WNBA at 30, Lisa Leslie Gets Her Flowers, and Valkyries Fans Get Flagged

WNBA at 30, Lisa Leslie Gets Her Flowers, and Valkyries Fans Get Flagged

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

Muffet Got Her Master's, Stanford Lost Seven Players, and the WNBA Lost the Flow

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

Portal Paydays, Camp Cuts, & Caitlin Coverage

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

Transfers, Tournament Cash, and Voices Behind the Game… Plus Geno Auriemma

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

Cinderella Runs, Big Money Moves, and the Transfer Portal

In this episode of Her Game Her Voice., we’re diving into the madness of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0] — 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 [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=1] go from the First Four to a historic Sweet 16 appearance. What fueled their run — and what role did major investment play behind the scenes? Then, we tackle a listener question about the transfer portal — how it works, why it matters, and how NIL deals are changing the game for women’s basketball players across the NCAA [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=2]. Finally, it’s time for the awards: 🏀 Buzzer Beater goes to Shea Ralph [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=3] for a historic season at Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=4] 📺 Airball goes to ESPN [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=5] and ABC [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=6] for the women’s championship game time slot ⏰ Flagrant Foul goes to the NCAA [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=7] for tournament scheduling that has teams running on fumes From Cinderella stories to cash-fueled competition, this episode connects the dots between performance, investment, and the future of women’s basketball. “Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson