Her Game Her Voice™

This week, we’re taking a break from our WNBA at 30: How Did We Get Here? series for two personal stories with some pretty special basketball connections. One involves a legendary coach’s first cousin. The other? Let’s just say I may have played a critical role in the Golden State Valkyries’ playoff run. You’re welcome, Valkyries fans!

🏀 Also in this episode:

• Listener Question: What’s the difference between the crew chief, referee, and umpire in a WNBA game? And who’s actually in charge?
• A Brush with Greatness: A chance encounter at my dad’s memorial luncheon leads to an unexpected connection with Pat Summitt, one of the greatest coaches in women’s basketball history.
• The Rally Towel Effect: How a hotel room in East Lansing, a Peacock stream, and one very enthusiastic Valkyries fan may have helped propel Golden State past the Las Vegas Aces and into the WNBA Finals.

🏆 This Week’s Awards:

• Buzzer Beater: We celebrate a Stanford legend whose basketball excellence, leadership, and sportsmanship have left an extraordinary legacy.
• Airball: The WNBA’s handling of a disputed timeout in a crucial playoff moment raises some serious questions about officiating and accountability.
• Flagrant Foul: When a winning record meets questions about coaching behavior, how a coach treats her players matters just as much as the games she wins.

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

It’s Episode 30 of Her Game Her Voice! 🎉 And we’re celebrating with another installment of WNBA at 30: How Did We Get Here?

In Part 6, we look at one of the defining characteristics of the WNBA: the players have always had something to say. From the 2016 Black Lives Matter protests that put players’ collective voice front and center to the 2020 Justice Movement, we’ll look at how WNBA players went from speaking out individually to organizing and using their collective power to help shape the identity of the league.

Plus, Mark in San Antonio asks whether I watched the new The Dynasty: UConn Huskies docu-series. Yep, I did—and I have some thoughts about Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, and whose stories made it into the series.

🏆 This Week’s Awards: We celebrate a playoff milestone for the Golden State Valkyries, question a curious omission from this season’s MVP conversation, and hand out a Flagrant Foul for a recruiting decision that raised some complicated questions.

Thirty episodes and counting. Thanks for listening, subscribing, sending questions, and supporting my women’s basketball obsession!

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

The WNBA’s LGBTQ visibility didn’t happen overnight—it was built one person, one player, and one step at a time.

In Part 5 of our WNBA at 30: How Did We Get Here? series, we trace the evolution of LGBTQ+ visibility in the WNBA—from Sue Wicks’ simple “yes” in 2002 to players using their platforms to become role models, the league’s first Pride campaign, and today’s openly queer stars. It’s a story about authenticity, visibility, and the people who made the next step a little easier for the person who came after them.

Also in this episode:

• 🏀 Why is the WNBA schedule such a logistical nightmare? We break down how the league balances arena availability, television, travel, player rest, and those mysterious two-game series.
• 👟 A four-year-old’s first WNBA game and his very logical solution for making the games shorter.
• 🏆 This week’s awards celebrate the fans who are showing up in record numbers, a Team USA social media misstep, and a Flagrant Foul for a loss that has absolutely nothing to do with basketball.

Whether you’re new to the WNBA or you’ve followed the league for decades, this episode is another reminder that the league we see today was built by people who were willing to be visible, speak up, and make the next step possible.

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

The WNBA needed a superstar. And when the league tipped off in 1997, that superstar wasn’t the obvious choice.

In Part 4 of WNBA at 30: How Did We Get Here?, we meet Cynthia Cooper, the WNBA’s first true superstar—and the player who helped turn a brand-new league into must-see basketball.

Then, in this week’s Listener Question, we’re talking technical fouls. What’s the difference between a technical and a regular personal foul? What makes a foul flagrant? And how do officials decide between a Flagrant 1 and a Flagrant 2? We’ll also look at the recent DiJonai Carrington/Sophie Cunningham incident and the gray area between what’s written in the rulebook and how officials apply it on the court.

And there's also the Awards:

🏀 Buzzer Beater Award: The next generation of women’s basketball fans is sending a pretty clear message about where the sport is headed.

🏀 Airball Award: When your own social media post appears to contradict one of your league’s most important rules… that’s probably not a slam dunk.

🏀 Flagrant Foul Award: A heated confrontation in the stands raises an important question about leadership—and the responsibility that comes with representing a WNBA franchise.

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

The WNBA didn’t become a success overnight—it became a success because people believed in it long before there was proof.

In Part 3 of our WNBA at 30: How Did We Get Here? series, we explore the people who kept the league alive through its most uncertain years. From players who spent winters overseas just to keep playing professionally to the coaches, owners, and fans who refused to give up on the league, this episode looks at how belief—not inevitability—helped transform the WNBA from surviving to thriving.

Also in this episode:

• 🏀 Why does WNBA All-Star voting spark controversy every summer? We break down exactly how the process works—and why different groups often see the league differently.
• 🏆 This week’s awards examine sportsmanship, accountability, officiating, and the line between passionate fandom and harmful behavior.

Whether you’re new to the WNBA or you’ve followed the league for decades, this episode is a reminder that today’s sold-out arenas and record-breaking moments were built by people who believed long before there was proof.

Her Game Her Voice delivers big stories about women’s basketball in 15 minutes (give or take!).

Happy hoopin’!

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

If the ABL had better players, higher salaries, and die-hard basketball fans, why are we celebrating the WNBA’s 30th anniversary instead of the ABL’s?

