NEW YORK – NBA G League referees Biniam Maru (Bih-nee-um Muh-roo), Pat O’Connell and Jenna Reneau (Reh-know) have been named NBA staff officials for the 2025-26 season, it was announced today by Albert Sanders, NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Referee Operations and Monty McCutchen, NBA Senior Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training.
“We are very pleased to welcome Biniam, Pat and Jenna to our NBA officiating staff,” said Sanders. “Each official has consistently demonstrated the growth, professionalism, and performance quality to officiate NBA games on a regular basis.”
“Congratulations to Biniam, Pat and Jenna on their advancement to our NBA staff,” said McCutchen. “All three officials have worked diligently to reach the pinnacle of their profession and will continue to hone their craft as they take this next step.”
In addition to their NBA assignments this season, Maru, O’Connell and Reneau will continue to officiate NBA G League games. All NBA referees with fewer than four years of service in the NBA work NBA G League games to gain additional experience as crew chiefs and develop as leaders.
Maru refereed two NBA regular-season games as a non-staff official in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. The Chicago native has officiated six seasons in the NBA G League, where he worked playoff games in each of the last four seasons, including the 2025 Finals. His officiating experience also includes two years in the WNBA and seven years in college basketball.
O’Connell refereed NBA regular-season games as a non-staff official in 2021-22 (three games), 2022-23 (six), 2023-24 (seven) and 2024-25 (six). He has officiated seven years in the NBA G League, including three consecutive Finals in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The New Jersey native has also worked games in the Basketball Africa League, most recently in the 2025 Playoffs. O’Connell’s father, Brian O’Connell, is a longtime NCAA Division I men’s basketball referee.
Reneau refereed NBA regular-season games as a non-staff official in 2021-22 (12 games), 2022-23 (five), 2023-24 (seven) and 2024-25 (six). She has officiated nine years in the NBA G League, joining O’Connell as a Finals referee in each of the last three seasons. As a WNBA official, she worked four consecutive Playoffs from 2022-2025, including the Finals in 2024. The Texas native has five years of experience as a FIBA referee and officiated both men’s and women’s games in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 2025-26 NBA regular season will tip off Tuesday, Oct. 21 with a doubleheader on NBC/Peacock as the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosts the Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET).
For the complete list of 2025-26 NBA game officials, click here.
