Uniform Decisions, WNBA Playoff Visions & StudBudz on a Mission

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'll wear for games — spoiler: the league’s got more control than you might think.

Kaari also dives into the WNBA’s offseason, including the tough realities of players heading overseas right after playoffs, and why Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier launched the Unrivaled League.

And of course, Kaari has awards to share:

🏀 Buzzer Beater → The StudBudz (Courtney Williams & Natisha Hiedeman) bringing pink-haired chaos and authenticity to the pages of Vogue.

🏀 Airball → Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s name-butchering blunder.

🏀 Flagrant Foul → Whoever killed the lights at the very end of a playoff game in Vegas (seriously, what was that?).

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

Transcript

Kaari 0:04

Greetings, Hoopheads, and welcome to another episode of Her Game Her Voice, the podcast with big stories and little episodes all about women's basketball. I'm your host, Kaari Peterson.

Kaari 0:16

In this episode, I'll kick it off by sharing my fan experience at the Valkyrie's WNBA playoff game versus the Minnesota Lynx, followed by a listener question from Florida. Yes, I have listeners in the Sunshine State. Then I'll dive into some interesting tidbits about the WNBA offseason and round it out with everybody's favorite, the awards section of the episode, including a little something about the Stud budz.

Kaari 0:44

Now let's tip it off.

Kaari 0:48

I want to talk about the Valkyries. I went to their playoff game against the Minnesota Lynx in San Jose, and wow, what an experience. First off, Valhalla isn't limited to the Chase Center in San Francisco. Turns out you can find Ballhalla wherever you can find Valkyries fans.

Kaari 1:06

When the Valkyries made it into the playoffs, they had a problem. Chase Center was booked the night that the Valkyries were supposed to play at home. So the team had to pack their bags and go down to San Jose.

Kaari 1:18

Thankfully, they do know the way to San Jose. Nice.

Kaari 1:22

The game was played at the SAP Center, home to the San Jose Sharks hockey team. I'm happy to say that Ballhalla was alive and well in San Jose. It was electric at SAP. Joy, excitement, camaraderie. We Valkyries fans were ready to push the team to a win.

Kaari 1:40

And for the first three quarters, we had it. The Valkyries were ahead and it felt like, yes, this is happening. But then the fourth quarter hit. The team started to lose steam. The Lynx started to score more baskets.

Kaari 1:56

And suddenly I had this very familiar, very uncomfortable feeling rise up inside me. Because here's the thing: I've been a Stanford women's basketball fan for 30 something years. I know this feeling. I've lived this feeling that, "oh no, we're up 20 and somehow still going to blow it?" Feeling. Stanford fans, you know what I'm talking about.

Kaari 2:22

But this wasn't college ball. This was the WNBA. This was the Valkyries. Sigh.

Kaari 2:29

In the end, Ceci Zandalissini missed that final shot in the final seconds. She dropped to her knees, devastated.

Kaari 2:39

But here's where the Valkyries showed us who they really are. The entire team ran to Ceci, lifted her to her feet, and let her know "it's okay — we've got you."

Kaari 2:50

That moment right there — that's why I love this team.

Kaari 2:55

Yes, the Valkyries lost the game, but as far as I'm concerned, they won the season. An inaugural season that was nothing short of amazing. And we fans, we stood on our feet and cheered for that team for what seemed like, I don't know, at least 10 minutes. It didn't matter what the scoreboard said. We were so proud of this team.

Kaari 3:22

Bottom line, I can't wait for next season.

Kaari 3:29

And now it's time for our listener question. This week's listener question comes from Dee Dee in Tampa, Florida.

Kaari 3:36

Dee Dee asked, Who decides which uniforms the teams are going to wear for their games? I noticed it's not like college basketball, where the home team's in white and the visiting team is in a dark contrasting color. What's the situation with the WNBA?

