A Different Vantage Point- WNBA Referees Humanized

Working with WNBA officials has been a spectacular and unique experience in my time at Conseco Fieldhouse. I get to see a different side of the people fans and teams alike love to yell and scream at. I’ll be the first one to say refs *appear* to get things wrong a lot. At the same time, I by no means desire to wear the striped shirts.

Because I deal with the referees each game, I get to know them and they get to know me. This year, they told me they are regionalized more than ever. That saves on travel time and money. In doing so, I have seen many of the same officials multiple times this year.

Just like humans make mistakes, they also like to have a good time. Well its no different with referees. Typically, the three of them will go out together the night before a game to get a bite to eat and a casual drink. That has especially been the case with a few of them.

Whenever they are in town to officiate a Fever game, they visit XXXXXXX (not mentioned for their sake) for a good time. I always try to recommend great restaurants or bars that I have been to or heard about from friends.

After this past game, the refs did something I NEVER would have expected. It is league mandated that they leave a $15 tip ($5/each) for the person taking care of them. However with my 21st birthday being Saturday, they left me $21 and wrote on a napkin, “Happy 21st Birthday.”

This was not necessary. It was not needed. But they took care of me and were very thoughtful.

All of us give referees a hard time. It certainly isn’t an easy job and I would never want to do it. Next time you yell at the referees and are frustrated…remember they aren’t perfect and are just like us.