Poker wasn’t built for women. At least not back in the day. Saloon games were loud, smoky, and full of men who didn’t want competition from anyone they didn’t know. But women played anyway. Quietly at first, then visibly, then professionally. And now, they’re taking final tables, breaking records, and outplaying the best.
Starting from Saloon Doors
Long before poker became a televised sensation, women such as Poker Alice and Lottie Deno gained admiration by playing at tough tables in frontier towns. They faced off against cowboys, miners, and other gamblers. They were not mere tokens; they earned their winnings and dominated the tables.
By the time Jackie McDaniels won the first ladies-only event at the WSOP in 1977, women were already making quiet moves in live poker halls. But McDaniels’s win made it official. One year later, Barbara Freer entered the WSOP Main Event, and male players didn’t handle it well. She stuck it out.
Barbara Enright did more than that. She became the first woman to make a WSOP Main Event final table, finishing fifth. She also won three WSOP bracelets. In 2007, she was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame—the first woman to get that call.
Breaking Records with Brains, Not Noise
Vanessa Selbst leads the all-time list for women in live poker tournament earnings, with over $11.9 million. She’s won three WSOP bracelets and was the only woman to top the Global Poker Index. Selbst left poker in 2018 to work in law, but her record still stands.
Kristen Foxen, formerly Bicknell, holds five WSOP bracelets as of 2024. That’s the most by any woman still playing. She’s made her name in the hardest formats—multi-table tournaments and mixed games.
Maria Ho is another example. She’s earned over $5.5 million, won a WPT title, and keeps showing up on poker broadcasts and live streams. Her insights add value on commentary booths too.
From Kitchen Tables to Final Tables
In the late 1990s, Jennifer Harman regularly fought for her seat in high-stakes games lined with pros like Doyle Brunson and Chip Reese. She didn’t talk much at the table, but her play said enough. Fast forward, players like Kristen Bicknell are racking up wins in tough mixed games, no longer needing introductions.
While many started playing poker in casual settings such as home games, charity tournaments, local rooms they moved far past that. Maria Ho went from bar leagues to major final tables, while Vanessa Rousso balanced law school and poker while climbing the ranks. None of it came easy.
Liv Boeree Knew the Odds
Liv Boeree has over $6.6 million in tournament cashes. She’s the only woman to win both a European Poker Tour and a World Poker Tour title. She also earned a degree in astrophysics and co-founded “Raising for Effective Giving,” a nonprofit related to game theory and charitable donations.
Her performances at the table brought respect. Her work off it broadened her reach. She’s also been a regular on poker broadcasts and documentaries. Poker isn’t her only pursuit, but her success matters.
Reaching Open Titles
Ema Zajmovic became the first woman ever to win a World Poker Tour open event in 2017. She beat a mixed field, not a ladies-only tournament. Before that, female winners of open events were rare. Her win showed that any field can be conquered.
In 2012, both Gaelle Baumann and Elisabeth Hille nearly reached the WSOP Main Event final table. Baumann busted in 10th, Hille in 11th. Their deep runs turned heads. Big poker sites extended sponsorships shortly after.
Leading Figures Still Winning
Kathy Liebert won her WSOP bracelet in 2004 and has over $6.9 million in tournament earnings. Her final table appearances span over two decades. Even in 2024, she took down the $300 Ladies Event, showing she hasn’t slowed down.
Joanne “JJ” Liu once finished runner-up in a World Poker Tour event back in 2004. She brought flair—famous for her hats—but also strong play. With over $3.5 million in earnings, Liu became a respected regular in high-level events. She entered the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame, showing consistency and longevity.
Annie Duke, known for her run in the early 2000s, won the WSOP Tournament of Champions and the 2010 National Heads-Up Championship. She also made poker part of pop culture, appearing on shows like “Poker After Dark.”
In the Broadcast Booths and Beyond
Maria Ho and Liv Boeree often work as commentators during major poker broadcasts. They aren’t side characters. They’re analysts, reading hands and strategy for viewers who care about detail.
Vanessa Rousso also used her poker fame platform. With over $3.5 million in cashes, she stood out through strong theoretical knowledge. She spent years as part of a pro team and later appeared on “Big Brother” and other shows.
Paved by the Past
The Women in Poker Hall of Fame started in 2008. Its first inductees included Barbara Enright, Linda Johnson, and Susie Isaacs. Over the years, it honored players who contributed at the table or helped grow the game. In 2024, Kristen Foxen joined that list.
Earlier pioneers like “Madame Moustache” and Lottie Deno weren’t playing televised tournaments. But their presence in old west gambling halls defied the norms of their time. They gambled, dealt, and often owned operations.
Not a Side Game Anymore
The World Series of Poker now sees thousands of women enter events yearly. Some focus on the standard No Limit Hold’em format. Others excel in Seven Card Stud, H.O.R.S.E., and mixed games where deeper experience pays off.
Today, women have topped index lists, cashed for seven figures, and made strategic decisions under pressure with millions at stake. They’ve also steered game commentary and strategy content. Many are active on platforms like Twitter, talking through hands, opinionating on tournaments, and breaking down plays in real time.
Cards on Their Terms
The perception of who a poker player is has changed. But what hasn’t changed is the need to play well. These women have proven they belong at any table: not by talking loud, but by betting, raising, and calling at the right time.
Each hand tells part of the story. The winnings, the bracelets, the final tables—the record books now include their names. And when someone looks up the biggest cashes in the game, they see them right there: Vanessa, Maria, Kristen, Liv.
They didn’t ask for permission. They brought chips, took their seats, and played.