Kaari 3:52

F abulous question, Dee Dee, and thankfully, I have the inside scoop. Shout out to Ashley J. Garrison, the equipment manager for the New York Liberty, who broke this down online.

Kaari 4:04

Here's how it works. First, before the season even tips off, each team picks which uniforms they'll wear for their home games. Then the league, with a capital L steps in and decides which contrasting uniforms the road teams will wear. Yeah, big brother, big sister. Either way, someone is tracking your jersey choices.

Kaari 4:28

And speaking of tracking, get this every uniform has to make an appearance a certain number of times during the season. White is usually worn more at home because, let's be real, it's harder to keep clean and needs replacing more often. Some teams only have two uniforms, while others, like the Liberty or the Fever, rock three or four options.

Kaari 4:50

Then, when it comes to the playoffs, it's a little simpler. The home team picks first, and then the visiting team chooses a contrasting look.

Kaari 4:58

So basically, at home, the team has a say. On the road, the league is like your mom before the first day of school saying, "Nope, you're not wearing that, go change."

Kaari 5:09

And that's a wrap for this week's listener question. Thanks, Dee Dee.

Kaari 5:13

Do you have a question for me? Reach out at her gamehervoice at gmail.com.

Kaari 5:22

Let's go back to the Valkyrie's last game of the season. Yes, I am a glutton for punishment. Heartbreaking ending, right?

Kaari 5:30

But then cut to clips from the post-game press conference and exit interviews. Carla Leite says, "au revoir", I'm off to Spain. Illiana Rupert and Monique Billings chime in, "We have to go home and pack. We're flying to Turkey tomorrow to join our team there. See ya."

Kaari 5:48

WTF.

Kaari 5:50

There's no time to bask in the glory of an amazing first season. No time to even do laundry. Those dirty clothes are going right into the suitcase. That's it.

Kaari 6:00

Meanwhile, I'm over here daydreaming about Coach Nakase hosting a season wrap-up barbecue or a playoff watch party. Something to give us a nice bookend on the Valkyrie's season. You know, like those end-of-season banquets in high school. Potato salad, a couple of trophies, maybe a slideshow with awkward music.

Kaari 6:19

Give me something. I want closure for the players.

Kaari 6:23

But here's the thing I hadn't really wrapped my head around yet. For a lot of these players, the WNBA season is just one job. Their livelihood depends on hooping year-round.

Kaari 6:35

So when the confetti doesn't fall for you in the playoffs, you're right back to work somewhere else, often on the other side of the globe. And let me tell you, I was wrecked after that playoff game on Wednesday, and I was just cheering from the stands.

Kaari 6:49

I can't imagine having to hop a flight to Istanbul the next day and then suit up to play with a new team.

Kaari 6:56

Now here's where it gets interesting. WNBA teams actually try to incentivize players not to play overseas.

Kaari 7:04

Why? Because rest equals health, and health equals a better shot at winning next season in the WNBA.

Kaari 7:12

Teams can offer up to $50,000 in bonuses if a player agrees to either not play at all in the offseason or keep it under 90 days.

Kaari 7:22

And that $50,000? That has to be spread across the whole team.

Kaari 7:27

Give me a break.

Kaari 7:29

Richard Cohen from Her Hoop Stats reported that Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton both signed these agreements for the Valkyries. Veronica pocketed 30k and Kayla got 20. Not bad for saying, "yeah, I'll sit this one out." But come on, WNBA, you've got to do better.

Kaari 7:51

And speaking of players having to chase work overseas, this brings us right to why Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart decided to launch the Unrivaled League. And, quick teaser here, next month I've got a very special guest joining me on the pod. Someone I go way back with, all the way back to my Yahoo days. We reconnected at Chegg, where we worked together for over a decade. And here's the kicker. They're an original investor in the Unrivaled League.

Kaari 8:20

So yes, we will get an inside scoop straight from an unrivaled investor in that upcoming episode. Don't miss it.

Kaari 8:32

And now it's time for the awards section of our podcast.

