gender issues so far. She was one of three NBA referees who officiated the brawl-marred December 16, 2006, game between the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. The officiating crew, which also consisted of Dick Bavetta and Robbie Robinson, ejected all 10 players who were on the court when the brawl broke out. On May 28, 2009, Palmer was hired as coordinator of women's basketball officials for the West Coast Conference. On February 16, 2014, Palmer became the first female to officiate an All-Star Game in any of the four major United States sports. On July 6, 2015, Palmer was named coordinator of women's basketball officials for the Western Athletic Conference. On September 22, 2016, Palmer retired from on-court duties with the NBA due to knee issues. Afterward, she began work as a manager in the NBA's referee operations department. At the time of her retirement, she had refereed 919 NBA games. Personal life Palmer is an out lesbian. In July 2014, she announced plans to marry her girlfriend of 20 years, celebrity hair stylist Tanya Stine. References 1964 births African-American sports officials Cal Poly Pomona Broncos women's basketball players Lesbian sportswomen LGBT African Americans American LGBT sportspeople Living people National Basketball Association referees Sportspeople from Compton, California Continental Basketball Association referees Women basketball referees LGBT people from California American women referees and umpires LGBT basketball players 21st-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women 20th-century African-American sportspeople 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people