Meet Lauren Holtkamp, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, Natalie Sago, and now Jenna Schroeder. Holtkamp, Moyer-Gleich, and Sago were the only three female referees that were active in the NBA for the 2018 season. The three were back in 2019 with the addition of Schroeder who became the sixth woman to make it to the NBA level in the history of the game.
All four are also former DII athletes.
In fact, this group of DII alum continue to make history. In 2024, Moyer-Gleich left her mark in NBA lore as part of 2024 playoff officiating crew, becoming just the second woman to referee an NBA playoff game.
Schroeder is the most recent to join the NBA ranks. She was not only a graduate from Saginaw Valley State, but she was also the Cardinals leading scorer. Prior to her becoming a full-time NBA referee, we had the opportunity to speak to Holtkamp, Moyer-Gleich, and Sago at the conclusion of the 2018 season. Let’s look back at how these DII student-athletes are blazing a trail for future women in the NBA.
Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day! Today we celebrate the women in sports leading us forward. Starting with Lauren Holtkamp, Ashley Moyer-Gleich and Natalie Sago; All current NBA refs and former collegiate athletes #NGWSD #LeadHerForward @WomensSportsFdn pic.twitter.com/TfwYsX5EPO
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) February 6, 2019
It starts with Lauren Holtkamp — the first to arrive of the three — making her way to the NBA in 2014. Holtkamp has always been a pioneer, a member of the first Drury women’s basketball team in 2000. By the time she left Drury, the Panthers went from a new program to the national championship game in 2004.
Holtkamp’s career ended as Molly Miller’s, then Carter, began. Miller became a Panthers legend and is the current head coach that led them to the national semifinals this season. That’s nearly 20 years of really good basketball.
“I’ll tell you as someone that was part of that origin story,” Holtkamp said, “it’s so exciting to see that sustainability and success of the program so many years later. I’m really proud of them.”
Drury basketball is the reason Holtkamp is where she is today. The Panthers held summer camps for the girls in the community, and a single decision changed the course of history.
“Of all the things we could volunteer for at this camp, I chose to referee the scrimmages,” Holtkamp recollected laughing. “I had no idea what I was doing.”
Ashley Moyer-Gleich…
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