Poker has long been viewed as a male-dominated game, but female players have consistently proven their skills at the highest levels of competition. From tournament champions to cash game legends, women have earned millions of dollars and prestigious titles while breaking barriers in the poker world.
Vanessa Selbst currently holds the title of most successful female poker player of all time, with $11.9 million in tournament winnings and three WSOP bracelets. However, active players like Kristen Foxen are making strong cases for being considered the best current female competitor, with $7.5 million in live tournament earnings and four WSOP championships.
The landscape of female poker excellence extends far beyond just earnings totals. Players like Maria Ho, Jennifer Harman, and Victoria Coren Mitchell have each made unique contributions to the game through their playing styles, personalities, and achievements. Understanding who stands at the top requires examining not just prize money, but also tournament victories, longevity, and overall impact on the poker community.
Who Is the Best Female Poker Player?
The debate over the best female poker player involves multiple factors including tournament winnings, consistency, and overall impact on the game. Rankings consider both career achievements and current performance levels.
Defining Excellence in Poker
Excellence in poker extends beyond just winning money at the tables. The best players demonstrate consistent performance across different formats and stake levels.
Tournament success forms the foundation of poker excellence. This includes major titles like WSOP bracelets, WPT championships, and EPT victories.
Adaptability separates great players from good ones. Top professionals excel in various poker formats, from cash games to tournaments.
The Global Poker Index tracks player performance over time. It measures consistency rather than single big scores.
Mental toughness under pressure defines elite players. The ability to make correct decisions during high-stakes moments matters most.
Reading opponents and making strategic adjustments shows true skill. These abilities translate across all poker variants and stakes.
Ranking Criteria for Female Players
Poker tournament winnings serve as the primary ranking method for female players. Total career earnings provide the clearest comparison metric.
Live tournament results carry more weight than online achievements. Major tour events receive higher consideration than smaller tournaments.
Longevity matters when evaluating careers. Players who maintain success over decades rank higher than those with short peaks.
Bracelet and title counts add significant value to rankings. WSOP bracelets remain the most prestigious poker achievements.
Recent performance affects current rankings. Active players who continue winning receive higher placement than retired champions.
Competition level influences ranking decisions. Victories against stronger fields carry more significance than wins in weaker tournaments.
Top All-Time Achievements
Vanessa Selbst holds the record for highest poker tournament winnings among female players with $11.9 million in career earnings. She won three WSOP bracelets and reached number one on the Global Poker Index.
Kristen Foxen currently leads active female players with $7.5 million in winnings. She has captured four WSOP bracelets and maintains consistent high-level performance.
Jennifer Harman earned Poker Hall of Fame induction in 2015. Her cash game expertise and two WSOP bracelets cement her legendary status.
Victoria Coren Mitchell achieved the rare feat of winning two EPT Main Events. No other player has accomplished this double victory.
Kathy Liebert accumulated $6.9 million across three decades of play. Her consistency since 1994 demonstrates remarkable longevity.
Maria Ho reached the WSOP Main Event final stages four times as the last woman standing. Her $5.3 million in winnings includes a WPT title.
Profiles of Leading Female Poker Players
These three players represent the top tier of female poker talent. They have earned millions of dollars and proven themselves against the world’s best competition.
Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst stands as one of poker’s most successful female players of all time. She has earned over $12 million in live tournament winnings.
Her aggressive playing style sets her apart from many competitors. She reads opponents well and uses this skill to make tough decisions under pressure.
Selbst has won three World Series of Poker bracelets. This achievement puts her among poker’s elite players regardless of gender.
She competed regularly in high-stakes poker games. Her success came from both online and live tournament play.
Key Achievements:
- Over $12 million in tournament earnings
- Three WSOP bracelet wins
- Known for aggressive playing style
- Strong opponent reading abilities
Kristen Foxen
Kristen Foxen from Canada leads the 2025 female money winners list. She has earned $2,228,353 so far this year.
Foxen is working toward reclaiming the GPI Female Player of the Year title. Her consistent tournament results show her skill level.
She competes in major tournaments around the world. Her earnings place her among the top female poker players currently active.
