Basketball

We’re excited to share this conversation with Violet Palmer, the trailblazing NBA referee. From growing up in Compton to becoming the first woman to officiate in the NBA, Violet shares how hard work, a positive attitude, and a team that believes in you can lead to opportunities you may have only dreamed of.

Former college athlete Kyla Dinkel has spent 15 years officiating Alaska basketball, recently making history as part of the state’s first-ever all-female referee crew for a state championship game. In this interview, she offers an unfiltered look at surviving mental burnout, the tight-knit community behind the whistle, and the technical love for the game that keeps her returning to the hardwood season after season.