Women in Poker Captivated Global Audiences in 2025

The conversation around 'women in poker’ has been the same for many years. How can female participation grow? Are ladies only events a good or a bad for the game? And why are we even talking about gender when poker is a skill game.

The answers are never clear cut and there are many opinions across the board as to why it is harder for women to break through into a game that seems dominated by men.

There has been an increase in ladies only events in recent years, with a notable shout out to PokerStars and their continued efforts in that sphere, but women’s participation is still far lower across the board than men’s. But 2025 was different.

It was a year filled with headlines lauding the achievements of women in poker, who were giving as good as they got. It was a spectacular year for women making deep runs in prestigious events. History was made, titles were won, and bank balances grew.

Here we look back at some of the stand out moments in 2025 from some rather amazing women.

Leo Margets Breaks a Three-Decade Glass Ceiling

Spanish pro Leo Margets made headlines with a deep run to the final table of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event — the first woman to do so in 30 years. Her remarkable performance in a massive field (9,735 runners) culminated in a 7th-place finish and a payout of about $1.5 million, the highest WSOP Main Event score by a woman in history.

Margets’ journey was a tale of resilience and skill. Early in the event, she overcame a slow start and built momentum, becoming the Last Woman Standing by Day 6 and riding an enormous pot win, where she hit a dramatic runner-runner flush, to vault into the top tier of the leaderboard as the tournament approached its final stages. On Day 8 she bagged 53.4 million chips, ranking her comfortably in the middle of the final nine when play concluded.

Natasha Mercier’s Career-Best WSOP Run

American pro Natasha Mercier delivered one of the most impressive performances by a woman in 2025 poker. At the WSOP Paradise $25,000 Super Main Event, Mercier turned heads with a long, tough grind through an elite field. She reached the final table and finished in 6th place, earning a $1.8 million payday, one of the biggest cashes of her career and among the top by any female player this year.

Mercier’s run was emotional and memorable: she entered the final day with one of the largest stacks and battled through multiple tough streets before being eliminated near the end. Her performance also landed her second on the 2025 female money list, behind only Kristen Foxen.

Maria Konnikova’s Continued Tournament Success

Maria Konnikova, the acclaimed author and PokerStars ambassador, maintained her strong presence on the live poker circuit in 2025. Though most of her major accolades (including her first WSOP bracelet) came in late 2024 and earlier years, she extended her momentum in 2025 with solid results across several events.

Notably, Konnikova captured a 2025 PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) High Roller title, topping a competitive field and taking home a $66,350 first-place prize.

She also posted deep runs in other festivals and continued to be active in high-profile events, further solidifying her reputation as one of the most recognizable and respected women in poker.

Shiina Okamoto’s Back-to-Back WSOP Ladies Titles

At the 2025 World Series of Poker, Japanese pro Shiina Okamoto delivered a remarkable performance in the $1,000 Ladies Championship, successfully defending her title and becoming one of the few players ever to win a WSOP event in consecutive years.

Okamoto topped a record field of 1,368 entrants, navigating a long tournament and holding a commanding chip lead as she reached heads-up play. In the final stages, she outplayed American competitor Heather Alcorn to secure the bracelet and the $184,094 first-place prize, demonstrating exceptional composure and strategic precision under pressure. Her victory followed a win in 2024 and a runner-up finish in 2023, making this three straight final table appearances, an accomplishment that places her among the most consistent performers in the event’s history.

Okamoto spoke after her win about staying calm and focused, a mindset that helped her navigate the shifting dynamics of a stacked final table and maintain her edge over tough competition. Her achievement underscored both her own development as a top competitor and the increasing impact of women in high-stakes poker.

Xuan Liu: First Woman to Win a Triton Poker Title

In May 2025, Canadian poker pro Xuan Liu made history by becoming the first woman ever to win a title on the prestigious Triton Poker Series, a tour known for its elite high-stakes fields and world-class competitors.

Competing in the $25,000 WPT Global Slam event at the Triton Super High Roller Series in Montenegro, Liu outlasted a field of 155 entries to take down the championship and a career-best $860,000 payday. Her victory marked an iconic milestone, ending a long stretch of male-dominated champions on the Triton tour and elevating her status as one of the most successful female tournament players in the game’s modern era.

Liu’s historic win came against a stacked final table that included elite pros such as Daniel Dvoress, David Peters, and Kristen Foxen, and she overcame significant heads-up challenges to secure the title. Speaking later about the achievement, Liu reflected on the confidence boost the victory provided and the personal significance of winning on a series she regards as one of poker’s most esteemed. Her breakthrough at Triton not only cemented a major milestone in her own career but also stands as a landmark moment for women in high-stakes poker.

Jen Shahade’s Strong Showing on the 2025 Live Circuit

In 2025, Jen Shahade continued to make her mark on the live poker scene with several noteworthy performances that highlighted both her skill and growing competitive presence. Most prominently, Shahade delivered a career-best run in the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Las Vegas Main Event finishing third place out of a 738-entry field and earning approximately $291,800, the largest score of her live poker career to date.

Playing with poise and tactical precision, she navigated a deep field of international pros and secured a podium finish that underscored her ability to compete at the highest levels of mixed-field poker.

Earlier in the year, Shahade also captured a title at the PokerStars Women’s Summer Festival Main Event in London, outlasting 193 entries to win the trophy and £22,200 in prize money — her best result on British soil

Top Women Earners and Money Lists of 2025

Several women finished 2025 with impressive earnings, reflecting both consistency and big-score potential:

• Kristen Foxen topped the female money list in 2025, defending her title for a second year and ranked as the top woman all-time in poker earnings, thanks to multiple high roller victories and deep runs.
• Natasha Mercier finished second on the yearly female money list, due to her $1.8M WSOP score.
• Leo Margets appeared as number 3 on the list with her historic WSOP Main Event result.

These results underline that poker is anyone’s game.

Ladies Only Festivals on The Rise

Across the year, women-focused festivals and series gained traction worldwide. These events serve both competitive and community functions but ultimately creating environments where women can build networks, sharpen skills, and attract new players to the game.

Great examples of this included:

• The PokerStars Women’s Summer Festival, which featured strong fields and top-tier female competitors.
• Regional Women in Poker series and Ladies events at major festivals, drawing growing numbers and spotlighting grassroots growth, such as two ladies events running at the PokerStars NAPT event in Las Vegas.

Despite progress, women remain a minority in most open tournaments. The visibility of deep runs by players like Margets, Mercier, Foxen, and Konnikova helps shift stereotypes and inspire a new generation of players. Long-standing professionals and emerging talents alike continue to challenge the perception that poker is dominated by men.

This influence extends beyond tournament results: women are increasingly featured in livestream commentary, content creation, coaching, and community leadership — all contributing to a richer poker culture, such as the powerhouses of Marle Spragg, Caitlin Comeskey and Maria Ho.

2025 stands out as a year where achievement met visibility for women in poker. Historic Main Event performances, big cashes in high roller events, and strong showings across tour stops paint a picture of growing impact and rising opportunity.

While there is still work to do in balancing representation, the results and stories of 2025 show that women are not just participants — they are major contenders shaping the future of the game.