A New Collaborative Framework for Women’s Basketball Officiating
A coalition of Division I conferences has announced the formation of a women’s basketball officiating alliance that brings together the Big East, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the American Conference and six others under a single, collaborative structure.
The alliance’s primary mission is to elevate the quality, consistency and development of officiating across the participating leagues, using a shared system for assigning, training, evaluating and overseeing referees.
Leadership and Legacy
Pualani Spurlock‑Welsh, who serves as supervisor of officials for the ACC, Big East and American Conference, will lead the effort, drawing on more than a decade of full‑time officiating experience that includes every women’s NCAA Tournament and four Final Fours.
Commissioner Val Ackerman of the Big East expressed pride in the alliance’s role, noting that it represents a unique opportunity to collaborate on identifying, developing and supporting the best officials for the sport.
The partnership also builds on the legacy of an earlier informal alliance overseen by Deb Williamson, whose retirement paved the way for this more formalized approach.
By standardizing assignment protocols and maximizing geographic efficiency, the alliance aims to provide a smoother experience for student‑athletes while continuing to raise the profile of women’s college basketball.