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 here to stay. As always, we close with our weekly awards: a Flagrant Foul for a coach who crossed the line, and an Airball for a Hall of Fame that’s missing a key member.

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

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 Beater: Alabama vs. Maryland’s epic double-overtime showdown—an instant classic with record-breaking numbers and next-level sportswomanship.

• Airball: Golden State Valkyries’ Expansion Draft Press Conference—why E-40 might be a Bay Area icon, but still missed the mark for women’s hoops.

• Flagrant Foul: USC fans’ backlash against Mississippi State after JuJu Watkins’ heartbreaking, season-ending injury—let’s keep it classy, folks.

From on-court drama to off-court antics, this episode has it all in one bite-sized package.

Tune in—you won’t want to miss it!

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

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 Unrivaled’s coaching choices? Not so much.

Tap in for all the madness!

Here's a link to the music video I made about March Madness "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

https://youtu.be/G-g2sHE-Azw

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

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 will make you cheer—and cringe.

Then, meet the All American Red Heads, the first professional women’s basketball team, who took on men’s teams by men’s rules while sporting matching red hair (thanks to Clairol Flame 33). Part Harlem Globetrotters, part unstoppable force, they paved the way for women’s pro ball.

Plus, this week’s Buzzer Beater, Airball Award, and Flagrant Foul—including the NCAA’s new pay structure for women’s March Madness and a Big 12 tournament court so ugly it should’ve been ejected.

Show Notes:

📺 Watch the Fort Shaw documentary Playing for the World (PBS)

https://www.pbs.org/video/montanapbs-presents-playing-for-the-world

📽️ See the All American Red Heads in action (YouTube link)

https://youtu.be/wWri6sWbMqo

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

Welcome to the very first episode of Her Game Her Voice! I’m Kaari Peterson, and this is the podcast where women’s basketball meets the conversations that shape the game—on and off the court.

In this episode, I’m taking you inside my basketball class taught by legendary Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer. From the very first moment, it was clear this class would be special, and I’m sharing some of the key takeaways—including how basketball isn’t just about Xs and Os, but a reflection of America itself.

We’ll also dive into some fascinating history, like the first-ever women’s college basketball game between Stanford and Cal in 1896 (spoiler: men weren’t allowed inside, but that didn’t stop them from trying).

And of course, I’m kicking off my regular segments:

🏀 Buzzer Beater: A highlight-worthy moment in women’s basketball (this week, it’s USC’s classy move after their game against Iowa).

💨 Air Ball: A major missed opportunity (looking at you, LSU vs. Oklahoma brawl).

🚩 Flagrant Foul: A straight-up foul move in the world of women’s basketball (Geno, you earned this one).

Get ready for a mix of deep dives, history, and humor as we celebrate the game and call out what needs to change.

Subscribe to Her Game Her Voice wherever you get your podcasts, and let’s get hoopin’!

Want to comment on Episode 1 and learn more about the podcast? Subscribe to Her Game Her Voice on Substack by signing up for a free account. If you sign up, you can get notifications about additional episode content and new episodes.

Her Game Her Voice on Substack:

https://substack.com/@hergamehervoice

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Her Game Her Voice social links are here:

https://linktr.ee/hergamehervoice

Her Game Her Voice theme song Bouncin' written and produced by Kaari Peterson and Natalya Peterson.

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

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 learning 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.

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