Women have come a long way in poker, breaking into a scene that, let’s be honest, was mostly a boys’ club for decades. Top names like Vanessa Selbst, Kristen Foxen (yep, she used to be Bicknell), and Kathy Liebert have racked up millions and proven they can go toe-to-toe with anyone at the table.
Vanessa Selbst is still the only woman ever to snag the #1 spot on the Global Poker Index, and her career earnings have topped $11 million.
As we roll into 2025, women’s poker just keeps getting more interesting. Kristen Foxen recently grabbed the top spot on the all-time women’s money list after crushing it on the high roller scene.
Other standouts like Jennifer Tilly, Jennifer Harman, and Liv Boeree have all put up solid results and brought their own flavor to the game.
Each of these women brings something different to the felt—some mix razor-sharp technical play with a knack for reading people. If you’re hoping to get better at poker, there’s a lot to learn from watching how they handle the pressure.
The way they’ve navigated obstacles and built their own strategies is honestly pretty inspiring.
Women’s Impact on the Poker World
Female pros have shaken up poker’s old guard, making the scene way more inclusive and visible. Their success has forced the game to evolve and rethink some pretty tired stereotypes.
Their wins and presence have changed the whole vibe at poker tables all over the world.
Historical Milestones Set by Female Players
Back in 1996, Barbara Enright smashed through the glass ceiling by being the first woman at the WSOP Main Event final table. That was a huge moment for women in poker.
Vanessa Selbst took things even further, becoming the top-earning female player ever with close to $12 million in winnings. Three WSOP bracelets? Not too shabby.
Annette Obrestad pulled off something wild in 2007—she won the WSOP Europe Main Event at just 18. Age, gender, none of it stopped her.
Jennifer Harman has earned her stripes in high-stakes cash games, a place where women used to be almost nonexistent.
Rising Representation in Major Poker Events
More women are showing up at big tournaments every year. The WSOP Main Event has seen female participation jump by about 20% lately.
A lot of that’s thanks to online poker, which lets people play without the old-school casino pressure.
Communities and women-only tournaments have popped up everywhere, giving women a space to level up their game. The Women’s Poker Association is just one group pushing for more inclusion.
Players like Liv Boeree and Maria Ho are now fixtures in poker media, adding fresh perspectives as commentators and ambassadors.
With more women hitting the pro circuit, poker is finally starting to shake its “men only” image.
Profiles of Leading Women in Poker
Women have left a serious mark on professional poker, breaking through barriers and winning millions by playing smart and bold. Their backgrounds and styles keep changing what people expect at the tables.
Pioneering Champions and Trailblazers
Jennifer Harman was one of the first women to really make it big, with two WSOP bracelets and a reputation for staying cool under fire. She helped show the world that women belong at the highest levels.
Vanessa Selbst dominated the scene before retiring, banking nearly $12 million and three WSOP bracelets. Her aggressive game and sharp mind made her a legend.
Kathy Liebert set a milestone in 2002 as the first woman to win a $1 million poker prize. She’s been a steady force in the game for decades.
Jennifer Tilly, who you might know from Hollywood, brought her movie-star charisma to poker and won a WSOP bracelet in 2005. She’s helped bring even more attention to women in the game.
2020s Standout Female Poker Players
Kristen Foxen (formerly Bicknell) has really taken over in the 2020s, now leading the women’s all-time money list with over $11 million. Three bracelets and a ton of deep runs have cemented her place at the top.
Maria Ho is another standout, not just as a player but also as a commentator. She’s got multiple final tables and a reputation for sharp, strategic thinking.
Robbi Jade Lew turned heads with some controversial high-stakes hands that got the whole poker world talking. She’s new but already making waves.
Breakthrough Stories in International Poker
Liv Boeree, coming from the UK, mixed her physics background with poker smarts to win the European Poker Tour in 2010. She’s brought a scientific edge to the game.
Celina Lin became the first female Red Dragon champ at the Macau Poker Cup, helping poker explode in Asia.
Fatima Moreira de Melo went from Olympic gold in hockey to poker pro—her competitive streak definitely carried over.
JJ Liu has quietly put together over $3.5 million in tournament cashes, winning across continents and showing just how global poker is for women now.
Winning Strategies and Playing Styles
Top female players have found their own paths to victory, blending technical know-how with a real sense for the psychological side of poker. Their approaches work across all kinds of games.
