Women have played important roles in poker for generations, from early figures such as “Poker Alice” Ivers to World Series of Poker pioneers, high-stakes professionals, tournament champions, industry executives, and community organizers.

The modern era has produced some of the most successful women in poker history. Barbara Enright became the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table in 1995, Jennifer Harman established herself in some of poker’s biggest cash games, Vanessa Selbst became one of the most successful tournament players of her generation, and Kristen Foxen has since climbed to the top of the women’s all-time live tournament money list.

Foxen’s recent results have dramatically raised the statistical ceiling for female poker players. As of September 2026, she has more than $19.2 million in recorded live tournament earnings — more than $7 million ahead of Vanessa Selbst in second place — and nearly $6 million in recorded earnings during 2026 alone.

The current generation extends well beyond one player. Maria Ho, Liv Boeree, Cherish Andrews, Xuan Liu, Natasha Mercier, Leo Margets, and numerous other women compete in open tournaments around the world, while organizations such as Poker League of Nations and the Women in Poker Hall of Fame continue to build communities and recognize achievement away from the tables.

This guide looks at the best-known female poker players, the women’s all-time money list, historic WSOP achievements, women-focused tournaments, poker communities, and resources available to women interested in learning or playing the game.

Best Female Poker Players

Poker has produced generations of successful female players, making any list of the “best” dependent on the criteria used.

Live tournament earnings provide one objective measure, while WSOP bracelets, major titles, cash-game success, longevity, and influence on the game provide others.

The following players are among the most accomplished and influential women in modern poker.

Kristen Foxen

Kristen Foxen has established herself as the highest-earning female live tournament poker player on record.

As of September 27, 2026, the Canadian professional had $19,238,670 in recorded live tournament earnings according to the Hendon Mob, placing her comfortably atop the women’s all-time money list.

Foxen has also won multiple WSOP bracelets and competed extensively in high-roller tournaments against open fields containing many of the game’s leading players.

Her recent results have accelerated an already successful career. Foxen recorded almost $6 million in live tournament earnings during 2026 alone, according to the Hendon Mob’s women’s annual money list.

Foxen was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2024.

Vanessa Selbst

Vanessa Selbst remains one of the most accomplished tournament players in poker history.

The American professional accumulated $11,946,107 in recorded live tournament earnings, which currently ranks second among women.

Selbst won three WSOP bracelets and built a reputation for aggressive tournament play during a career that included victories and deep runs in major open-field events.

Although she stepped away from playing poker professionally on a full-time basis, her results continue to place her among the most successful female tournament players ever.

Selbst joined the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2022.

Kathy Liebert

Kathy Liebert has been a fixture in major tournament poker for decades.

With more than $7.3 million in recorded live tournament earnings, she currently ranks third on the women’s all-time money list.

Liebert won a WSOP bracelet in 2004 and has accumulated results across multiple eras of modern tournament poker.

Her longevity is particularly notable. While many players near the top of poker’s historical money lists accumulated much of their earnings during the high-roller era, Liebert built her record through decades of consistent tournament results.

She was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2010.

Liv Boeree

Liv Boeree combined major tournament success with one of the most recognizable profiles in poker.

The British player has more than $6.6 million in recorded live tournament earnings and currently ranks fourth on the women’s all-time money list.

Boeree won the 2010 EPT Sanremo Main Event and later added a WSOP bracelet, giving her major titles on two of poker’s most important tournament circuits.

Her success in open events made her one of the leading female players of the modern poker boom.

Maria Ho

Maria Ho has combined tournament success, longevity, and a prominent role in poker media.

Ho has more than $5.5 million in recorded live tournament earnings and ranks among the top women on both the overall and WSOP money lists.

She has recorded numerous deep runs in major open tournaments and became particularly well known for her performances in the WSOP Main Event.

Ho was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2018.

Jennifer Harman

Jennifer Harman built much of her reputation in high-stakes cash games rather than tournament poker.

She became a regular participant in some of the largest mixed cash games in Las Vegas and competed against many of the most prominent professionals of her era.

Harman also won two WSOP bracelets in open events.

Because public poker databases primarily track tournament results rather than private cash-game winnings and losses, tournament money lists do not fully reflect the careers of cash-game specialists such as Harman.

She was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2010.

Leo Margets

Spain’s Leo Margets has become one of Europe’s most recognizable female poker professionals.

Margets has recorded more than $3.6 million in live tournament earnings and has achieved significant results at the World Series of Poker.

Her biggest breakthrough came in 2025 when she made a historic deep run in the WSOP Main Event, becoming the first woman since Barbara Enright in 1995 to reach the final table.

