NEW YORK (AP) — The Big East Conference and seven other Division I conferences, including the Atlantic Coast Conference, have established a women's basketball officiating alliance.
The conferences on Monday announced the goal of the alliance is to enhance the quality, consistency and development of officiating. The alliance will use a collaborative system of assigning, training, evaluation and oversight.
Other conferences included in the alliance are the American Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, Big South Conference, Coastal Athletic Association, Ivy League and Metro Conference.
The officiating alliance will be led by Pualani Spurlock-Welsh, who was recently named supervisor of officials for the ACC, Big East and American Conference. Spurlock-Welsh will work with supervisors of the other conferences in the alliance to develop assignments for officials that better maximize geographic efficiency.
“The Big East is proud to play a key role in strengthening women’s college basketball officiating as part of our commitment to providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes,” Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said in a statement.
“This alliance represents an important opportunity to collaborate in identifying, developing and supporting officials while sharing resources and expertise across the participating conferences.”
A previous informal women's basketball officiating alliance was led by supervisor Deb Williamson, who has retired.
Spurlock-Welsh has been a full-time official for multiple conferences since 2011. She has officiated every women's NCAA Tournament, including four Final Fours, in that time.
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FILE - Louisville head coach Jeff Walz argues a call with referee Pualani Spurlock-Welsh during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in Louisville, Ky., Dec. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
PHOENIX (AP) — Nolan Arenado ripped a double down the left-field line for his 2,000th career hit Monday night, joining an elite club that includes some of the greatest players in baseball history.
The 35-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman became one of six major leaguers with at least 2,000 hits, 350 homers and 10 Gold Gloves. The others are all Hall of Famers: Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench and Al Kaline.
Arenado said it was particularly gratifying to join a small fraternity that includes Schmidt, whom he considers the best third baseman ever.
“He was the first to say, ‘I love the way this guy plays,’” Arenado said. “He was one of the first legends of the game to say, `I like this third baseman.’ That meant a lot to me. I'll never forget that.”
Arenado connected on a fastball from Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs in the fifth inning of a 5-2 loss and received a lengthy standing ovation from the crowd at Chase Field. He is one of six active players with at least 2,000 hits, joining Freddie Freeman, Jose Altuve, Andrew McCutchen, Paul Goldschmidt and Manny Machado.
“This one feels good,” Arenado said. “I try not to talk about things like that when I get some accomplishments, but this feels good, I'm not going to lie. I'm just thankful that I've been healthy enough to do it.”
The 10-time Gold Glove winner is in his first year with the Diamondbacks after an injury-filled 2025 season with St. Louis. He was batting .244 with 13 homers and a .739 OPS coming into Monday's game.
Arenado played his first eight seasons in the big leagues with the Colorado Rockies before spending the next five with the Cardinals. One of the best third basemen of his generation, the eight-time All-Star has a .280 career batting average with 366 homers and 1,228 RBIs.
“I'm honored to share the same dugout with him right now — watched him for a long time,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “The fact I get to manage him is a total honor for me. Future Hall of Famer for sure, and he's just making our ballclub better with everything he's doing.”
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Athletics' Jeff McNeil (22) steals third base under the tag by Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado reacts after getting his 2000th career hit, a double against the Athletics, in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado (28) watches his 2000th career hit, a double against the Athletics, in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
