Palmer first female to referee NBA playoff game 

Palmer first female to referee NBA playoff game

Violet Palmer became the first woman to referee an NBA playoff game, working Game 2 of the first-round series between the Indiana Pacers and New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night.

Palmer worked the game with veteran officials Steve Javie and Ken Mauer.
The 41-year-old Palmer is the only current female official in the NBA. The Los Angeles resident is in her ninth season.

Dee Kanter is the only other woman to referee an NBA game.

Before joining the NBA, Palmer officiated in the WNBA during the league's inaugural season, including the 1997 WNBA championship. She has two years of CBA officiating experience and nine years of collegiate officiating experience, including women's games in the Big Ten, Pac-10, Western Athletic, West Coast, Big Sky, and Big West Conferences.

She also worked five NCAA Final Fours and two NCAA championship games.