Most Notable Women Poker Players in the 2020s

The poker world is a world full of professionals and notable players. Though the industry keeps evolving, there are many longstanding players who have managed to stay afloat and thrive on the platform. Many notable female poker players have emerged over time, including celebrities.

Women like these have been commended for being excellent poker players who have even won tournaments and often thrive in a game known to be dominated by men. This has inspired many other female poker players to take up the game and try to make a name for themselves on the poker table.

Times are Changing Rapidly

In the 2000s, live poker tables were all the rage. However, the 2020s have slowly tapped into online gaming platforms. Modern online casinos such as Tron Casino and other crypto-platforms have also become a practical place for novice players to learn the game. They provide easy, safe and clear transactions through blockchain technology but also provide options like live dealer games and can be used to watch or participate in online poker tournaments.

This has begun democratizing events like this a lot more and now means that more women are entering the fray. Here’s a look at those who stand out the most so far.

The Two Jennifers

Jennifer Harman is a professional poker player who has both a calm character and a dominant demeanor in the game of poker. She has proven herself to be one of the best in the industry by winning two World Series of Poker bracelets, making her one of only a few women who can say the same.

On the other hand, we have Jennifer Tilly, a well-known Hollywood actress and a professional poker player. She is notable for playing characters like Tiffany in Hollywood films like the Chucky franchise and has also made a name for herself on the poker tables. Jennifer has won a World Series of Poker bracelet in a game where she beat 600 players.

Who Was the First Female Poker Champion?

There are two names that come up when you think about the female poker champions. The first holds the distinction of being the first woman to receive the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Ladies’ Event. That happened in the year 1985 the woman who achieved it was Jackie McDaniels.

While she is the first poker female champion, we also have Linda Johnson who is referred to as “The First Lady of Poker” because of her huge contribution to the game. She advocated for women in the poker industry and won the WSOP Ladies’ Event in 1997.

However, it was Jackie McDaniels who was the first woman to actually claim the title and set the standard for all who followed. These two women both remain iconic as poker champions in their own distinct ways and have both contributed to the diverse poker industry we have today.

How Does Poker Empower Women?

Poker empowers women by allowing them to challenge the gender stereotype that poker is only a game for men. Women have seamlessly thrived on the poker table and proven many times that. Poker also empowers women through its intricate structure which challenges women to think outside of the box. The game allows women to use their mental strength and build strong problem-solving skills that can help them thrive in other environments.

Poker has many ways in which it empowers women, but financial independence is perhaps the most important. As the game is designed to reward winners, it tends to push women who play it into aiming for the kind of success many women usually feel they are not entitled to. The most successful women at poker have also made millions of dollars from playing the game—shattering glass ceilings when it comes to their earning power in the process.

Between Jennifer Harman and Jennifer Tilly alone, both have won massive sums from playing poker. For example, Jennifer Harman has generated $2.7million through poker while Tilly has made well over a million at this point. While both are super successful they barely scratch the surface compared to others out there. So, to end, below is a list of five professional female poker players and their total earnings from playing poker to date:

Vanessa Selbst – $11,906,247
Kristen Foxen – $9,732,934
Kathy Liebert – $6,998,813
Liv Boeree – $6,671,790
Maria Ho – $5,537,338

Such players are much admired and serve as inspiration for new female players who wish to test their poker skills and make a go at a professional poker career.