Natalie Simon

[2][3] Simon was born in Louisiana, the descendant of slaves on both sides of her family, and is of Choctaw Native American heritage from her maternal great-grandmother.

"[6] An assistant coach at Stetson was a referee assessor and recommended officiating to Simon as a way to remain engaged with soccer after graduation.

[7][8] On May 8, 2021, Simon officiated the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship, her first assignment for a tournament's finals.

[12] On April 12, 2022, Simon officiated her first United States women's national soccer team match as a center referee.

[14] That list included Alyssa Nichols, the second Black American woman to earn a FIFA badge, who viewed Simon as a role model.