The game changers: Female referees in chess, boxing, and softball

When you imagine an umpire, a chess arbiter, or a boxing referee… Do you picture women?

Today, you'll hear stories from three women in the sports world who are thriving in those particular positions of power.

GUESTS: 

• Kristi Howard: 11-year veteran softball umpire in Mississippi. After getting punched in the face by an angry parent, she is advocating for laws to classify assaults against umpires and referees as a felony aggravated assault
• Martha Underwood: National Tournament Director for the U.S. Chess Federation, a member of the U.S. Chess Accessibility and Special Circumstances Committee, and advocate for the non-profit, 9 Queens 
• Sparkle Lee: First female boxing ref to be licensed in New York and New Jersey, the first woman to ref in the NY Golden Gloves boxing tournament, the only woman to ref a match at Yankee Stadium, and she was the first referee ever to be inducted into the International Women Boxing Hall of Fame

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