Her Game Her Voice™

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 connec...

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”:...

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...

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 tackl...

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 p...

In this episode of Her Game Her Voice. , we’re diving into the madness of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament — and asking a bigger question: does money equal success in women’s college basketball? First, we break down one of the most compelling Cinderella runs of March, as the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball go from the First Four to a historic Sweet 16 appearance. What fueled their run...

March Madness is here—and so is a major shift in the WNBA. In this episode of Her Game Her Voice , we break down the chaos of the NCAA Tournament , including how bracket seeding works and why your picks probably won’t survive the first weekend. Plus, big news from the WNBA : a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is set to transform the league, with massive salary increases, revenue sharing,...

In the first Her Game Her Voice episode of the new year, Kaari kicks things off with a clear-eyed update on the latest WNBA CBA negotiations , including what the newly announced moratorium actually means, why the offseason is on pause, and how it could compress everything from free agency to the draft—without putting the 2026 season in danger (hopefully). Next, a listener question breaks down one...

In the final Her Game Her Voice episode of the year, Kaari opens with a strange dream about Coach Tara Vanderveer. Then she shares a quick but critical update on the WNBA’s ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, including the latest sticking points around housing, scheduling, and revenue sharing as the January 9 deadline looms. Next, a listener question about how the Unrivaled League actually...

In this episode of Her Game Her Voice, Kaari Peterson kicks off the college basketball season by zooming in on the fast‑rising Stanford Cardinal women’s basketball team—after a rare down year they’re back baby! 10 experienced returners, three freshmen five‑star recruits, and one collective goal:  a winning season. Then Kaari dives into a Listener's Question about the WNBA and free‑agency: Wha...

In this episode of Her Game Her Voice , Kaari goes inside the WNBA to unpack one of the sport’s most misunderstood concepts: freedom of movement. What does it actually mean, and why does it matter so much for players — especially in a league that’s becoming more physical by the game? Kaari breaks it down in plain terms. Freedom of Movement runs right into one of the biggest headlines in the WNBA:...

What happens when the Golden State Valkyries take their playoff run to San Jose? Kaari shares her first-hand experience of Ballhalla at the SAP Center, the heartbreak of a last-second loss to the Minnesota Lynx, and the unforgettable moment that showed what this team is really about. This week’s listener question (straight from Tampa, Florida!) unpacks how WNBA teams decide which uniforms they&apo...

The Golden State Valkyries just made history as the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs — and they did it in style. But while the Valkyries are soaring,  injuries in the WNBA are piling up. So Kaari's digging into the whys and what’s next regarding the league’s injury crisis. This week’s Listener Question takes us court side: how do teams decide which basket to shoot at in the fir...

The Golden State Valkyries just cracked open a surprise — literally. Outside Chase Center, a giant violet egg hatched their brand-new mascot:  Violet the Raven. Host Kaari Peterson breaks down Violet's egg-cellent debut and the Norse mythology behind “Ballhalla.” Next up, it’s tech time: The WNBA’s partnership with Second Spectrum is bringing full-court optical tracking and mind-bending analy...

From buzzer beaters to busted myths, this episode of Her Game Her Voice brings the heat. Host Kaari Peterson kicks things off with a Golden State Valkyries update — including key injuries, road trip fatigue, and what’s ahead for the WNBA’s newest franchise. Then it’s time to mythbust: What does revenue sharing actually look like in the W? Why does revenue sharing matter? Kaari separates fact from...

Hey Hoop Heads — I’m back with a fully loaded All-Star edition of Her Game Her Voice and I’ve got a lot to share including: 🏀 A break down the highs, lows, and the "meh" of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis 📣 A fantastic listener question about the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (spoiler: it’s a BIG DEAL) 👕 Thoughts about the players’ bold “Pay Us What You Owe Us” sh...

Guess what? The Indiana Fever came to Ballhalla… and left with an L. In this episode of Her Game Her Voice, host Kaari Peterson breaks down the Golden State Valkyries’ electric win over the Fever, the escalating physicality in the WNBA (hello, Fever vs. Sun skirmish), and what the Commissioner’s Cup prize money really looks like for players. Spoiler: crypto’s involved. Plus, we head back to the cl...

This week on Her Game Her Voice , host Kaari Peterson brings the heat with the latest from the Golden State Valkyries, including a dominant win over the Aces and the signing of MSU Spartan alum Aerial Powers. Listener Pillar from Michigan asks: “What is a WNBA hardship contract?” — and Kaari breaks it down. Also in this episode: a hard look at the WNBA’s shocking pay gap, with insights from Nobel...

In this episode of Her Game Her Voice , we’re diving into: 🏀 How the Golden State Valkyries’ rookies are settling in 📍 Where Princeton’s Kaitlyn Chen is now (hint: she’s not done dazzling us) 🎤 Tara VanDerveer’s thoughts on building a pipeline for women coaches 💡 A listener question on the WNBA 3-point line (and what it says about the women’s game) 🎖 Plus, the Awards return with this week’s: B...

Graduation milestones, expansion excitement, and growing pains on and off the court. In this episode, Kaari returns after a short break to celebrate her daughter’s college graduation — and the WNBA’s 29th season tip-off.  She shares her firsthand experience as a Golden State Valkyries season ticket holder at the team’s much-anticipated home opener, including standout moments, second-half struggles...

In this episode of Her Game. Her Voice. , Kaari Peterson takes you inside the 2025 WNBA Draft—from a surprising pick by the Golden State Valkyries to their bold international roster strategy. Plus, what’s with cutting down basketball nets? We’ve got answers. Kelsey Plum’s DAWG camp earns this week’s Buzzer Beater, and Kaari hands out an Airball Award to a missed merchandising opportunity. And yes,...

In this episode, I shine a spotlight on Belmont University legend Betty Wiseman—aka “Belmont Betty”—and the extraordinary legacy she built for women’s basketball in the Southeast. I’ll also take you back to the 2002 Final Four in San Antonio, where a surprise encounter with Pat Summitt left me speechless.  Plus: this year’s NCAA title game delivered huge viewership, proving that women’s hoops is h...

Short on time? Good news—so are we.  In this bite-sized, 10 minute episode of Her Game Her Voice,  we’re diving deep into March Madness! 🏀 First, we head back to Stanford for a special "Road to the Final Four" Basketball Master Class with Tara Vanderveer. I also share my own wild memories from the 1995 Final Four (spoiler: UConn fans, you’re not my favorite). 🏆 Awards Time!  • Buzzer B...

March Madness is here, but not everyone got an invite—Stanford’s historic NCAA tournament streak is over, and I’ve got thoughts. Plus, we dive into the origins of “March Madness” and “The Big Dance,” break down Cinderella stories and bracket busters, and hand out this week’s Buzzer Beater, Airball, and Flagrant Foul Awards.  Spoiler alert: Eminem is stepping up for women’s basketball, and Unrivale...

In this episode of Her Game. Her Voice. , we dive into the stories of two groundbreaking women’s basketball teams. First, the Fort Shaw Indian Boarding School team—Indigenous girls who dominated the court in the early 1900s, becoming world champions at the 1904 World’s Fair. But their success came with a dark reality, as their victories were used to promote assimilation policies. It’s a story that...