Margets’ Main Event performance added another major milestone to the history of women competing in poker’s largest open tournament.

Natasha Mercier

Natasha Mercier has emerged as one of the leading female tournament players of the current generation.

The Lebanese player has accumulated more than $3.6 million in recorded live tournament earnings and ranks among the leading women in WSOP earnings.

Her results include deep runs and final-table appearances in major open tournaments.

Mercier’s rise, alongside players including Foxen, Margets, Cherish Andrews, Xuan Liu, and Ebony Kenney, reflects the increasingly international makeup of the women’s tournament rankings.

Women’s All-Time Poker Money List

Live tournament earnings provide one of the clearest statistical comparisons between poker players.

According to the Hendon Mob’s Women’s All-Time Money List, Kristen Foxen holds a substantial lead at the top as of September 27, 2026.

These figures represent recorded live tournament cashes rather than poker profit.

Tournament databases generally do not subtract buy-ins, travel expenses, staking arrangements, or other costs. They also cannot provide a complete accounting of private cash-game results.

The rankings therefore measure recorded tournament earnings rather than total career profitability.

Foxen’s position is particularly notable because of how quickly her total has increased.

The Hendon Mob recorded $5,977,358 in tournament earnings for Foxen during 2026 through September 27, putting her far ahead of every other woman on the 2026 money list.

Women at the WSOP

The World Series of Poker has provided many of the defining moments for women in competitive poker.

Women compete alongside men in the overwhelming majority of WSOP bracelet events, while the series also includes a dedicated Ladies Championship.

Over the decades, female players have won bracelets in open competition, reached the final stages of the Main Event, and competed successfully in high-stakes events.

Historic WSOP Achievements

Barbara Enright achieved one of poker’s most important milestones in 1995 when she became the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table.

Enright finished fifth.

It would take 30 years before another woman reached the Main Event final table.

In 2025, Leo Margets broke that drought with her own final-table appearance, becoming only the second woman to accomplish the feat.

Other significant WSOP achievements include bracelets won in open competition by players such as Jennifer Harman, Vanessa Selbst, Kristen Foxen, and numerous other women.

Starla Brodie was an early trailblazer. She teamed with Doyle Brunson to win the 1979 WSOP Mixed Doubles event and later won the 1995 Women’s Seven Card Stud event.

The Women in Poker Hall of Fame recognized Brodie as its inaugural Pioneer inductee in 2024.

WSOP Ladies Championship

The WSOP Ladies Championship is one of the longest-running women-focused events on the poker calendar.

The $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event remains part of the annual World Series of Poker in Las Vegas and regularly attracts a four-figure field.

The 2026 WSOP Ladies Championship drew 1,475 entries, generating a $1,298,000 prize pool.

Skye Chen won the tournament for $194,630, defeating Aubrey Williams heads-up.

The event provides a dedicated championship for women while taking place within a series where women can also enter open bracelet events throughout the schedule.

Women With the Most WSOP Tournament Earnings

Kristen Foxen also leads the Hendon Mob’s ranking of recorded women’s WSOP tournament earnings.

As of September 27, 2026:

As with the overall money list, these figures measure recorded tournament cashes rather than profit.

Women’s Poker Tournaments and Events

Women-focused poker tournaments are now established features of several major poker series.

These events range from major championship tournaments to smaller festivals and community-focused events intended to introduce more women to live poker.

Supporters of women-focused events argue that they can provide a more accessible introduction to live tournament poker, help players build networks, and encourage greater participation.

Critics question whether separate events are necessary in a game where women and men compete under the same rules in open tournaments.

Regardless of that debate, dedicated women’s events remain a visible part of the international poker calendar.

WSOP Ladies Championship

The WSOP Ladies Championship is the best-known women-focused poker tournament.

Held during the annual World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, the tournament awards an official WSOP bracelet and attracts players from around the world.

The 2026 event attracted 1,475 entries and generated nearly $1.3 million in prize money.

WPT Ladies Championship

The World Poker Tour has also incorporated women-focused championship events into its tournament calendar.

The WPT Ladies Championship has provided a major tournament opportunity within the broader WPT ecosystem and has helped connect women playing recreationally with more experienced tournament competitors.

Schedules, locations, buy-ins, and qualification opportunities can change from season to season.

PokerStars Women’s Events

PokerStars has supported a variety of women-focused tournaments and festivals.

These have included dedicated women’s events at major live festivals as well as online tournaments.

In 2026, the PokerStars WCOOP schedule included a $215 Women’s World Championship.

