List of World Series of Poker ladies champions

Last updated

Susie Isaacs is one of only three women to win the Ladies Championship in back to back years. SusieIsaacs.jpg
Susie Isaacs is one of only three women to win the Ladies Championship in back to back years.
Jennifer Tilly, Academy Award nominee, won the 2005 Ladies Championship. Jennifer Tilly2005.jpg
Jennifer Tilly, Academy Award nominee, won the 2005 Ladies Championship.

The World Series of Poker (WSOP), held annually in Las Vegas, is "the oldest, largest, most prestigious, and most media-hyped gaming competition in the world". [1] The WSOP bracelet is considered the most coveted non-monetary prize a poker player can win. [2] Since 1976, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP, but titles won before 1976 are still counted as "bracelets".

The first WSOP was not a freeze out tournament, but rather an event with a set start and stop time and the winner determined by secret ballot. [3] In 1973, a second event, five-card stud, was added. Over the years, most of the major poker variants have been played at least once. In 1977, the first Ladies only event was introduced in the form of $100 buy-in Stud Poker Tournament. Jackie McDaniels won that event to become the first Ladies Champion. She won one of the smallest prizes ($5,580) in WSOP history. By 2007, the popularity of the Ladies Event had grown to the point that it became the first Ladies-only event to have a prize pool greater than $1,000,000. The Ladies played Seven Card Stud for the event's first two decades, but have been playing Texas hold 'em since 2001. [4]

Since its inception, four players have won multiple Ladies Championships: Barbara Enright, Susie Isaacs, Nani Dollison, and Shiina Okamoto. Isaacs, Dollison, and Okamoto won the event in consecutive years. Between 1991 and 1997, Isaacs set an event record by qualifying for a cash prize, known as finishing in-the-money, five times. [4] The 1983 Ladies World Poker Championship was the first time that a person "of color", Carolyn Gardner, won a WSOP bracelet. [4]

Traditionally, the Ladies event was the only event held on Mother Day. Due to complaints from mothers, the event was moved to a different day in 2004. [4] Potential conflicts with Mother's Day no longer exist as the WSOP's new owner, Harrah's Casino, moved the event from late spring to the late summer. [4]

The WSOP started offering a "WSOP Academy Ladies Only Poker Camp" in 2007. This week-long event is held at Caesars Palace and is designed to equip women with the tools to compete at the World Series of Poker. It is held the week leading up to the Ladies Championship. Every year since its inception, a participant from the camp has made it to the final table. In 2007, Ladies Champion Sally Anne Boyer participated in the camp. [5] Patty Till, a 2008 attendee, finished in third place at the 2008 Ladies Championship. [6]

