Ep178: Natasha Camy, NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Referee

November 14, 2024
Natasha Camy is an NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Referee now in her 14th season. She has officiated at the very top level, including in this past season’s Elite 8 game featuring LSU and Iowa, the most watched women’s basketball game in history! She has also officiated in the Conference USA championship, Big 10 conference playoffs, Big 10 final, SEC conference playoffs, WNIT final, WBIT quarterfinal and final.

Natasha has been around basketball and studying the game since she was very, very young. It was her grandmother (a ref herself) who suggested that Natasha give reffing a go, so clearly this is a family thing!

In the episode, Natasha shares with host Elizabeth Emery about how she prepares for games, nerves, cute interactions with players, and how things have changed in the fourteen years she’s been officiating.

Beyond her own officiating career, Natasha is helping others grow in the profession. She founded and runs Referee Ready Academy, a holistic referee development training program.

In January 2024 Natasha was announced as an investor for the Cape Town Tigers, a South African basketball club belonging to The Basketball Africa League (BAL); founded by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and International Basketball Federation (FIBA); making her one of the first African American women to do so. The investment deems Natasha one of the only African American women to invest in a BAL team.

Find Natasha on IG
Referee Ready Academy
If you want to ref, reach out to Natasha! There’s a contact link on the Referee Ready website.
Referee Ready Academy on IG
Natasha officiated at the most watched women’s basketball game ever—Iowa vs. LSU in the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA women’s tournament. Full Replay.
Neat Tucks (well worth the time to see how these work)
Violet Palmer, NBA’s first female referee on Daily Sports History podcast
Tacconelli’s Pizza in Philadelphia. I hope it’s still as good as it was.