Women's Basketball

ACC Announces Multi-Conference Women’s Basketball Officiating Alliance

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference has partnered with seven other Division I conferences to establish a women’s basketball officiating alliance aimed at enhancing the quality, consistency and development of officiating through a collaborative system of assigning, training, evaluation and oversight, the conferences announced on Monday.

The ACC will join the American Conference, BIG EAST Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, Big South Conference, Coastal Athletic Association, Ivy League and Metro Conference (formerly Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) in the officiating alliance, led by newly appointed ACC Supervisor of Officials Pualani Spurlock-Welsh.

Spurlock-Welsh will work closely with the supervisors across the alliance conferences to develop officiating assignments that maximize geographic efficiencies.

“The ACC has long been committed to investing in the recruitment, development and retention of exceptional officials across all of our sports, and this women’s basketball officiating alliance further reflects that commitment,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “By working together, we can elevate officiating through collaboration, education and shared best practices, while continuing to enhance the experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans.”

The officiating alliance will provide the following services for its members:
  • Identify, recruit and retain officials.
  • Enhance official training, education, mentorship, evaluation and feedback.
  • Develop efficient, collaborative assigning strategies that maximize geographic efficiencies across the alliance.
  • Conduct collaborative seasonal game management calls and provide updates related to alliance operations.

Spurlock-Welsh was hired in June, taking over for Debbie Williamson, who spent 13 years with the ACC. An ACC official since 2012, Spurlock-Welsh brings a wealth of knowledge from the hardwood to the supervisor role. Beginning her career on the court in 2008, she worked through the ranks, officiating the NCAA Tournament every year since 2011 while also being selected to the Women’s Final Four on four occasions. She has also officiated in the WNBA, NBA G League and internationally.