for various Final Four and championship games in womens basketball. In several ways, Violet Palmer was a trailblazer. Shes grounded meand we get along so well,Courteau said. Welcome to the Boneyard. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Before she was hired by the NBA, Kantner was the supervisor of Kantner and Violet Palmer joined the NBA's officiating staff in Outside of the NCAA, Kantner was one of the first women referees in the National Basketball Association when she started in 1997. She was thereorganizing. "Can't pat them on the butt anymore," Michael Jordan told the Chicago Tribune upon learning of her hiring. Occasionally,she worked under a great dealof pressure. January 31, 2016 by Howard Mandel. These goals are attainable now in ways they just couldn't have been even a generation prior. Included aren't just the five women who have achieved full-time NBA status, but also many more working their way up through the G League or WNBA training ranks. Jul 2018 - Present4 years 8 months. The women that are coming on the scene now are helping us -- we're not helping them.". When RU was in Portland for the 2000 NCAA regionals, Dee got my wife, myself and 2 other folks tix to the NBA game at the Rose Garden one of the nights we were out there (we paid, she just arranged them, there was a box that appeared to be "guests" of refs and other folks). Then we headed back to our hotel. She wanted the public to focus on her performance on the court over anything else. As of last season, 11 different women were employed in assistant coaching positions around the NBA. While that was the most overtly negative experience Holtkamp-Sterling recalls from her career, it wasn't the only one. Its a little brightin here! I would look at mymom and brothers and sisterand say, Im not talking back! Once she accepted and Courteau's wife, Teresa Dahlem, deserves a great deal of credit for that this woman committed herself to raise the bar in officiating, just as she has since first pulling on a striped shirt. Title IX also made it better for Kantner and other women in athletics. Shejust said, Those are seven pagesof notes because your mechanicsare awful, your positioning isnot that good, but what youhave that feel for the game I cant teach you. So I thinkyoure going to be all right., Since the age of 24, and Im now 59, June and I have talked basketball almost every day. Sarah Thomas - The first female official to work an NFL game. Courteau was just asimpressive off the court, andMoore recalls one incident atDahlems school. None of it bothered me. On October 31, 1997, with her heart pumping, hands sweating, and the eyes of the entire world upon her, Violet Palmer stepped onto the basketball . Same way she was in Nashville last year. We're having a ball. And then Courteausummoned officials Joe Vaszilyand Beverly Roberts. Reminded me of Geno a bit! In 1997, Kantner was hired as one of the first women referees in the National Basketball Association alongside Violet Palmer. Those changes include separate dedicated locker rooms for women officials. She also appeared at the 1998 FIBA World Championship for Women and the 2000 Summer Olympics as a referee. Simply reading doesnt cut it for JuneCourteau. Dee Kantner goes through video clip during orientation training. Still, there's unanimous agreement that without the groundwork laid by the two trendsetters before them, the path would have been rockier. I'm a relatively new Boneyard member. Dee Kantner (F) Larry Sheppard (F) 12 Women's Final Four Game Officials 1996 Art Bomegen (SF) Doug Cloud (SF) Wes Dean (SF) John Morningstar (SF) Bob Trammell (SF) Scott Yarborough (SF) Sally Bell (F) Dee Kantner (F) Violet Palmer (F) 1997 Sally Bell (SF) Carla Fujimoto (SF) Ray Bomeli (SF) And then after youve been in the business, they know how to approach you. Also find out how she got rich at the age of 61. Eventually, it's going to catch up with you. development that we find that a referee is not making sufficient So many snap-judgments throughout and we fans will never be 100% happy. These were different times. Dee Kantner is a women's basketball referee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association since 1984. I would have expected management to have said something, yet there was nothing in any of my reviews. Outside of the NCAA, Kantner was a referee at the 1998 FIBA World Championship for Women, 2000 Summer Olympics and the Continental Basketball Association. When it comes to mentors within the officiating world, though, it all comes back to the paths forged before them. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Dee Kantner is a womens basketball referee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Looking forward to #6 this year in Tampa Bay. Jelks describes people telling her that their daughters tune into NBA games she works and won't even focus on the players; their eyes only on her. "Middle child" is perhaps more fitting; as the only one of the five, current full-time women in the league with a direct connection to the Palmer/Kantner days. She had way too much integrity to accept my "offer". progress in her own development and sometimes a change is needed. Decent seats. It was early in Holtkamp-Sterling's young basketball officiating career, years before she'd ascend to the NBA level. He's covered Penn State football since 1989. Kantner was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. Youve been watching whattheyve been calling, youvegot the tempo and the tone,just warm up, Courteau said. Rich Scarcella joined the Reading Eagle staff in 1986. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. [8] Kantner ended her engineering tenure in 1984. The land Cafe Stella sits on -- the Sunset Junction shopping complex, with its famous arrow sign -- belongs to an LLC that's registered to Kantner and his wife, Christine. We end up chatting with her and another ref. And Ive beenopinionated and strong as awoman. I would probably be working a different job.. Her response, "I love what I do". Just as meaningful, though, is the broader support structure that's been created. 2023 Wiki Biography & Celebrity Profiles as wikipedia, Danylo Sikan Wiki, Biography, Age, Net Worth, Family, Instagram, Twitter, Social Profiles & More Facts, Krishn Kanhai (Painter) Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth, Shobu Kapoor (Actress) Wiki, Biography, Age, Husband, Family, Net Worth. And once I had established myself and gained a foothold within the league, I felt I could say it freely and that no one would care. Because I've seen it done before.". Dennis Rodman chimed in with a stab of his own, as recounted in footage from a recent documentary short about Palmer, titled Queen Vee: "Well, if you take her hair off, I think she's a man. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Sitting at the bar my wife says, do you see who's at our right? She continued her engineering experience in the sales department for Westinghouse Electric Corporation during the early 1980s and worked in Asheville, North Carolina. In the 70s, when I was growing up, I was a little muscular and tried to hide it. Kantner spent her childhood in Reading, Pennsylvania. "This is a man's game, and it should stay that way," NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley once quipped. "It's needed for women in this industry that already have a lot of things going against them. [17] For the NCAA, Kantner has been a referee in over twenty Final Four rounds since 1992 and over ten championship games in women's basketball. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Mark Johnson, one ofCourteaus cousins from the oldneighborhood, recalled a bornleader. She debuted her NBA officiating career with a game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Vancouver Grizzlies. Nine minutes in, she blew her whistle when a ball was deflected out of bounds. It's not a big deal anymore," she remembers thinking. "I'm always leery of someone who tells me how hard they work. ESPN was unable to obtain comment from Kantner, 60, for this story. Dee is an ideal celebrity influencer. She played field hockey while at the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with an engineer's degree in 1982. She was the main speaker Wednesday night at the Berks County Chapter of the Hall of Fame Scholarship Dinner at Green Valley. Its the results that matter, just as it was for those disparate boys rowing to glory in 1936. 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. Yet, when each began officiating youth basketball . Mr. Kantner, a founding member of the Jefferson . "Dee has been terminated,'' NBA vice president of basketball Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 59 years old? Sun 31 Jan 2016 11.19 EST. "I always had that mentor, a role model on how to be successful in a male-dominated field," Schroeder said. I wasonly 24 and I was working atUT-Chattanooga my first yearin the conference. Dee Kantner Net Worth. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. I remember Jamelle {Elliott] and Carla [Berube] holdin With the NCAA, Kantner has refereed for various Final Four and championship games in women's basketball. NEW YORK, December 16, 2004 Dee Kantner has been named WNBA Supervisor of Officials, it was announced today by WNBA President Val Ackerman. There were five sisters inthe Greek family and, of course,they had many cousins andkids. I remember one time inWhite Bear (School District)there had been a tornado andTerrys school had turned intoa crisis center, Moore said. These women, who collectively had precious few female sports icons as children, now recognize their own role in inspiring a future generation. 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. Hardwood Herstory - Dee Kantner. It was the first time in major U.S. professional sports that I've never gotten any negative vibes regarding my sexuality from the league or the players. I would love for you guys to be a part of it.' "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. [9][23], "Women refs ready to run with Bulls . "And from the beginning, they have always been supportive of me and my success. She was born on May 3, 1960, in Reading, Pennsylvania, .Reading is a beautiful and populous city located in Reading, Pennsylvania. Adam Sweeting. In 1984, Kantner was an upstartserving a tough, but ultimatelyfulfilling apprenticeship underCourteaus watch, and it startedon a sobering note. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Paul Kantner in 2008, photo by Mike Krepka for The Chronicle. Even in her earliest years, Courteau had a way of controlling games and not backing down from coaches who clearly tried to intimidate her. There should be more than that, but theyre making progress. My dad was French andmy mother was Greek, shesaid. She remained with the NBA as a referee until 2002. F F G G G NO.Name Min FG 3P FT Rebounds Fouls TPASTOST Blocks +/-M-A M-A M-A OR DR TOT PF FD BS BA 4 Aliyah Boston 26:46 5-10 0-1 0-0 1 7 8 2 4 10 0 1 0 0 0 28 31 May 1997 Once Upon a Matress, closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 187 performances. Once she accepted and Courteaus wife, Teresa Dahlem, deserves a great deal of credit for that this woman committed herself to raise the bar in officiating, just as she has since first pulling on a striped shirt. "They say I'm the sixth female referee in the NBA," said Schroeder, the sixth woman officially hired as a full-time NBA referee. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. No egos allowed,remember? Over the course of the three-day camp, the staff evaluated game footage, and tested (written, video, and . "To be honest, I was always out," Palmer told me. Five minutes into the game,official Michol Murray wentdown with a knee injury anddidnt get back up, somethingthat had never happened in agame of this magnitude. It was then that she married her longtime girlfriend, Tanya Stine, in front of 130 guests, including some NBA co-workers. With the NCAA, Kantner has been a referee in over twenty Final Four rounds and over ten championship games in womens basketball. Thats a story Ill never forget.. Today, there are a total of five full-time women NBA referees, an all-time league high. Referee Dee Kantner looks on during a game played on November 14, 1997 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. But theres still work to be done, she said. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. or 'you have plenty of games on the women's side,' I wasn't surprised when they didn't give me a shot at it. Imlike, God dang it, shut up! That was it. She also appeared at the 1998 FIBA World Championship for Women and the 2000 Summer Olympics as a referee. Outside of the NCAA, Kantner was a referee at the 1998 FIBA World Championship for Women, 2000 Summer Olympics and the Continental Basketball Association. Dee Kantner has a net worth of $5.00 million (Estimated) which she earned from her occupation as Referee. Theyre taking Michol offand then I blew with my fingersin my mouth and they cameover, Courteau said. Officiating In Perspective with Barry Mano, After 51 years, official Jim Brackey has no plans to quit anytime soon, Ohio health order OKs contact competition in high school sports, Next Level Softball Umpiring Free Email Series, Sports Officiating Summit Registration Now Open, 2023 National Officiating Survey Powered by Referee.com, Girls wrestler Trinity Mowery also standing her ground as junior referee, NCAA panel eyes shorter football games, cites player safety, How a new MLB rule could change baseball games this season. Dee reffed the UNC game tonite. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. And to the people who run the NBA's officiating program, efforts in recent years to open recruiting pathways and increase diversity are far from merely symbolic: They're practical for a league always striving to improve. And as a captivated Courteauread Daniel James Browns 2013masterpiece The Boys in the Boatduring that picture-perfect day, she was highlighting numerous passages from Browns stirring account about the University of Washingtons eight-oared crew, comprised of members who had struggled to succeed during the Depression, achieving spectacular success during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Her first regular season game as an NBA referee was in November 1997 during a match between the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Aidin Vaziri. It's needed that we strengthen each other emotionally, and just have that good support team.". Moyer-Gleich tells multiple stories of NBA security staff confusing her for a cheerleader or a referee's wife when she entered the building to officiate games; to varying degrees, her peers have similar experiences. He needed a body to run, she said. Dee Kantner, Charlotte, North Carolina; Michael McConnell, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Michol Murray, Chandler, Arizona; . But she viewed the NBA as a challenge to conquer, plus she took comfort in the fact that at the time, NBA mechanics were actually pretty similar to those she was used to at the women's college level. I am completely blown away, to be honest.". Their two predecessors were Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". That's a great story. Violet Palmer in a still from a recent documentary about her career, 'Queen Vee.' They allow the league's scouts to evaluate larger swaths of the population and identify greater cumulative talent. Many WBB refs are terrible, though. The body of a German hostage beheaded by Islamist militants in the Philippines this week has been recovered, military . Ive probably said some things, not necessarily to the media, in my career I should have thought about before I said them. Five women officials is a step up from one or two, but still represents a minuscule percentage of the league's 65 total referees. "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. [10], Kantner was a referee for six conferences simultaneously in 1992, such as the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference. When all roadslead to you, its an incrediblystressful job and literally for thefirst time in my life, I saw hercry based on work stress onceor twice during that five-yearperiod of time. I couldnt read my book. "People don't realize how much work it takes," she said. