Meet Simone Jelks, the NBA’s First Female Referee

Simone Jelks is making history as the first female referee in the NBA. Read on to learn more about her inspiring story.

Who is Simone Jelks?

Simone Jelks is the NBA’s first female referee. She began her career as a referee in 2006, officiating games in the WNBA and various college leagues. In 2014, she was hired by the NBA as a full-time official.

Jelks has been praised for her ability to keep players in check and for her even-handed calls. She is also known for being one of the most accessible officials, often taking the time to interact with fans before and after games.

In addition to her work as an official, Jelks is also an advocate for women in sports. She is a founding member of Women In Sports officiating, an organization that works to promote female officials at all levels of play.

How did she become the NBA’s first female referee?

Simone Jelks is the first female referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA). She joined the NBA as a part-time official in 2019, and became a full-time official prior to the 2020–21 season.

Jelks has been officiating basketball games for over two decades. She began her career officiating youth games in her hometown of Oakland, California. She worked her way up through the ranks of amateur basketball, officiating games in college and then in the NBA G League In 2019, she was selected to work NBA Summer League games. Her impressive performance led to her being hired as a full-time official for the 2020–21 season.

Jelks is a trailblazer in the world of basketball officiating. She is living proof that women can succeed at the highest level of this male-dominated profession. Her story is an inspiration to aspiring female referees everywhere.

What does her job entail?

Simone Jelks is the first female referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA). She started her officiating career in 2006 and has worked hard to be where she is today.

As an official, her job is to enforce the rules of the game and keep play fair. This includes calling fouls, monitoring player and coach behavior, and managing the flow of the game. Jelks also has to be in good physical shape to keep up with the players.

Jelks says that becoming an NBA referee was a lifelong dream of hers. She loves being able to contribute to the game she loves so much.

What are some of the challenges she faces?

Simone Jelks knows that she has to be “twice as good” as her male counterparts to prove herself on the court.

Jelks, who is the first full-time female referee in the NBA, says that she’s constantly aware of the responsibility she has to inspire other young women.

“I think a lot of people are looking at me wondering if I can do it,” Jelks told ESPN in an interview. “I want to make sure that I am twice as good, if not better.”

Despite the extra pressure, Jelks says that she’s enjoying her chance to show off her skills at the highest level of basketball.

“I love what I do,” she said. “I love being out on the court and being a part of these games.”

What is her take on being a role model for young girls?

Simone Jelks Loves Basketball

“I’ve been playing since I was eight years old,” she told CNN. “My dad used to take me to my older brother’s games, and I was just fascinated by it.”

Jelks, who is from Richmond, Virginia, went on to play college basketball at James Madison University. After she graduated, she became a referee.

“I love the game so much that I just wanted to find a way to stay involved,” she said.

Last month, Jelks made history when she officiated an NBA Summer League game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks – becoming the first female referee in NBA history

“It was an unbelievable experience,” she said. “I had chills the whole game.”

Jelks said she hopes her story will inspire other young girls who have big dreams.

“It’s so important for them to see someone that looks like them in a position that they may have thought wasn’t attainable,” she said.

How does she balance her work and personal life?

Jelks, who is married with two teenage daughters, said she tries to keep a balance between her work and personal life. “I try not to take my work home with me, but it’s not always easy,” she said. “I’m usually pretty good at compartmentalizing, but sometimes I’ll be in the middle of refereeing a game and I’ll get a text from one of my daughters or my husband, and it definitely pulls at my heartstrings.”

What are her thoughts on the future of the NBA?

Simone Jelks, the NBA’s first female referee, is looking to the future with optimism. In an interview with ESPN, she spoke about her goals for the league and her thoughts on the state of the Game Today

“I want to see the NBA continue to grow and be successful,” she said. “I think we have a lot of young talent coming up, and I think the league is in a good place.”

Jelks also spoke about her hopes for more female involvement in the sport at all levels.

“It’s been great to see more women getting involved in coaching and refereeing,” she said. “I think it’s important for Young Girls to see women in leadership positions in sports, so I hope to see that continue.”

What advice does she have for aspiring referees?

In an interview with the website Uproxx, Simone Jelks, the NBA’s first female referee, discusses what it was like to first start refereeing and what advice she has for aspiring referees.

Jelks began her career as a referee in 2012, when she was 22 years old. She worked her way up through the ranks of amateur basketball, officiating games in college and then in the NBA’s Development League In 2019, she made history when she became the first woman to officiate an NBA game

Jelks says that one of the biggest challenges she faced when starting out was simply getting over the nerves of officiating games. “I was so scared I was going to mess up,” she recalls. “But once I got a few games under my belt, I realized that it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.”

If you’re interested in becoming a referee, Jelks says that the best piece of advice she can give is to “just get out there and do it.” Refereeing can be a daunting task at first, but Jelks says that the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

How does she stay fit and healthy?

Simone Jelks is the first female referee in the NBA, and she’s also a mother of two. With such a demanding job, how does she stay fit and healthy?

“I make sure to eat healthy and exercise regularly,” she says. “I also try to get enough sleep.”

Jelks says that her favorite way to stay active is by playing basketball “It’s a great workout and it’s also a lot of fun,” she says.

As for her diet, Jelks says that she tries to eat mostly healthy foods. “I make sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains,” she says. “I also try to limit my intake of processed foods and sugary drinks.”

What’s the best part of her job?

Simone Jelks is the NBA’s first female referee, and she’s loving every minute of it. “The best part is just being around the game,” she says. “I grew up watching basketball and to be able to be a part of it now is just an unbelievable feeling.”

Jelks, who has been officiating for 12 years, says that she didn’t set out to become the first female referee in the NBA. “It was never a goal of mine,” she says. “I just wanted to be the best referee I could be.”

But she’s proud to be a role model for other young women who Love Basketball “I hope that I can inspire other young girls to pursue their dreams,” she says.

So what’s her advice for aspiring referees? “Just do your best and don’t give up,” she says. “If you love the game, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”