Trailblazing Women in Officiating: Jen Pawol Leads the Way
This weekend marks a historic moment in Major League Baseball. Jen Pawol becomes the first woman to umpire a game in the league.
Pawol, a 48-year-old from New Jersey, has been working her way up through the ranks since 2016. She’s officiated spring training games over the last two years.
Her achievement is part of a wider trend—women are breaking barriers in officiating roles across major sports. Let’s take a look at some of the other trailblazing women who’ve made real strides in men’s professional sports leagues.
Women Pioneers in NFL Officiating
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In August 2012, Shannon Eastin made history as the first female official in NFL history. She served as a line judge during a preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the then-San Diego Chargers.
Just a month later, Eastin became the first woman to officiate an NFL regular-season game. She worked as the line judge in a matchup between the Rams and Lions.
Eastin joined the league as one of the replacement officials during a lockout of the regular crew. Her presence was a big step forward, even if it came under unusual circumstances.
Sarah Thomas: A Full-Season Trailblazer
Sarah Thomas became the first woman to secure a full-season officiating job in the NFL. She started as a line judge in 2015.
Thomas’s list of “firsts” is impressive. She became the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl on February 7, 2021.
In that game, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9. Before all this, Thomas had already broken ground as the first woman to officiate a major college football game and to work a bowl game.
Breaking Barriers in the NBA
The NBA had its own big moment in 1997. Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner were hired as officials that year.
Palmer made her debut on October 31, 1997, officiating the season opener between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. She worked alongside Bill Oakes and Mark Wunderlich.
Just days later, on November 5, 1997, Kantner officiated her first game. Atlanta beat Philadelphia 93-88, and she worked with Ron Garretson and Ed Middleton.
Longevity and Legacy
Palmer retired in 2016 after a distinguished career. Kantner still officiates in women’s NCAA basketball.
Their contributions have opened doors for more women in basketball officiating. Honestly, it’s hard not to admire their persistence.
Women in NHL Officiating
The NHL hasn’t yet had a female official in a regular-season or Stanley Cup playoff game. Still, some progress has happened.
In the mid-1990s, Heather McDaniel drew attention for officiating men’s minor league games in the Central Hockey League and the West Coast Hockey League. Fast forward two decades, and in 2019, the NHL picked four female officials to work at prospect tournaments.
Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke served as referees. Kirsten Welsh and Kendall Hanley worked as linesmen.
Recent Changes and Progress
Before the 2023-24 season, the NHL quietly changed “linesmen” to “linespersons.” Women in the American Hockey League are now working their way up, and it feels like something big is on the horizon for female officials in hockey.
Global Impact: Women in Soccer Officiating
On the global stage, French referee Stéphanie Frappart made history in 2022. She became the first woman to officiate a men’s World Cup match.
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The game, held in Al Khor, Qatar, was between Germany and Costa Rica. Frappart was joined by two female assistants—Neuza Back of Brazil and Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico.
The presence of these women in such high-profile soccer roles says a lot about how things are changing. It’s about time, right?
Trailblazers in NCAA Basketball
In college basketball, Melanie Davis made history as the first woman to officiate a Division I NCAA men’s tournament game. She stepped onto the court for a first-round matchup between San Diego State and Illinois on March 15, 2002.
Davis had already built her reputation by working men’s games in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Honestly, that’s no small feat considering how rare it was back then.
If you’re curious about more trailblazing women and what they’ve accomplished, check out the full article here.