Big East Commissioner and former WNBA President Val Ackerman joins Sarah to discuss how her job has changed as a result of NIL, the transfer portal and House vs. NCAA, how her previous career stops influenced her work as commissioner of a conference, and how the disparity between the football haves and have-nots is growing every day. 


RSVP to the 2026 Congressional College Athletics Summit here 


Check out Vogue’s compliment battle between Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams here


And watch their very NSFW appearance with Buzzfeed here 


Check out @AcceptingUncleMurphy’s video praising Unrivaled here


Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com 


Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323


Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 
Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky:@biancahillier.bsky.social

Big East Commissioner and former WNBA President Val Ackerman joins Sarah to discuss how her job has changed as a result of NIL, the transfer portal and House vs. NCAA, how her previous career stops influenced her work as commissioner of a conference, and how the disparity between the football haves and have-nots is growing every day.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
RSVP to the 2026 Congressional College Athletics Summit&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecSvKZIvPyQ8riG_8hCeDJwnyWgtz3ij0ytD8lxG9BXQ544g/viewform" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecSvKZIvPyQ8riG_8hCeDJwnyWgtz3ij0ytD8lxG9BXQ544g/viewform&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2E674hyLY9lhJi8JjUD3Zz">here</a>&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Check out Vogue&rsquo;s compliment battle between Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMCkwlxjon4" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DQMCkwlxjon4&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2vtKiC6kHlZGmg55InDW0K">here</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
And watch their very NSFW appearance with Buzzfeed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_fDKg8iBZM" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DQ_fDKg8iBZM&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1S074O8HVxM3NBiLQ0LtjP">here</a>&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Check out @AcceptingUncleMurphy&rsquo;s video praising Unrivaled <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@acceptingunclemurphy/video/7593946909773958431" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tiktok.com/@acceptingunclemurphy/video/7593946909773958431&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ewIOoLCmGi5s30EZJQH5k">here</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at <a href="mailto:goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com">goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com</a>&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/sarahspain.com" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/sarahspain.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2nxbiohl1gZC2_m46YY-ui">@sarahspain.com</a> TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@spain.sarah?lang=en" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tiktok.com/@spain.sarah?lang%3Den&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1o9Mh4dwJWix2fTpKI0zHJ">@Spain.Sarah</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/spain2323" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/spain2323&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2LkdNZprCAbbBVvgmHZoW7">@Spain2323</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/byalexazzi.bsky.social" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/byalexazzi.bsky.social&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Jl7ECh8_RnPyicaeOsnci">@byalexazzi.bsky.social</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/azziartwork/?hl=en" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/azziartwork/?hl%3Den&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1768447493641000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1EoR2M40ar5xfdBMMDElh4">@AzziArtwork</a>&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky:<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/biancahillier.bsky.social">@biancahillier.bsky.social</a></li>
</ul>

Good Game is your one-stop shop for the biggest stories in women’s sports. Every day, host Sarah Spain gives you the stories, stakes, stars and stats to keep up with your favorite women’s teams, leagues and athletes. Through thoughtful insight, witty banter, and an all around good time, Sarah and friends break down the latest news, talk about the games you can’t miss, and debate the issues of the day. Don’t miss interviews with the people of the moment, whether they be athletes, coaches, reporters, or celebrity fans. 

Good Game is your one-stop shop for the biggest stories in women’s sports. Every day, host Sarah Spain gives you the stories, stakes, stars and stats to keep up with your favorite women’s teams, leagues and athletes. Through thoughtful insight, witty banter, and an all around good time, Sarah and friends break down the latest news, talk about the games you can’t miss, and debate the issues of the day. Don’t miss interviews with the people of the moment, whether they be athletes, coaches, reporters, or celebrity fans.

Good Game with Sarah Spain

Big East Commissioner and former WNBA President Val Ackerman joins Sarah to discuss how her job has changed as a result of NIL, the transfer portal and House vs. NCAA, how her previous career stops influenced her work as commissioner of a conference, and how the disparity between the football haves and have-nots is growing every day. 

The Horse Is Out of the Barn with Val Ackerman

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/630d6d71-471f-46e0-a0f9-b3d20041aabf/transcript