In Part 2 of The WNBA at 30: How We Got Here, Kaari explores one of the biggest “what ifs” in women’s basketball history: the battle between the WNBA and the American Basketball League. From NBA backing and business strategy to an unexpected connection with Golden State Warriors and Valkyries owner Joe Lacob, this episode examines why one league survived while the other folded—and what that lesson still means today.

Also in this episode:

🌲 A surprising Michigan connection to the Golden State Valkyries’ court at Chase Center.

🏀 Listener Question: Why are we suddenly seeing jersey numbers like 77 and 88? Kaari explains the old basketball rule that shaped jersey numbers for generations—and why it’s finally disappearing.

🏆 Buzzer Beater Award: Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles ties Caitlin Clark’s rookie record for three-pointers in a game, while Napheesa Collier reminds us what great leadership looks like.

😬 Airball Award: Thirty years into the WNBA’s history, why are there no Black women serving as head coaches currently? Kaari looks at the league’s coaching pipeline and why it’s a conversation worth having.

🚨 Flagrant Foul Award: Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez gets called out for creating an unnecessary adversarial relationship with the reporters covering his team.

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

The WNBA is turning 30. So why does the league exist in the first place?

In this episode of Her Game. Her Voice., Kaari launches a new series, The WNBA at 30: How We Got Here, exploring the key moments, people, and decisions that helped build today’s WNBA. The story begins in 1996, when the NBA announced the creation of the league and introduced what became known as the WNBA’s “Original Three”: Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Rebecca Lobo.  

Also in this episode:

🏀 Listener Question: Why do basketball announcers always say “two minutes remaining”? Kaari explains the surprising history and rulebook significance behind one of the sport’s most familiar announcements.  

🏆 Buzzer Beater Award: Lisa Leslie is getting a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, cementing her place among Los Angeles sports legends and honoring one of the most influential players in WNBA history.  

😬 Airball Award: The WNBA’s 30th anniversary celebration gets called out for missing a major opportunity to introduce new fans to the pioneers who built the league.  

🚨 Flagrant Foul Award: A candid conversation about Golden State Valkyries fans, Caitlin Clark, and the difference between creating a passionate home-court advantage and creating a hostile environment.  

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

This episode covers a little bit of everything from the women’s basketball world: Stanford’s huge transfer portal losses, the evolving realities of NIL and player movement, the WNBA’s new CBA roster rules, the soaring value of the Golden State Valkyries, and why early-season officiating has fans wondering if every game now comes with a complimentary whistle concerto.

I also share a personal moment from Nashville, where “Miss Muffet” officially walked for her Master’s Degree at Belmont University — proving once again that this podcast can pivot seamlessly from emotional graduation stories to full-scale basketball existential crises.

More about this episode:

• What I learned from Stanford Athletics’ post-portal Zoom call
• Why player retention matters more than PR damage control
• Listener question: What happened to the push for larger WNBA rosters in the 2026 CBA?
• Why the new developmental roster spots may not fully solve the league’s depth problem
• The Golden State Valkyries continue smashing valuation records
• Why WNBA games suddenly feel twice as long this season
• March Madness expansion officially arrives — whether fans wanted it or not

Awards this week include:
 🏀 Buzzer Beater Award
 🧱 Airball Award
 🚨 Flagrant Foul Award

Follow Her Game Her Voice on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts — and if you’re enjoying the show, please leave a rating, review, or share an episode with a fellow hoop head. 

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

The transfer portal is officially closed… sort of. But the chaos? Very much alive.

This week, I break down what happens when 1,500 women’s basketball players enter the portal, why Audi Crooks’ headline-making move may say just as much about NIL and financial power as it does about basketball, and what Stanford’s seven-player roster exodus could reveal about the future of the program.

Then we tackle a listener question from Bonnie in Maryland about WNBA training camps: how players actually get invited, why camp is a huge deal, and what it means when roughly 18 elite athletes show up competing for about 12 roster spots. Spoiler alert: camp invite does not equal job security.

Plus, we zoom out on the bigger picture: what roster-building really looks like in women’s basketball right now—from college player movement to the brutal math of making a WNBA team.

And of course, the awards:

🏆 Buzzer Beater: Aliyah Boston’s record-setting $6.3 million contract

 🎈 Air Ball: Dallas Wings PR for stepping in during Azzi Fudd’s introductory press conference

 🚨 Flagrant Foul: Dawn Montgomery for ignoring the business reality behind Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever’s TV dominance

From portal pressure to pro dreams, this episode is all about opportunity, leverage, and who really gets to control the narrative in women’s basketball.

Follow, rate, and share Her Game Her Voice so you never miss an episode.

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson

The transfer portal chaos continues—and based on your feedback, not everyone’s loving it.

This week, we dig deeper into what the portal means for players, coaches, and yes… the fans left trying to keep up with ever-changing rosters. Empowering? Absolutely. Sustainable? That’s still up for debate.

Then we answer a listener question that brings real money into the conversation: how NCAA tournament payouts actually work in women’s basketball—and why one March run can mean millions for an entire conference.

Plus, a spotlight on two voices who’ve been elevating the game for decades—long before the sold-out arenas and prime-time coverage.

Wondering if we’re talking about Geno Auriemma?

We don’t talk about Geno.

…until we most definitely do.

And of course, the awards:

• 🏆 Buzzer Beater: UCLA seniors make history (and make it loud)
• 🎈 Air Ball: A balloon vendor who broke WNBA free agency news… by accident
• 🚨 Flagrant Foul: Geno and a postgame meltdown that should’ve stayed offstage

Follow, rate, and share Her Game Her Voice so you never miss an episode.  

“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson