Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling believes sport is a unique means for encountering the sacred gift of life and service. She has the joy of living this out as a referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After developing in the NBA G-League and officiating in the WNBA, Lauren became the third woman to be hired as an NBA referee and is the only woman to currently hold the position. Before joining the NBA staff, Lauren officiated for the NCAA and FIBA,
leading to her invitation to work the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Lauren earned her master of divinity from Emory University and she responds to the invitation of spiritual care through the creative art-making process. She is a member of the Tampa Bay chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE). Along with the National Basketball Referee Association (NBRA), she volunteers with Scholastic’s TIMEOUT for Reading program and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Lauren lives in Tampa with her husband, Jonathan, and their dog, MJ.