The top three finishers also earned packages connected to a Ladies Weekend at the Hippodrome Casino in London, which included a Women’s Classic with a £20,000 guarantee.

PokerStars has previously hosted other women-focused festivals and initiatives, making its exact schedule worth checking from year to year.

WPF Ladies Weekend

The World Poker Federation Women’s Committee supports initiatives intended to connect female players internationally.

Its projects have included WPF Ladies Weekend, which encourages poker venues and communities in different locations to organize women-focused events during the same period.

The initiative combines tournament poker with the broader goal of building international connections among women in the game.

Women’s Poker Communities

Poker communities can help players find tournaments, study partners, travel companions, mentors, and other players with similar interests.

Several organizations have developed specifically around increasing women’s participation in poker.

Poker League of Nations

Poker League of Nations (PLON) is one of the largest poker communities specifically created for women.

Founded in 2017, the organization reports:

• More than 12,000 members
• Representation in more than 25 countries
• More than 100 women’s events
• More than 25 partners and sponsors

PLON organizes and promotes tournaments, cash games, classes, charity events, satellites, local leagues, and other poker activities.

Its international membership also gives players a way to connect with other women before attending major poker festivals.

World Poker Federation Women’s Committee

The World Poker Federation Women’s Committee promotes initiatives aimed at increasing participation and connecting female poker players internationally.

Projects such as WPF Ladies Weekend provide opportunities for poker communities in different countries to participate in coordinated events.

The committee also includes women from different regions of the international poker community.

Fantastic Ladies in Poker

Fantastic Ladies in Poker, commonly known as FLIPs, is a community associated with professional poker player and women’s poker advocate Daiva Byrne.

The community provides a social space for women interested in poker and helps players connect around events, poker news, and shared experiences.

Groups such as FLIPs can be particularly useful for players looking for an existing community before traveling to a major live poker festival.

Other Communities and Study Groups

Not every useful poker community needs to be a large formal organization.

Women can also find strategy and social groups through:

• Discord communities
• Facebook groups
• Local poker leagues
• Training communities
• Live festival meetups
• Online study groups

These groups can help players find study partners, discuss hands, coordinate tournament travel, and meet other players before entering live events.

Women in Poker Hall of Fame

The Women in Poker Hall of Fame (WiPHoF) was established in 2008 to recognize women who have made significant contributions to poker.

The Hall recognizes both players and industry contributors, allowing it to honor achievements that extend beyond tournament results.

Its members include many of the best-known women in poker history, including:

• Barbara Enright
• Linda Johnson
• Kathy Liebert
• Jennifer Harman
• Joanne “JJ” Liu
• Victoria Coren Mitchell
• Maria Ho
• Vanessa Selbst
• Jennifer Tilly
• Angelica Hael
• Kristen Foxen
• Jeanne David

Kristen Foxen and Jeanne David were selected as the Class of 2024.

The same class introduced a Pioneer category, with Starla Brodie becoming its inaugural posthumous inductee.

The Hall’s selection process includes nominations followed by voting involving existing Hall members and selected poker media and industry representatives. The public has also participated in the process through a community vote.

The Hall provides a way to recognize accomplishments that tournament money lists alone cannot measure, including work in poker media, advocacy, regulation, responsible gaming, community building, and other areas of the industry.

How to Get Started Playing Poker

New players do not need to begin with large tournaments or high-stakes games.

A gradual approach can make it easier to learn poker fundamentals before putting significant money at risk.

• Learn the rules — Start with poker hand rankings, betting rounds, table positions, and the basic rules of No-Limit Texas Hold’em.
• Practice for free — Free-play poker can help new players become comfortable with betting actions and online poker software without risking money.
• Study strategy — Beginner books, videos, training sites, and hand-analysis tools can help players understand concepts such as starting-hand selection, position, pot odds, and bet sizing.
• Find a community — Women’s poker groups and general poker communities can provide study partners, tournament information, and advice from more experienced players.
• Start small — Low buy-in tournaments and low-stakes cash games provide experience without requiring a large bankroll.
• Review hands — Looking back at difficult decisions is one of the most useful ways to identify mistakes and improve.
• Use bankroll management — Poker involves short-term variance even for skilled players, making sensible limits important for anyone playing regularly.

Women-focused tournaments can provide one entry point into live poker, but they are not required.

Women can enter the same open cash games and tournaments as other eligible players, including the vast majority of events at the WSOP, WPT, EPT, and other major poker series.

Women’s Participation in Poker

Women remain a minority in many major open live poker tournaments.

The exact percentage varies substantially by event, location, buy-in, and poker format, making broad claims about a single percentage of “poker players” difficult to substantiate.