2025 Performance:
- #1 female money winner for 2025
- Earned over $2.2 million this year
- Strong candidate for GPI Female Player of the Year
Maria Ho
Maria Ho ranks among the most recognizable faces in poker. She has built a successful career through tournament play and media work.
Ho has earned significant prize money in live tournaments. She regularly competes against top players in high-stakes events.
Her television appearances have helped grow poker’s popularity. She serves as a commentator and analyst for major poker broadcasts.
Ho’s tournament record includes deep runs in World Series of Poker events. She has proven her skills against tough competition over many years.
Notable Accomplishments:
- Consistent tournament success
- Regular high-stakes poker participant
- Television poker personality
- Deep WSOP tournament runs
Notable Players and Historic Trailblazers
These four women changed poker history through groundbreaking achievements and consistent success. They broke barriers in a male-dominated game and earned recognition in the Poker Hall of Fame for their contributions.
Jennifer Harman
Jennifer Harman stands as one of poker’s most respected female players with $2.74 million in tournament winnings. She won two WSOP bracelets and made an impressive 12 WSOP final table appearances throughout her career.
Television Fame and High Stakes Success Harman appeared regularly on Poker After Dark and High Stakes Poker. She became the only woman to play consistently in the Bellagio’s famous “Big Game” cash games.
The Poker Hall of Fame inducted Harman in 2015. Her tournament record includes 32 WSOP money finishes and two WPT final tables.
Charitable Work Harman founded Creating Organ Donation Awareness (CODA) after undergoing two kidney transplants. She hosts charity poker events that benefit the National Kidney Foundation.
Kathy Liebert
Kathy Liebert earned $6.17 million in tournament winnings during her successful poker career. She won a WSOP bracelet in 2004 at the $1,500 Limit Texas Hold’Em Shootout event.
WPT Success Liebert made six WPT final tables during her career. Her best WPT finish was third place at the 2005 Borgata Poker Open.
She recorded 47 WSOP money finishes throughout her tournament career. Her highest WSOP Main Event finish came in 2000 when she placed seventeenth.
Liebert continues to play tournaments from her home base in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Victoria Coren Mitchell
Victoria Coren Mitchell made poker history by becoming the first player to win two European Poker Tour Main Event titles. She won EPT London in 2006 and EPT Sanremo in 2014 with total winnings of $2.47 million.
Media Career Coren Mitchell writes poker columns and provides commentary for British poker television series. She balances tournament play with her media work.
Groundbreaking Achievements She was the first woman to win a televised professional poker event with her 2006 EPT London victory. She also won a televised celebrity event on Celebrity Poker Club.
Coren Mitchell plays select tournaments each year and earns most of her poker income from cash games.
Barbara Enright
Barbara Enright became the first woman inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2007. She shares this honor with Phil Hellmuth from the same induction class.
Historic WSOP Achievement Enright remains the only woman to reach a WSOP Main Event final table. She finished in fifth place in this groundbreaking accomplishment.
Bracelet Success She was the first woman to win three WSOP bracelets. Only Linda Johnson and Jennifer Harman have matched this achievement since then.
Enright’s total tournament winnings reached $1.6 million. Her poker career helped pave the way for future generations of female players in the game.
Impact of Female Poker Players on the Game
Women have changed poker by making it more welcoming and breaking old rules about who can play. Their success has led to new programs and events that help more women join the game.
Representation and Diversity
Female poker players have made the game less male-dominated. Before the 1990s, women were rare at poker tables.
Barbara Enright broke major ground in 1996 when she became the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table. This moment showed other women they could compete at the highest level.
Key representation milestones include:
- Vanessa Selbst becoming the first woman to reach #1 on the Global Poker Index
- Jennifer Harman proving women could succeed in high-stakes cash games
- Annette Obrestad winning the WSOP Europe Main Event at age 18
The presence of women has forced poker rooms to create better environments. Casinos now work harder to make spaces welcoming for all players.
Media coverage has also changed. Female players like Maria Ho and Liv Boeree now work as commentators and ambassadors. This gives women visible role models in poker.
Women’s Poker Leagues and Initiatives
The WSOP Ladies Events started in 1977 and helped create opportunities for women to compete. These events gave female players a chance to build skills and confidence.
The Women’s Poker Association works to support female players through coaching and community building. They offer resources that help women improve their game.
