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, and long-overdue improvements to player benefits.

But first, a more personal note.

After a month away, I’m back behind the mic following the loss of my dad. This episode begins with a reflection on grief, stepping away from the game, and how basketball has a way of bringing us back when we’re ready.

And of course, this week’s awards:

• 🏀 Buzzer Beater: UCLA dominates and earns a No. 1 seed
• 💨 Airball: Stanford misses the tournament again
• 🚨 Flagrant Foul: A senior night decision that missed the moment

Whether you’re filling out your March Madness bracket, following the future of the WNBA, or just finding your way back to the game—this episode is for you.

📩 Got a question for the show?

Email: host@hergamehervoice.com

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⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Intro + Season 2 Kickoff

00:25 – A Personal Loss

01:47 – The Driveway Hoop Story

03:08 – Returning to the Game

03:30 – March Madness Preview

04:20 – WNBA CBA Update (Big News)

05:02 – Salary Increases Explained

05:33 – Revenue Sharing

05:53 – Quality of Life Improvements

06:17 – Compressed Offseason Chaos

07:21 – Why This Deal Is Transformational

08:09 – Listener Question: How Seeding Works

10:13 – Why Your Bracket Gets Busted

10:51 – Buzzer Beater Award (UCLA)

11:55 – Airball Award (Stanford)

13:26 – Flagrant Foul Award (Tennessee)

14:26 – Outro + Where to Follow

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

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 of basketball’s most underrated pieces of tech: those little black boxes referees wear on their belts. This segment explains how precision timing works and more.

Then it’s Part 3 of Kaari’s conversation with Dan Rosensweig, investor in the Unrivaled League and tech executive. This installment shifts from why Unrivaled exists to how it was built—exploring its player-driven structure, fan-first design, and what happens when athletes create a league with purpose instead of tradition.

And the episode wraps with the awards:

• Buzzer Beater Award - Dearica Hamby, for making Unrivaled history with the league’s first-ever 40-point game—scored in just 18 minutes of three-on-three chaos.
• Airball Award - Unrivaled’s marketing team, for teasing the mystique of “22” and fueling expectations around Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson—only to deliver neither.
• Flagrant Foul - UConn Women’s Basketball, for the audacity of being dominant, undefeated, and boringly consistent at No. 1.

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

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 makes money. From media rights and sponsorships to ticket sales and merchandise, this segment explains why Unrivaled’s player-first model is working.

Next it’s part two of Kaari’s conversation with Dan Rosensweig, investor in the Unrivaled women's professional basketball league and former (and now current) CEO of Chegg. Dan shares how NIL deals can give women athletes real financial leverage, why paying women athletes intentionally matters, and what changes when athletes are seen not just as players—but as entrepreneurs.

And the episode wraps with the awards:

• Buzzer Beater Award: A’ja Wilson, continuing a historic run with yet another major honor
• Airball Award: A very awkward post-game moment involving Tennessee and UCLA
• Flagrant Foul: Stanford Women’s Basketball—for surviving everything except 30 turnovers

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