First Woman Umpires Major League Baseball Game
Jen Pawol Makes History This Weekend
Jen Pawol is set to break a significant barrier this weekend, becoming the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball game. The 48-year-old from New Jersey will preside over the series between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves.
Trailblazing Officials in Major Men’s Leagues
Pawol’s upcoming debut follows a career spent officiating in the minor leagues since 2016 and in recent spring training games. Her ascent highlights a growing trend of women breaking into officiating roles in prominent men’s professional sports leagues.
NFL: Shannon Eastin and Sarah Thomas
In the National Football League (NFL), Shannon Eastin made history as the first female official, working as a line judge in a 2012 preseason game. A month later, she officiated a regular-season game. Sarah Thomas became the first woman to hold a full-season NFL officiating position in 2015 and later became the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl in 2021.
NBA: Palmer and Kantner Lead the Way
The National Basketball Association (NBA) saw Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner hired for the 1997 season. Palmer debuted on October 31, 1997, and worked in the league until 2016. Kantner‘s first game was November 5, 1997, and she continues to officiate women’s college basketball.
NHL: Progress Towards On-Ice Roles
The National Hockey League (NHL) has yet to feature a female on-ice official in regular season or playoff games. However, the league has taken steps, including selecting four women for the 2019 prospect tournaments. The AHL also adopted “linespersons” to reflect women working their way up.
Soccer: Frappart’s World Cup Milestone
In international soccer, French referee Stéphanie Frappart achieved a major milestone in 2022, becoming the first woman to officiate a men’s World Cup match. Her historic game was between Germany and Costa Rica, with two female assistants, Neuza Back of Brazil and Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico, working alongside her.
NCAA Men’s Tournament: Melanie Davis
Melanie Davis became the first woman to officiate a Division I NCAA men’s tournament basketball game in 2002, taking the court for a matchup between San Diego State and Illinois. She had previously officiated men’s games in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