Major women’s poker organizations:
- Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS)
- Women’s Poker Hall of Fame
- Female poker training groups online
These groups provide safe spaces where women can learn without facing stereotypes or hostile behavior. Many successful female pros got their start in women-only events.
Online poker communities have also created women-focused forums and training sites. These platforms let female players share strategies and support each other.
Increasing Female Participation
WSOP Main Event female participation has grown by about 20% in recent years. This shows more women are willing to compete in poker’s biggest tournament.
Online poker helped drive this growth during the poker boom. Women could play from home without dealing with intimidating casino environments.
The success of top female players inspired others to try the game. When women see players like Kristen Foxen earning over $11 million, it proves poker can be profitable for women too.
Factors driving female participation:
- More welcoming poker room policies
- Online poker accessibility
- Female role models in media
- Women’s training programs
Tournament structures have also adapted to be more family-friendly. Many events now offer childcare or flexible schedules that work better for women with families.
Streaming platforms show more female players competing at high levels. This visibility helps normalize women’s presence in poker and attracts new players to the game.
Major Poker Tournaments and Female Success
Female poker players have earned significant recognition across the world’s most prestigious tournament series. Their achievements span from WSOP bracelets to major EPT victories, proving their elite-level skills on poker’s biggest stages.
World Series of Poker (WSOP) Honors
The World Series of Poker represents the pinnacle of tournament poker success for female players. Vanessa Selbst leads all women with three WSOP bracelets and over $2.1 million in WSOP earnings.
Kristen Foxen has captured four WSOP bracelets, including a Ladies Championship victory in 2013. Her remarkable 2024 performance saw her finish 13th in the WSOP Main Event, one of the highest finishes ever recorded by a female player.
Barbara Enright made history in 1995 by becoming the first woman to reach the Main Event final table, finishing in fifth place. She won the Ladies Championship twice, in 1986 and 1994.
Other notable WSOP achievers include:
- Susie Isaacs: Two-time Ladies Championship winner (1996, 1997)
- Kathy Liebert: One WSOP bracelet winner with strong Main Event showings
The Ladies Championship remains a significant stepping stone. Many top female players use this event to build confidence before competing in open events.
World Poker Tour (WPT) Highlights
The World Poker Tour has seen groundbreaking female achievements in high-stakes competition. Vanessa Selbst dominated WPT events during her peak years, winning multiple titles and earning respect as one of poker’s most aggressive players.
Female players consistently cash in WPT events, though victories remain rare due to the large field sizes and intense competition. The tour’s televised format has helped showcase female talent to wider audiences.
Kathy Liebert made significant WPT final table appearances throughout her career. Her consistent performance across different WPT stops demonstrated the ability to compete at the highest levels.
Recent years have shown increased female participation in WPT events. Players like Kristen Foxen continue to make deep runs and challenge for titles.
The WPT’s structure favors experienced tournament players who can handle multi-day events and varying blind structures.
European Poker Tour (EPT) Accomplishments
The European Poker Tour has provided another major stage for female poker excellence. Liv Boeree stands out as one of the most successful EPT performers, combining strategic expertise with consistent results.
EPT events attract international fields, creating opportunities for players from different poker cultures to compete. Female players have shown particular strength in EPT side events and smaller buy-in tournaments.
The tour’s European locations have helped develop female talent from different countries. This geographic diversity has enriched the overall competitive landscape.
Vanessa Selbst also found success on the EPT circuit before retiring from professional poker. Her results across multiple tours demonstrated remarkable consistency.
EPT High Roller events have featured notable female participants, though the extremely high buy-ins limit the field size. These events represent the absolute elite level of tournament poker competition.
Milestones and Statistics
Female poker players have achieved remarkable success in tournament earnings and prestigious events. Vanessa Selbst leads with $12 million in live tournament winnings, while multiple women have claimed WSOP bracelets and dominated high-stakes competitions.
All-Time Money List
Vanessa Selbst sits at the top of the female all-time money list with approximately $12 million in live tournament earnings. She earned this through consistent performance in major tournaments worldwide.
Kristen Bicknell ranks second with over $5 million in tournament winnings. Her success spans both live and online poker events.
