Respected Basketball Official From Manchester Now Member Of Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

MANCHESTER, CT — The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Committee has announced its 2026 class of inductees and Manchester's ​Gemetta Neal-Goulet is included.

The 37th Annual Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon is scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. Ticket information may be obtained from Diane Dietman at 203-537-0918 or dietz021@hotmail.com.

The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame was the first organization of its kind in the country. It was created in 1987 by five professional and personal friends who strongly felt the need to honor outstanding basketball players, coaches, officials, and advocates.

The Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed to the enhancement of women’s basketball in Connecticut — either through participation, through service, through support, or through achievement.

​Gemetta Neal-Goulet (referee)

Aspiring to be a role model for young girls and women, Neal-Goulet of Manchester wanted to show them there is a career path after playing basketball. A referee on IAABO Board 6 since 1998 and college official since 2001, she became the first female executive committee member in 2015-16 and the first female president in 2019-20.

Previously, Neal-Goulet coached at the high school level at E.O. Smith, RHAM and Bloomfield and as a graduate assistant for Geno Auriemma in his first season as UConn's head coach in 1985-86 and as an
assistant at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Neal-Goulet is now working at the CREC Magnet School in Hartford after a nine-year stint at the Hartford Juvenile Detention Center.