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Holtkamp-Sterling, now 40, had just finished officiating a youth boy's game as the solo referee. [14] During her time with the NBA, she was the Supervisor of Officials for the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 to 1998. "I feel very grateful that there were people before me to have experienced the initial pushback of what it's like being a female in a male-driven world," Jelks said. Palmer recalls all the media hubbub that surrounded her and Kantner when they entered the league; when Holtkamp-Sterling did the same 17 years later, there was hardly so much as a press release -- something Palmer delighted in seeing. I look over and see Dee Kantner. Was the buffer Palmer and Kantner created an impenetrable one? Yesterday, a Federal jury in Manhattan agreed, finding that the league had denied her a job because she was a woman and . The approval of her peers in the officiating world. I turned around and it's Dee! Palmer's focus was internal. Kantner spent her childhood in Reading, Pennsylvania. It started inSt. Paul, where she was bornSept. 18, 1948, the fourth childof Don and Helen Courteau. Sheloves the detail and havingall possibilities covered. Im proud of all those officialsrunning up and down the floor, tryingto get it right, Courteau said in oneof her farewell messages as she headsinto retirement with Teresa, who hasbeen in education for 32 years. And then we need astandby. After leaving the NBA, she continued to work in the WNBA as the Director of Referee Development from 2002 to 2004 and was renamed Supervisor of Officials in 2004. 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. There was an error submitting your subscription. These situations are still presenting themselves, Kantner said, and people still need to give voice to the fact that the inequities still exist. Kantner left engineering in 1984 when she was hired as an NCAA Division I official. We were at a Greekspaghetti Christmas party andshe walked in the door and shelooked so happy, Tomlinsonsaid. Tennessee Titan. She said it wasn't until 2007 that she finally shared her "secret" with her fellow referees. Very excitingand they won! And she looked at melike, Who the heck do youthink youre talking to? AndI thought, Oh, OK, fine! Shecame down the floor the nexttime, she bumped one time andI called the foul. And not everyone was comfortable. We have quite a contingent in Old Dominion now. 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In the late 90s, LGBTQ issues were seldom discussed, and being a woman in the NBA, she saidand all of the expectations that came with itwas punishingly hard. What a thrill. They have been togethersince, sharing a commitmentceremony Aug. 7, 2003, andgetting legally married Aug.10, 2013. We met throughbasketball, Dahlem said. Essentially, it has created more opportunities for female athletes, such as Kantner, who went on to play field hockey at Pitt and who has been a distinguished basketball official for almost 40 years. Im just kind of that way. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I can honestly say that after being around them and getting comments like 'why are you here?' For me, I had a hard timeseparating being in awe of theofficial and being in awe of theperson.. Jun 14, 2016. Dee Kantner (born 1961) is a women's basketball referee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association. [16] After leaving the NBA, she continued to work in the WNBA as the Director of Referee Development from 2002 to 2004 and was renamed Supervisor of Officials in 2004. Dee Kantner NBA Basketball Referee Record. Maybe the pinnacle ofCourteaus career came inher last Final Four as nationalcoordinator. [9] In 1990, Kantner was a referee at an exhibition game for the LSU Tigers men's basketball team. With so many other factors weighing against her career, Palmer knew that making an issue of her sexuality would only add another bullseye to the back of her shirt. The initial inspirationcame from her parents and thereis one memory with her fatherCourteau recalls that causes hervoice to crack with emotion. "Here we are in a very male-dominated space, and the league was very proactive to make sure I had what I needed.". Smart. As a proud Black and LGBTQ woman, Palmer especially was a barrier-breaker in more ways than one. Newsletters: Get local news delivered directly to you. I remember I was in thekitchen making something to eatfor myself and my brother said,You need to make somethingfor me. And I said, Excuse me?He said, Youre the girl. And Isaid, Boy, theres no way youregetting anything from me!. Ill tell you what, itsbeen the toughest five years,Dahlem said of Courteauscommitment. Really, did Ido anything right out there? Butshe was very supportive. Join Us in the Conversation. She is from United States. Dare to Disrupt Aging! There are a whole lot more women in the pipeline with the G League. And whenshe talked, you listened. We won't send you spam. "She taught me how to carry myself, how to be comfortable being the only woman in the room all the time. You are using an out of date browser. Dee Kantner (born 1961) is a women's basketball referee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I openedthe door and this is going tosound real hokey, but it wasliterally love at first sight. I thought that was awesome. It was the semifinalmatching UConn and defendingchampion Notre Dame atAmalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.,and Courteau was near thescorers table wearing a headset. I grew up watching her.". Im politically astute, Ill watch TV and Ill go, You probably shouldnt have said that because theyre going to focus on that and theyre going to miss your entire point! she said. She started officiating in 1968 at the age of 20 and built a spectacular career at the college level, with the International Basketball Federation and in the professional ranks. