A Chattanooga alumnus refereed the first half of the university’s NCAA Women’s Tournament matchup against N.C. State on Saturday. The official was removed from the game after halftime, the NCAA confirmed in a statement.
“It was learned after the game had started that Umpire 2 Tommi Paris had a background conflict that, if known, would prevent her from working in the assigned game,” the NCAA said in a statement.
According to online profiles, Paris received a master’s degree in public administration from Chattanooga. Referees are supposed to notify the NCAA of any potential conflict of interest involving schools in the tournament.
Angelica Suffren, who worked an earlier first-round game, relieved Paris for the second half. The NCAA chose not to use the designated stand-by referee, saying the decision “provided the most on-court experience and allowed the game to maintain a full officiating crew, plus standby.”
The controversy quickly drew the ire of sports fans on social media.
“What an absolute joke. NCAA either doesn’t screen their officials or doesn’t care. This is pathetic,” one fan wrote on X. “Also shame on Tommi Paris for not saying something and alerting them. Was she hoping to not get caught? It’s an awful look and calls into integrity the officials. Shameful.”
Paris’s connection to Chattanooga is listed on multiple websites, including her employee profile at Adamantine Energy and her LinkedIn account.
N.C. State ultimately won the first-round game against Chattanooga 64-45.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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