Her Game Her Voice
Her Game Her Voice is the podcast where women’s basketball meets bold conversations about gender parity, the unique challenges female athletes face, and the moments—both on and off the court—that shape the game.
From buzzer-beating triumphs to air balls that leave us shaking our heads (like Pitbull at the WNBA All-Star halftime show—really?!), Kaari breaks it all down with insight, humor, and a passion for the game.
She’ll share what she’s learned from Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Tara VanDerveer, cover stories from the Golden State Valkyries, Stanford Women’s Basketball, and the WNBA, and bring in special guests—players, coaches, and insiders—to give their perspectives.
Whether you’re a diehard fan, a casual observer, or someone who just discovered the WNBA through Taylor Swift’s friendship with Caitlin Clark, Her Game Her Voice has something for you.
Join the conversation and find Her Game Her Voice wherever you get your podcasts.
Her Game Her Voice
The Draft, the Nets, and the Guard DAWGS
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, she’s got thoughts on the decline in girls’ basketball participation—and why it deserves a Flagrant Foul. Packed with insight, side-eyes, and love for the game.
“Big stories, little episodes—amplifying the voices shaping the game on and off the court." - Her Game Her Voice Podcast by Kaari Peterson
Hi, I'm Kaari Peterson, and this is Her Game, Her Voice, the podcast with big stories and small episodes, amplifying the voices shaping women's basketball.
Kaari:Today, we're diving into the WNBA draft and the Golden State Valkyries' bold moves. Plus, I'll answer a listener question and, of course, hand out the coveted Her Game, Her Voice awards. And now, on with the show.
Kaari:Last Monday, April 14th, was WNBA Draft Day. I'll be honest, I wasn't super hyped about it this year. No Stanford players in the mix, really, unless you count Kiki Iriafen, who had transferred to USC from Stanford and got picked fourth by the Washington Mystics.
Kaari:Then came the Valkyries with the fifth pick. At that spot, I figured they'd go with a well-known college player, someone fans might already recognize. Instead, they went international. Again. They picked Lithuanian forward Juste Jocite. What the hell? That's right. Say it with me now. Juste Jocyte. She was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Lithuania and has been playing pro overseas since age 14.
Kaari:This pick seemed like a surprise at first, but was it? The Valkyries aren't just collecting international players by coincidence. It's a strategy. Oh, okay.
Kaari:In fact, they now have 10 international players, more than any other WNBA team. Their expansion draft picks also have young global talent, including Temi Fegbenle, Julie Van Loo, Maria Kandi, Cecilia Zandalasini. You get the idea.
Kaari:Coach Natalie Nakase and GM Ohama Nyanin have emphasized character, competitiveness, and grit. Qualities they believe international players bring in spades. So yes, picking Juste Jocyte. Oh my god, these names are really getting to me. So yeah, picking the 19-year-old Lithuanian wasn't just a wildcard move. It was on brand.
Kaari:But it isn't all international flair with the Valkyries. They're also weaving in youth and domestic talent. They picked up Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers with the 17th pick. She's versatile, court smart, and a defensive standout. She's still developing her outside shot, but she's got serious u pside.
Kaari:And then we have the Valkyries' third pick, Kaitlyn Chen, a guard from UConn. What? Yep, that UConn. She transferred there from Princeton for her last year of eligibility. Looking past my usual disdain for UConn, I was actually excited about this one. And not just because I'm a former guard myself. Chen brings hustle, joy, and sharp decision-making. She's a feel-good player. And I'll be happy to root for her, especially because she doesn't play for UConn anymore.
Kaari:The Valkyries now have seven, make that eight, guards at last count, including WNBA vet Tiffany Hayes. Training camp started this week, and it's safe to say it's going to be a battle for those final roster spots. The Valkyries' approach to building their roster is unique. By including international players, they're enhancing their overall versatility as a team, and establishing a diverse team culture. This roster of players reflects the Bay Area's diverse community, which is pretty cool. From the start, they're positioning themselves as a global brand, something I don't think other WNBA teams have done. And that's exciting. Woo! Leveraging international talent to build a competitive, culturally rich, and forward-thinking team will hopefully translate to some exciting games from the Valkyries this year. The Valkyries' first game is May 16th versus the LA Sparks, and I can't wait.
Kaari:I want to take a moment and send a quick shout-out to all of you. I've been dropping podcast episodes for just over a month, and the love has been unreal. From the bottom of my basketball heart, thank you so much for listening.
Kaari:And speaking of listening, I got a question from a listener last week that I'd like to answer now. The question was, why did basketball teams cut down the nets after winning a tournament?
Kaari:Cutting down the nets started at the collegiate level in 1947. After the North Carolina State Wolfpack claimed their second Southern Conference title, head coach Everett Case wanted a souvenir to commemorate the win. This was obviously before championship t-shirts and hats. Coach Case decided that the basketball net from the game would be perfect, and the tradition began. Eventually, it spread to women's college basketball tournaments and many high school basketball programs across the country.
