Nearly one-third of the referees in the G League this season are women, and some — like dozens of players, coaches, front-office staff and refs — are moving closer to realizing NBA hopes. Every referee hired by the NBA in the last 15 years has some experience in what's now called the G League, which means it's a proving ground for both those who are making plays and making calls.
Every NBA team opened this season with a G League alum on its roster, some with many of them. The NBA says 38 percent of its players right now have at least some G League experience, and that number has been rising rapidly in recent years.