Other top earners include:
- Liv Boeree – $3.8 million
- Kathy Liebert – $6.1 million
- Annie Duke – $4.2 million
These numbers reflect only live tournament results. Many female players have earned additional millions through online poker and cash games.
The gap between male and female earnings continues to narrow as more women enter high-stakes tournaments.
WSOP Bracelet Records
Three women hold the record for most WSOP bracelets won by females, each with three victories. Vanessa Selbst earned her three bracelets between 2008 and 2014.
Barbara Enright was the first woman to reach a WSOP Main Event final table in 1995. She finished fifth and earned $114,180.
Other notable bracelet winners include:
- Susie Isaacs – 1 bracelet (1996)
- Annie Duke – 1 bracelet (2004)
- Vanessa Rousso – 0 bracelets but multiple final tables
Women represent less than 5% of all WSOP bracelet winners. However, female participation in WSOP events has grown steadily over the past decade.
High-Stakes Poker Achievements
Female players have made significant impacts in high-stakes poker tournaments and cash games. Vanessa Selbst won the $25,000 Mixed-Max event at the PCA for $1.4 million.
Liv Boeree captured the European Poker Tour San Remo Main Event in 2010 for €1.25 million. This made her one of the highest-earning female tournament winners at the time.
Several women regularly compete in $10,000+ buy-in events:
- Kristen Bicknell – Multiple six-figure scores
- Maria Ho – Regular high-stakes competitor
- Cate Hall – High-stakes cash game player
The Global Poker Index tracks tournament performance worldwide. Multiple female players have reached the top 300 rankings based on recent tournament results and consistency.
High-stakes cash games feature fewer documented female participants, but several women compete regularly in games with $25/$50 blinds and higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several players stand out as the most successful female poker professionals, with Vanessa Selbst leading in tournament earnings and multiple players achieving major wins. Female players have made significant impacts at the World Series of Poker and continue to shape the modern poker landscape.
Who is considered the best female poker player of all time?
Vanessa Selbst holds the title as the most successful female poker player of all time. She has earned $11.9 million in live tournament winnings.
Selbst won three World Series of Poker bracelets during her career. She was the only woman to ever reach the number one spot on the Global Poker Index.
The Yale-trained lawyer dominated poker between 2008 and 2018. Her aggressive playing style and ability to read opponents made her a feared competitor.
Which female poker player has the most tournament wins?
Vanessa Selbst leads female players in major tournament victories. She captured three WSOP bracelets and numerous other significant titles.
Kristen Foxen also stands out with four WSOP championships. She won her first bracelet in 2013 at the $1,000 Ladies Event.
Victoria Coren Mitchell achieved a rare feat by winning two EPT Main Event titles. This accomplishment puts her among poker’s elite players.
Are there any female poker players in the top 10 of the all-time money list?
No female poker player currently ranks in the overall top 10 all-time money list. The highest-earning female player is Vanessa Selbst with $11.9 million.
Kristen Foxen follows with $7.5 million in live tournament winnings. Kathy Liebert has earned $6.9 million throughout her career.
These earnings place them among the most successful tournament players. However, they remain outside the top tier dominated by male professionals.
How have female poker players fared in the World Series of Poker?
Female players have achieved notable success at the WSOP. Multiple women have won WSOP bracelets across different events and years.
Maria Ho reached the status of “last woman standing” in the WSOP Main Event four times. She has not yet made the final table of this prestigious event.
Gaelle Baumann placed 10th in the 2012 WSOP Main Event. She earned $590,000 for this deep run in poker’s most famous tournament.
What notable achievements have female poker players accomplished in the poker community?
Jennifer Harman earned induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2015. This honor recognizes only the most elite poker players in history.
Harman was also a regular on the legendary High Stakes Poker television show. She specialized in mixed-game cash games at the highest levels.
Several female players have won major tour events beyond the WSOP. Maria Ho captured a WPT Main Event title during her career.
Who are some influential female poker players in the game today?
Kristen Foxen remains one of the most active and successful female tournament players. She regularly competes in WSOP and PokerGO events.
Maria Ho has built a strong media presence alongside her poker success. She appeared on reality shows and won GGPoker Game of Gold in 2023.
Leo Margets represents the international poker scene from Spain. She won a WSOP bracelet in 2021 and continues touring major events worldwide.