Kaari:Exactly who cuts down a basketball net?
Kaari:Well, players typically go in order of seniority, and the last cut is saved for the head coach. Players take small pieces of the net so there's enough to go around for the entire team. Today, the NCAA tournament has an official ladder and scissors used during net cutting ceremonies. The ladder is sponsored by Werner, And the scissors are sponsored by Fiskars, further illustrating that almost anything can be turned into a marketing opportunity.
Kaari:And now it's time for everybody's favorite, the awards section of our show.
Kaari:This week, the Buzzer Beater Award goes to WNBA All-Star Guard Kelsey Plum and her dog camp. That's D-A-W-G, dog.
Kaari:It's an invitation-only basketball camp for top college guards. The goal of the camp is to equip the guards with the dog mentality of grit, confidence, and a strong work ethic so campers will have an easier transition to the WNBA. Plum provides comprehensive training, including on-court drills, scrimmages, strength and conditioning, and mental health resources. There are also sessions on building a personal brand, managing finances, and dealing with the media. The camp is a collaboration with Under Armour. Remember what I just said about marketing opportunities?
Kaari:Plum said that her transition from college to the WNBA was tough. She wants to make the transition easier for the new guards entering the league.
Kaari:I was happy to learn that Valkyrie's rookie Shyanne Sellers was one of the nine guards who attended the camp this year.
Kaari:Kelsey Plum is paying it forward. And that's why Kelsey and her dog camp get this week's buzzer beater award. Woof.
Kaari:And now, the Airball Award. This week it goes to the Golden State Valkyries and their merchandise wipeout.
Kaari:The Valkyries dropped new merchandise last week, and that was cool. Except that everything sold out in what felt like a few minutes. Great for hype, terrible for fans who just wanted to snag a hoodie without refreshing their browser 37 times.
Kaari:It's like they stocked two of everything and called it a day. Big fan energy meets tiny inventory? No bueno.
Kaari:And that's why the Golden State Valkyries Merchandise Wipeout gets a serious Airball Award.
Kaari:And finally, the Flagrant Foul Award. This week's Flagrant Foul Award goes to the national declining trend in the number of girls basketball players.
Kaari:Last December, U.S. News reported that, quote, the Caitlin Clark effect hasn't reversed the decades-long decline in girls' basketball participation. Wait, what?
Kaari:Case in point, Nebraska's third-largest high school decided not to play varsity girls' basketball this year after no juniors or seniors went out for the sport. This case reflects the national decline in participation in girls' basketball.
Kaari:Since Caitlin Clark was born 23 years ago, Participation in girls' high school basketball has dropped nearly 20%. The sport has fallen to number four behind volleyball, soccer, and track and field. And according to the Federation of State High School Associations, those sports have all seen double-digit growth in participation.
Kaari:The decline is curious. It was one of those things that made me go, huh?
Kaari:I mean, even as the popularity of women's basketball with young players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has drawn record numbers of fans, girls are choosing other sports over basketball.
Kaari:But then again, think about it. More fans doesn't mean more players. One high school girls basketball coach said that the pipeline of girls basketball players has gotten very narrow. Girls might play basketball, soccer, and volleyball in grade school, and then when they get to middle school and their schedule is more demanding, some genius tells them they have to make a choice and choose one sport because, quote, "if they want to be really good in a sport, they can only play one sport." And unfortunately, girls are choosing other sports over basketball.
Kaari:In fact, even as the girls' basketball numbers have dropped, total participation in girls' high school sports has grown, with more than 3.4 million girls competing in high school sports last year.
Kaari:This makes my little basketball heart feel very sad. And that's why the flagrant foul award goes to the national decline in the number of girls basketball players.
Kaari:One more thing before I go. I want to give a shout out to the Stanford women's softball team. They recently played rival school Cal at the Stanford football stadium and set the NCAA attendance record for women's softball with a crowd of over 13,000 fans.
Kaari:More fans in the stands? Yes, please.
Kaari:I'm Kaari Peterson and you've been listening to Her Game Her Voice. If you'd like to hear more episodes of Her Game, Her Voice, please follow or subscribe to the podcast. Subscribing and following the podcast is a mutually beneficial thing. It benefits you because you won't miss an episode and it benefits me because, well, you won't miss an episode.
Kaari:Subscribing is easy. Just go to the Her Game Her Voice show page on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. tap on the plus sign or click on follow to subscribe. And while you're on the show page, I would be eternally grateful if you would take a few seconds to give Her Game Her Voice a great rating and or review and share an episode with a friend.
Kaari:Her Game Her Voice can also be found on Substack, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
Kaari:Thanks again for listening and let's get hooping!