Adaptations in Cash Games
In cash games, many women lean into patience and sharp observation. Kristen Foxen, for example, is known for picking her spots and managing her bankroll with discipline.
Some pros even flip stereotypes to their advantage—if opponents underestimate them, they’re happy to take those extra chips.
Vanessa Selbst, on the other hand, was famous for her aggression. She’d put the heat on with big bets and raises, never content to just call.
A lot of these women have developed world-class hand-reading skills. That’s a huge edge when you’re trying to make sense of complicated pots.
Tactics for Success in Poker Tournaments
Tournament play is a different beast, and players like Maria Ho have shown they can adapt on the fly. They tweak their approach based on stack sizes, blinds, and who’s at the table.
Many women have mastered ICM strategy, which is crucial as you get close to the money or a final table.
Victoria Coren Mitchell is a good example—she plays tight early, then picks her spots to get aggressive when it matters.
Mental stamina is another big factor. The best female tournament players stay focused and keep their emotions in check, even during marathon sessions.
Some go even further, prepping by studying their opponents’ habits before big events. That kind of homework gives them a real edge.
How Top Women Approach Bluffing
Bluffing is an art, and many top female players approach it with a mix of caution and calculation. Liv Boeree, for instance, uses her science background to find the right spots.
A lot of women build a tight image early on, which makes their bluffs more believable later.
Semi-bluffing with draws is another trick—they keep opponents guessing and can win pots in more than one way.
Some female coaches teach a step-by-step approach to bluffing, focusing on the right boards and opponents rather than just winging it.
Usually, their betting tells a story that actually makes sense, so when they bluff, it’s pretty convincing.
Influence and Challenges in the Professional Poker Arena
Women in poker still face their share of challenges, but they’re also changing the game just by showing up and succeeding.
Navigating Live Poker Rooms and Online Poker
At live tables, women often deal with being underestimated or stereotyped. Some guys just assume they’re not serious players, which, honestly, can be a pretty big mistake.
This bias can actually work in their favor, with skilled women taking advantage of loose or overconfident opponents.
Online poker, though, is a bit of an equalizer. With no faces or names, it’s all about skill. That’s where players like Vanessa Selbst and Kristen Bicknell built their bankrolls before making it big live.
Women’s poker groups have popped up online too, offering support, coaching, and a place to talk strategy without all the usual baggage.
Breaking Barriers in Las Vegas Casinos
Vegas used to be a total boys’ club, but that’s changed thanks to trailblazers like Barbara Enright, who made the WSOP Main Event final table in 1995.
Poker rooms in Vegas are more welcoming now, though there’s still some old-school behavior to deal with—unwanted comments, patronizing attitudes, and even hostility at times.
Still, more women are showing up in major Vegas tournaments, and the WSOP sees more female players every year.
Tournament staff and casino managers are starting to get it: creating a welcoming space matters.
Controversies and Notable Events Involving Female Poker Players
Poker’s had its share of drama involving female players, sparking conversations about gender, fairness, and what still needs to change.
The Hustler Casino Live Cheating Scandal
September 2022 brought a wild moment on the Hustler Casino Live stream. Robbi Jade Lew made a gutsy call with jack-high against Garrett Adelstein and scooped a $269,000 pot.
Adelstein accused her of cheating, saying she somehow knew his cards. The whole poker world jumped into the debate.
Lew gave the money back after a tense chat off-camera but always said she was innocent.
Things got even messier when Hustler Casino revealed an employee had stolen $15,000 in chips from Lew’s stack, though they said it wasn’t related to the hand itself.
Impact on Public Perception and the Poker Community
The whole Hustler Casino Live mess really brought gender dynamics in poker into the spotlight. Honestly, a lot of folks wondered if a male player would’ve been grilled so hard for pulling off such a weird move.
The poker community? Completely split. Some players jumped to defend Lew, saying, hey, weird plays are just part of the game.
Others took Adelstein’s side, arguing that the odds of making that call were just too out there to ignore.
It also kicked off a bigger conversation about how safe and fair live-streamed poker really is. Hustler Casino ended up beefing up their security and equipment, hoping to keep things above board.
For women in poker, the whole thing was another reminder—getting respect at the high-stakes tables still isn’t easy. Their decisions seem to get picked apart way more than their male counterparts, and that’s a tough pill to swallow.