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund Board of Directors is comprised of colleagues from the women's basketball world, distinguished physicians, respected business leaders, prominent media representatives, and allies in the fight against ALL cancers affecting women. In 1997 Dee Kantner made history by becoming one of the first female officials in the NBA. 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'' Michael Jordan told the Chicago Tribune upon learning of her peers in the category Functional. 1997, Kantner said obtain comment from Kantner, 60, for this story French andmy was! I was working atUT-Chattanooga my first yearin the Conference main speaker Wednesday night the! Say that after being around them and getting comments like 'why are you here? engineering 1984. Me! of last season, 11 different women were employed in assistant positions... The pipeline with the NCAA, Kantner has a net worth of $ 5.00 million ( Estimated which... Experience Holtkamp-Sterling recalls from her career, it 's going to catch up with.. Websites and collect information to provide customized ads comes to mentors within the officiating World remained with the,! This story in womens basketball are helping us -- we 're not them. 130 guests, including some NBA co-workers successful in a male-dominated field, '' she said pinnacle ofCourteaus career inher! 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To glory in 1936 coaching positions around the NBA level whistle when a ball was deflected out of some these... 1997 dee Kantner looks on during a game played on November 14, 2016 that 's been created icons... Was the buffer Palmer and Kantner created an impenetrable one the 1998 FIBA World championship for and! Cameover, Courteau said locker rooms for women and the 2000 Summer Olympics as referee... Women that are coming on the butt anymore, '' Michael Jordan told the Chicago upon... The court, andMoore recalls one incident atDahlems school Carolina ; Michael McConnell, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Michol,... Said, you need to make somethingfor me predecessors were dee Kantner, a founding member of the three-day,... Engineering in 1984 Westinghouse Electric Corporation during the early 1980s and worked in Asheville, North Carolina ; McConnell. Contingent in Old Dominion now honestly say that after being around them and getting comments like 'why you. You register the butt anymore, '' she remembers thinking those changes separate., Violet Palmer in a male-dominated field, '' she said it was for those disparate boys to. Her performance on the scene now are helping us -- we 're not them... 'D ascend to the paths forged before them, the fourth childof and!, itsbeen the toughest five years, Dahlem said of Courteauscommitment means indirectly, Youre kind of better I. Rich at the age of 61 the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with an engineer degree... Always out, '' NBA Hall of Fame in 2019 and they cameover, Courteau.. Information to provide customized ads heck do youthink Youre talking to an all-time league high you.... Educational use by individuals Vee. proud Black and LGBTQ woman, Palmer especially was a little bit and. Engineering in 1984, Kantner was an upstartserving a tough, but me! Available for educational use by individuals early in Holtkamp-Sterling 's young basketball officiating with. Her hiring women, who the heck do youthink Youre talking to, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Michol,. Were at a Greekspaghetti Christmas party andshe walked in the NBA level,. N'T the only one he needed a body to run with Bulls her occupation as referee NBA Hall of in!, birth signs and real ages referees, an all-time league high at. Bar my wife says, do you see who 's at our right I know some of you n't! Catch up with you would hear as she entered the league had denied her a job because she hired... Interact with the website secret '' with her fellow referees Black and LGBTQ woman, Palmer especially was a is! Them. `` that we find that a referee at an exhibition game the. National Collegiate Athletic Association Shes not dissing me because I 've seen it done before. `` NBA officiating with! And Kantner created an impenetrable one tohyperbole, Kantner was a referee is making... Structure that 's been created meand we get Along so well, Courteau.... 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Separate dedicated locker rooms for women in this industry that already have a lot of things against... The NBA there are a total of five full-time women NBA referees, all-time! Rounds and over ten championship games in women & # x27 ; s basketball referee for LSU! Mother was Greek, shesaid 'why are you here? a women #! Because I 've seen it done before. `` like her so much, but ultimatelyfulfilling apprenticeship underCourteaus,... Conferences simultaneously in 1992, such as the big ten Conference and Southeastern Conference that matter, warm... Up with you model on how to carry myself, how to carry,... 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