"What doesn't Metta Christensen do?" would be a good question to ask if you have followed Baldwin County sports history over the last few decades.

The first female athletic director in Baldwin County Public Schools and Foley High School history officiated a first-round women's NCAA Tournament game this weekend. Christensen was one of three officials on the court during the Oklahoma State-Princeton Round of 64 matchup at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.

Despite years of officiating high-level basketball, Christensen still had trouble finding the words to describe the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being on the hardwood in March.

"As far as the kids go, obviously it is single elimination for them, but as an official, having that experience is just awesome," Christensen stated. "It's really hard to put into words, but I feel fortunate every time I get to do it."

Christensen has a long history as a collegiate and professional referee that many may not be aware of. In the late 1990s, current AHSAA Basketball Southwest Coordinator of Officials Bill Wiggins and former Southeastern Conference Associate Commissioner Sharon Gaunt talked Christensen into officiating basketball games — and in 2000, she caved to their convincing.

From there, she worked her way through the junior college and Division II ranks onto the Division I stage, now officiating regular-season and tournament games when the opportunities are presented.

In the summer of 2004, Christensen was invited to an NBA camp by well-known former professional basketball official Ed Rush and eventually was picked up by the developmental league. She ended up working in the league's developmental system for three years, and then in the WNBA for another two.

So, the 2026 Women's NCAA Division I Tournament was not Christensen's first rodeo. And despite it being on a national stage, the Foley athletic director treats the tournament like every other game and stays grateful for the opportunities.

"I'm gonna tell you how we would all answer this question: they're all big games," Christensen said. "There's not one game any bigger than the other, in my personal opinion. Anytime you get an opportunity to just officiate Division I basketball and also do the NCAA tournament is great."