The women’s basketball officiating alliance is a partnership between eight NCAA Division I conferences, including the Atlantic Coast Conference, American Conference, Big East Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, Big South Conference, Coastal Athletic Association, Ivy League and Metro Conference.
According to CBS Sports, these conferences hope to improve the women’s college basketball experience by enhancing the “quality, consistency and development of officiating.”
The women’s basketball officiating alliance will identify, recruit and retain officials. It also will offer training and mentorship to current officials to improve their skills, while offering in-season management calls to maintain the alliance and collaborate on strategies. New officials who are recruited through this pipeline will start in smaller conferences and receive additional training, working their way up to the larger stages.
Leading the group is Pualani Spurlock-Welsh, supervisor of officials for the ACC, Big East and American Conferences. Spurlock-Welsh has been an official since 2011, and she has officiating in several NCAA conferences, the Women’s Final Four, and the WNBA.
"When you look at the consortium that was put together, it's an investment in women's basketball and an investment in women's basketball officiating," ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told USA Today. "You have to continue to groom young officials and new officials to the game in different ways. And one way to do it is through the conferences. I'm excited about it. It's a strategic, dedicated group looking to make sure that they're delivering the very best quality of a women's basketball officiating."
"The BIG EAST is proud to play a key role in strengthening women's college basketball officiating as part of our commitment to providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. "This alliance represents an important opportunity to collaborate in identifying, developing and supporting officials while sharing resources and expertise across the participating conferences.”
