Poker tables used to be a boys’ club—no question. But over the last decade, something’s shifted. Women aren’t just showing up; they’re dominating final tables, winning bracelets, and rewriting the script. And honestly? It’s about time.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling (One Chip at a Time)

Let’s rewind. In the early 2000s, women made up less than 5% of WSOP Main Event players. Fast forward to 2023, and that number’s crept closer to 10%. Not parity, sure, but progress. The real story? The women who are playing are crushing it.

Take Kristen Foxen, the first woman to win back-to-back GPI Player of the Year titles. Or Vanessa Selbst, whose $11.9 million in live earnings still holds as the record for a female player. These aren’t outliers—they’re trailblazers.

Why Now? The Perfect Storm

1. Online Poker’s Equalizing Effect

Anonymity is a great equalizer. Online platforms let women compete without facing the… let’s call it “old-school” poker room vibe. Maria Ho put it best: “Nobody knows your gender when you’re ‘PokerGrl93’ crushing micro-stakes.”

2. Visibility Breeds Opportunity

When Liv Boeree won the EPT in 2010, cameras caught her brilliant bluffs. Suddenly, young women saw themselves in her. Same with the PokerStars-sponsored “Women in Poker” streams—representation matters.

3. The End of the “Women’s Event” Stigma

Remember when WSOP had a ladies-only event? Some saw it as patronizing. Now, women are skipping it to compete—and win—in open fields. Case in point: 2022 WSOP saw a record 18 women final-tabling open events.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Year	Women in WSOP Main Event	Notable Wins
2010	4.2%	2 bracelets
2015	6.8%	5 bracelets
2023	9.1%	11 bracelets*

The Challenges That Remain

It’s not all high-fives and trophy photos. Women still face:

• The “lucky girl” stereotype—where wins get attributed to luck over skill
• Fewer sponsorship deals—top female players often earn less in endorsements than male peers with similar stats
• That uncomfortable moment… when a male opponent assumes they’re the “wife of a player”

What’s Next? The Future Feels Like Aces

Young guns like Jin Okamoto (22, with $1.2M in earnings already) are proving this isn’t a fluke. Poker rooms are (slowly) becoming less macho. And with streaming platforms spotlighting female pros, the next generation’s learning from the best—regardless of gender.

Here’s the thing: poker’s a skill game. Always has been. And as more women claim their seat at the table—literally and figuratively—the game’s only getting richer.