Kaari 8:38

First, the Buzzer Beater Award. This week's Buzzer Beater Award goes to Minnesota Lynx teammates, pink-haired partners in chaos, and self-proclaimed besties, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, aka The Stud budz, for landing a full-on September Vogue magazine feature, complete with a photo shoot so extra it made me wonder if I should start practicing my "smize" in the mirror.

Kaari 9:06

The feature was literally titled, "It's Stud budz Season and Everyone's Watching," which honestly feels like a public service announcement.

Kaari 9:15

Anyway, here's why it's a big deal.

Kaari 9:19

These two are changing the face of women's sports by showing up as their authentic selves. Black, LGBTQ, loud, proud, and rockin' neon hair in the most unapologetic way possible. Vogue, Yahoo, front office sports, everybody agrees this is the future of marketability. They're proving that fans don't want cookie-cutter archetypes. They want real personalities, real vibes, and maybe a little pink hair dye tutorial along the way.

Kaari 9:48

And there's a ripple effect. More engagement, more brand support, more players feeling free to be themselves. Basically, the Studbudz are building a WNBA universe where authenticity is the superpower.

Kaari 10:03

Courtney and Natisha, thank you for giving us all the real you, for shaking up WNBA marketing, and for proving that best friends with matching hair and matching energy belong in Vogue magazine.

Kaari 10:16

Congratulations on this week's Buzzer Beater Award.

Kaari 10:23

This week's Airball Award goes to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Now I'll be honest, Cathy and I don't exactly vibe. Case in point, last year she rolled up to the WNBA Finals rocking a dress with a New York City skyline on it at a Liberty vs. Lynx game.

Kaari 10:42

Wait, what?

Kaari 10:42

Uh, Cathy, pro tip: Commissioners are supposed to not show bias toward one team in the league.

Kaari 10:49

But what earned her the air ball this week? She managed to butcher Coach Natalie Nakase's name while handing her the Coach of the Year trophy.

Kaari 10:59

Yep. On the big stage, no excuse for that. None.

Kaari 11:03

Coach Nakase not only earned the award, she deserved the basic respect of having her name pronounced correctly.

Kaari 11:11

And let me tell you, this one hits close to home. My first name? Mispronounced my entire life. Carrie, Kara, Kara, you name it, I've heard it.

Kaari 11:21

And when someone can't get your name right, it feels like more than a slip-up. It feels personal.

Kaari 11:27

So, Cathy, you really biffed it again. And that's why you're taking home this week's Airball Award. And finally, the flagrant foul award.

Kaari 11:38

This week's flagrant foul award goes to the genius who decided to hit the light switch at Michelob Ultra Arena with point two seconds left in a playoff game.

Kaari 11:47

Did you catch the end of the first-round playoff game between Seattle and Las Vegas? The game's in Sin City. The score is tight. Seattle's down by one. Five seconds left. Erica Wheeler puts up a shot, misses. Then Seattle's Skylar Diggins Smith snags the rebound, kicks the ball over to Gabby Williams. She gets a shot off with 0.2 on the clock, and I'm on my feet yelling, "go storm!"

Kaari 12:14

And then the lights go out. Literally. Whole arena, blackout. Um, excuse me?

Kaari 12:20

What just happened? Did Gabby's shot fall? Did it rim out? Was it an airball?

Kaari 12:26

When the lights come back up, the aces are celebrating, which I guess means Seattle missed.

Kaari 12:32

But who can be sure? It was dark.

Kaari 12:35

So this week's flagrant follower goes to the genius who decided to hit the light switch at Michelob Ultra Arena with 0.2 seconds left in the game between the storm and the aces.

Kaari 12:50

I'm Kaari Peterson, and you've been listening to Her Game Her Voice.

Kaari 12:54

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Kaari 13:01

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Kaari 13:04

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Kaari 13:09

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Kaari 13:15

Thanks for listening and happy hoopin'!