Dedicated women’s tournaments provide one clearer measure of participation.

The 2026 WSOP Ladies Championship, for example, attracted 1,475 entries.

Communities have also expanded. Poker League of Nations reports more than 12,000 members across more than 25 countries.

At the elite tournament level, recent results have produced several major milestones.

Leo Margets became only the second woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table in 2025, while Kristen Foxen has extended the women’s live tournament earnings record beyond $19 million.

At the same time, money lists tell only part of the story.

Many poker players primarily participate in cash games, home games, online poker, recreational tournaments, or lower-stakes events that are not comprehensively represented in public tournament databases.

As a result, there is no single authoritative statistic measuring the percentage of all poker players who are women.

Top Resources for Women in Poker

Players looking for communities, events, historical information, and other resources can find several organizations focused specifically on women in poker.

Women in Poker Hall of Fame

https://womeninpokerhalloffame.com

The official Women in Poker Hall of Fame website includes information about Hall members, previous classes, the nomination and voting process, and induction events.

It is also a useful historical resource for learning about women whose contributions extend beyond tournament results.

Poker League of Nations

https://www.pokerleagueofnations.com

Poker League of Nations is a global community for women interested in poker.

The organization promotes live events, educational opportunities, networking, leagues, satellites, and other activities and reports more than 12,000 members across more than 25 countries.

World Poker Federation Women’s Committee

https://worldpokerfederation.org

The World Poker Federation Women’s Committee supports initiatives designed to connect women in poker internationally.

Its projects include WPF Ladies Weekend and other efforts focused on participation, community, and representation.

Fantastic Ladies in Poker

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fantasticladiesinpoker/

Fantastic Ladies in Poker is a Facebook-based community associated with professional player and poker advocate Daiva Byrne.

The group provides a place for women to connect around poker, events, and shared experiences.

Globetrotting Poker Women’s Poker Calendar

https://www.instagram.com/mjbloech/

Maureen Bloechlinger of Globetrotting Poker maintains information about women’s poker events and is a useful resource for players trying to follow women-focused tournaments around the world.

Women in Poker FAQ

Who is the highest-earning female poker player?

Kristen Foxen is currently the highest-earning woman in recorded live tournament poker.

As of September 27, 2026, the Hendon Mob lists Foxen with $19,238,670 in live tournament earnings.

Vanessa Selbst ranks second with $11,946,107.

Who are the best female poker players?

There is no single objective way to determine the best female poker players because tournament earnings, bracelets, major titles, cash-game results, longevity, and level of competition measure different aspects of poker success.

Players with particularly notable records include Kristen Foxen, Vanessa Selbst, Kathy Liebert, Liv Boeree, Maria Ho, Jennifer Harman, Leo Margets, and Natasha Mercier.

Who was the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table?

Barbara Enright became the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table in 1995.

She finished fifth.

Leo Margets became the second woman to reach the Main Event final table in 2025.

Has a woman ever won the WSOP Main Event?

No woman has won the WSOP Main Event.

Barbara Enright and Leo Margets are the only women to have reached the final table of the modern WSOP Main Event through 2026.

Who has the most live tournament earnings among women?

Kristen Foxen leads the women’s all-time live tournament money list.

The Hendon Mob recorded $19,238,670 in career live tournament earnings for Foxen as of September 27, 2026.

What is the WSOP Ladies Championship?

The WSOP Ladies Championship is an annual women-focused No-Limit Texas Hold’em bracelet event held during the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

The 2026 tournament had a $1,000 buy-in, attracted 1,475 entries, and generated a $1,298,000 prize pool.

Skye Chen won the tournament for $194,630.

Are there poker tournaments specifically for women?

Yes.

Major poker organizations run dedicated women’s tournaments and festivals.

Examples include the WSOP Ladies Championship, WPT Ladies Championship, PokerStars women’s events, and events connected with organizations such as the World Poker Federation.

Women can also compete in open poker tournaments alongside men.

What is the Women in Poker Hall of Fame?

The Women in Poker Hall of Fame was established in 2008 to recognize women who have made significant contributions to poker as players or industry professionals.

Its members include Barbara Enright, Linda Johnson, Jennifer Harman, Kathy Liebert, Maria Ho, Vanessa Selbst, Kristen Foxen, and other prominent figures.

Are there poker communities specifically for women?

Yes.

Poker League of Nations is one of the largest and reports more than 12,000 members across more than 25 countries.

Other communities and organizations include Fantastic Ladies in Poker and the World Poker Federation Women’s Committee, along with numerous informal study groups and social communities.