Dee Kantner Transitions to ESPN as Rules Analyst
Dee Kantner is swapping her referee’s whistle for a microphone. The 65-year-old has been officiating women’s college basketball since 1984 and recently announced her retirement from refereeing. However, she’s not completely leaving the game behind. Starting next week, Kantner will take on the role of ESPN’s Rules Analyst, sharing her extensive knowledge with millions of women’s basketball fans.
Meg Aronowitz, ESPN’s senior vice president of production, has been considering the addition of rules analysts for women’s basketball broadcasts for some time, similar to practices in football and men’s basketball. This need became evident during the Women’s College World Series when a softball analyst had to clarify a controversial play in a game between UCLA and Tennessee.
“Dee and I have talked for years about her joining our broadcasts if she decided to retire,” Aronowitz shared. “In our football games, you see analysts like Matt Austins and Gene Steratores. It’s something I’ve been bouncing around with the crew for a while… If you watched the Women’s College World Series, our analysts provided critical insights during pivotal moments.”
Aronowitz pointed out, “Maybe what we’re lacking in the biggest moments of the women’s NCAA Tournament is the presence of someone who can really contribute. We’ve brought in analysts during postseason games before, but we didn’t have anyone with the right personality to analyze on the spot. Dee was always in the back of my mind for that.”
Kantner will be collaborating with ESPN’s top women’s basketball broadcast team, which includes Ryan Ruocco handling play-by-play, Rebecca Lobo offering color commentary, and Holly Rowe reporting from the sidelines. Her debut with them will be on Tuesday during the Armed Forces Classic, where Louisville takes on UW, now set in Annapolis, Maryland.
What sets Kantner apart from other analysts is that she will be present at most games alongside ESPN’s top crew, unlike other analysts who may call in remotely. Aronowitz mentioned that this was Kantner’s suggestion to enhance the broadcast experience.
“I felt she should be there to connect with Ryan and Rebecca directly,” Aronowitz said. “It was crucial for her to see real-time gameplay, the flow of officiating, and be actively involved. We plan to explore different methods for this role. Of course, she’s new to television, so we’ll use November and December for training.”
Aronowitz added that Kantner might also work with a crew that includes Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli. However, she may have to operate from the ESPN studios during the first round of the NCAA Tournament, when multiple games overlap.
Fans of the sport will likely recognize Kantner, as she has officiated several key women’s basketball games, including 26 Final Fours and 16 national championships. Recently, she’s been active in competitive conferences like the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten.
“I never intended to be an umpire, but my senior year of college I ran out of money. I had always been involved in track and field and was familiar with competition, so I figured I’d give it a shot. After college, while working in sales and marketing at North Carolina State, I continued officiating as a hobby,” Kantner recounted.
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Kantner’s career has been groundbreaking. In 1997, she and Violet Palmer became the first two female umpires in a major men’s professional sport in the U.S. when the NBA hired them. Over five seasons, Kantner officiated in 247 NBA games.
She also represented the sport as a ref at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and during the 1994 and 1998 FIBA World Championships. Additionally, Kantner is a board member of the Cayo Cancer Foundation, a member of both the Pennsylvania and North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and even a certified beekeeper.
Kantner served as an official manager in the WNBA for 11 years. Aronowitz mentioned there’s interest in having her contribute to ESPN’s WNBA coverage, but that decision will be made closer to the season’s start.
This season, ESPN plans to air more than 240 women’s college basketball games on its main network and about 3,000 additional games on ESPN+. Six women’s basketball games will also be shown on ABC, kicking off with Baylor vs. Texas on December 14. The first women’s game in prime time on ABC will feature LSU against South Carolina on February 14. College gameday for women’s basketball is set to resume in February.
During these key matchups, fans can expect to hear from Kantner as she adds her insights regarding the referees’ calls.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us,” Aronowitz remarked. “There may be games where nothing significant requires rule clarification, and we might not see Dee on air. Yet there will be moments—like in more intense scenarios—where she’ll really shine. We’re thrilled to have her onboard.”