WSOP Ladies Championship events

Elected to the Poker Hall of Fame.
Prize (US$)The amount of money won for winning the Ladies Event that year.
Bracelet #The bracelet number from the total number of bracelets won during their career.
YearEvent nameEntrantsWinnerPrize (US$)Bracelet #Runner-upReferences
1977 $100 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud93 Flag of the United States.svg Jackie McDaniels $5,5801Flag placeholder.svgunknown [7]
1978 $200 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud84 Flag of the United States.svg Terry King $10,0801Flag placeholder.svgunknown [8]
1979 $400 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud53 Flag of the United States.svg Barbara Freer $12,7201 Flag of the United States.svg Pat Sovoia [9]
1980 $400 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud62 Flag of the United States.svg Deby Callihan $14,8801 Flag of the United States.svg Linda Davis [10]
1981 $400 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud88 Flag of the United States.svg Ruth Godfrey $17,6001 Flag of the United States.svg Jackie Jean [11]
1982 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud64 Flag of the United States.svg June Field $16,0001 Flag of the United States.svg Jackie Jean [12]
1983 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud64 Flag of the United States.svg Carolyn Gardner $16,0001 Flag of the United States.svg Kim Bye [13]
1984 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud62 Flag of the United States.svg Karen Wolfson $15,0001 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Marsha Waggoner [14]
1985 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud74 Flag of the United States.svg Rose Pifer $18,5001 Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Hudson [15]
1986 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud82 Flag of the United States.svg Barbara Enright $16,4001 (of 3) Flag of the United States.svg Betty Carey [16]
1987 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud84 Flag of the United States.svg Linda Ryke-Drucker $16,8001 Flag of the United States.svg Barbara Putterman [17]
1988 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud85 Flag of the United States.svg Loretta Huber $17,0001 Flag of the United States.svg Ester Rossi [18]
1989 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud93 Flag of the United States.svg Alma McClelland $18,6001 Flag of the United States.svg Adrienne Zoia [19]
1990 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud110 Flag of the United States.svg Marie Gabert $22,0001 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jenny Kaye [20]
1991 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud141 Flag of the United States.svg Donna Ward $28,2001 Flag of the United States.svg Toni Brown [21]
1992 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud155 Flag of the United States.svg Shari Flanzer $38,0001 Flag of the United States.svg Kim Alford [22]
1993 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud82 Flag of the United States.svg Phyllis Kessler $32,8001 Flag of the United States.svg Becki Vincent [23]
1994 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud96 Flag of the United States.svg Barbara Enright (2)$38,4002 (of 3) Flag of the United States.svg Natalie Ryke [16]
1995 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud88 Flag of the United States.svg Starla Brodie $35,2002 (of 2) Flag of the United States.svg Karen Wolfson [24]
1996 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud105 Flag of the United States.svg Susie Isaacs $42,0001 (of 2) Flag of the United States.svg Nikki Harris [25]
1997 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud95 Flag of the United States.svg Susie Isaacs (2)$38,0002 (of 2) Flag of the United States.svg Karen Wolfson [25]
1998 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud100 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mandy Commanda $40,0001 Flag of the United States.svg Jerri Thomas [26]
1999 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud85 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Christina Pie $34,0001 Flag of the United States.svg LaVonne Joyce [27]
2000 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em/Seven Card Stud133 Flag of South Korea.svg Nani Dollison $53,2001 (of 3) Flag of the United States.svg Martine Oules [28]
2001 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em/Seven Card Stud106 Flag of South Korea.svg Nani Dollison (2)$41,1303 (of 3) Flag of the United States.svg Patty Gallagher [28]
2002 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em/Seven Card Stud107 Flag of the United States.svg Catherine Brown $39,8801 Flag of the United States.svg Marie Sohn [29]
2003 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em/Seven Card Stud112 Flag of the United States.svg Barb Rugolo $40,7001 Flag of the Republic of China.svg J. J. Liu [30]
2004 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em201 Flag of the United States.svg Hung Doan $58,5301 Flag of the United States.svg Millie Shiu [31]
2005 $1,000 Ladies' No Limit Hold'em601 Flag of the United States.svg Jennifer Tilly [a] $158,3351 Flag of the United States.svg Anh Le [32]
2006 $1,000 Ladies' No Limit Hold'em1,128 Flag of the United States.svg Mary Jones Meyer $236,0941 Flag of the United States.svg Shawnee Barton [33]
2007 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship1,286 Flag of the United States.svg Sally Boyer $262,0771 Flag of the United States.svg Anne Heft [34]
2008 [b] $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship1,190 Flag of the United States.svg Svetlana Gromenkova $224,7021 Flag of the United States.svg Anh Le [35]
2009 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship1,060 Flag of the United States.svg Lisa Hamilton $195,3901 Flag of the United States.svg Lori Bender [36]
2010 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship1,054 Flag of France.svg Vanessa Hellebuyck $192,1321 Flag of Denmark.svg Sidsel Boesen [37]
2011 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship1,055 Flag of the United States.svg Marsha Wolak $192,3441 Flag of the United States.svg Karina Jett
2012 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship936 Flag of the United States.svg Yen Dang $170,5871 Flag of the United States.svg Debbie Pechac
2013 $10,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 954 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kristen Bicknell $173,9221 (of 5) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leanne Haas
2014 $10,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 793 Flag of the United States.svg Haixia Zhang $153,4701 Flag of the United States.svg Mikiyo Aoki
2015 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 795 Flag of the United States.svg Jacquelyn Scott $153,8761 Flag of the United States.svg Hope Williams
2016 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 819 Flag of the United States.svg Courtney Kennedy $149,1081 Flag of the United States.svg Amanda Baker
2017 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 718 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Heidi May $135,0981 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Deborah Worley-Roberts
2018 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 696 Flag of the United States.svg Jessica Dawley $130,2301 Flag of the United States.svg Jill Pike
2019 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 968 Flag of South Korea.svg Jiyoung Kim $167,3081 Flag of the United States.svg Nancy Matson
2020 not held
2021 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 644 Flag of the United States.svg Lara Eisenberg $115,6941 Flag of the United States.svg Debora Brooke
2022 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 1,074 Flag of Austria.svg Jessica Teusl $166,9751 Flag of the United States.svg Julie Le
2023 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 1,295 Flag of the United States.svg Tamar Abraham $192,1671 Flag of Japan.svg Shiina Okamoto
2024 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship [c] 1,245 Flag of Japan.svg Shiina Okamoto $171,7321 (of 2) Flag of the United States.svg Jamie Kerstetter [38]
2025 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship1,368 Flag of Japan.svg Shiina Okamoto (2)$184,0942 (of 2) Flag of the United States.svg Heather Alcorn [39]

a 2005 Ladies Champion Jennifer Tilly was the first non-poker celebrity to win a WSOP bracelet. Tilly had been nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Bullets over Broadway . [40]

b On 10 June 2008, three events awarded bracelets, including the Ladies event. This was the first time in WSOP history that three people living in the same city, New York, won bracelets on the same day. [6] It was also the first time that a new "excessive celebration" penalty was implemented to minimize disruption from exuberant players. [6]

c From 2013, the entry fee was officially changed to $10,000 with a $9,000 "discount" for ladies. This was done to close a legal loophole used by men to enter the ladies event in several prior years.

References

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  8. "Terry King". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
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  10. "Deby Callihan". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  11. "Ruth Godfrey". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  12. "June Field". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  13. "Carolyn Gardner". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  14. "Karen Wolfson". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  15. "Rose Pifer". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
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  17. "Linda Ryke Drucker". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  18. "Loretta Huber". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
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  24. "Starla Brodie". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  25. 1 2 "Susie Isaacs". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  26. "Mandy Commanda". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  27. "Christina Pie". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  28. 1 2 "Nani Dollison". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  29. "Catherine Brown". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  30. "Barb Rugolo". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  31. "Hung Doan". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  32. "Jennifer Tilly". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  33. "Mary Jones Meyer". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  34. "Sally Boyer". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  35. "Svetlana Gromenkova". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  36. "Lisa Hamilton". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  37. "Vanessa Hellebyck". World Series of Poker. Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  38. Johnson, Roxanne (July 2, 2024). "Runner-Up No More: Shiina Okamoto Wins Ladies' Event With Fierce Determination and Confidence". PokerNews. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  39. "Event #70: $1,000 Ladies Championship | 2025 World Series of Poker". www.pokernews.com. June 29, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  40. "Jennifer Tilly Of Harbour City, CA". Cardplayer Magazine. Cardplayer Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2009.