Violet Palmer was the first official female ref for the NBA, and she started in 1997. Lauren Holtkamp is the third full-time female referee hired for this year's season.
While Sarah Thomas is the FIRST official, full-time female ref for the NFL this year.
Heather McDaniel was the first female referee in 1995 to ref one NHL game, until she became pregnant and stopped. Since then the NHL hasn't had another female ref.
Finally, in the MLB, since the 43 years that Bernice Gera sued to become a professional umpire, there hasn't been a full-time one since.
While Sarah Thomas is the FIRST official, full-time female ref for the NFL this year.
Heather McDaniel was the first female referee in 1995 to ref one NHL game, until she became pregnant and stopped. Since then the NHL hasn't had another female ref.
Finally, in the MLB, since the 43 years that Bernice Gera sued to become a professional umpire, there hasn't been a full-time one since.