The world of poker is brimming with vibrant personalities, with many players etching their names in history through notable tournament wins or unforgettable televised hands. The top female poker players embody this legacy, possessing a formidable combination of titles, deep tournament runs, respect in high-stakes cash games, substantial tournament scores, and careers that have profoundly reshaped the perception of women in poker.
While financial success is a factor, poker is ultimately about performance. These women have ascended to stardom through various avenues: some on television, others online, and a select few earning accolades in high-stakes games that often went undocumented. Their collective journeys illustrate the diverse eras, strategies, and paths to victory that define women’s poker history.
1. Kristen Foxen
For years, Vanessa Selbst held the undisputed title of the best female poker player. However, Kristen Foxen has consistently raised the bar. She has a remarkable track record in challenging events, consistently achieving strong results against formidable professional fields. Her sustained success has propelled her to the top of the all-time live tournament earnings list for women, surpassing Selbst.
Foxen’s achievements are particularly impressive given the significantly more competitive modern poker landscape, characterized by enhanced player study, meticulous preparation, and a reduction in easily exploitable mistakes. Even mid-level tournament fields now present a formidable challenge. This evolution is also evident outside live events, with more players refining their skills through online play and strategic content consumption. At the highest echelons, opportunities for easier wins are exceptionally rare.
Despite these challenges, Foxen has built one of the most distinguished careers in women’s poker history. Her 13th-place finish in the 2024 WSOP Main Event, earning $600,000 and narrowly missing the final table, brought her exceptional record significant public recognition. In the late stages of the tournament, she was a player all eyes were on. Her elimination occurred in a pivotal hand against Joe Serock. Serock opened with Ace-spade King-club, and Foxen defended her big blind with King-spade Queen-diamond. She then called Serock’s bet on an Ace-heart King-heart Jack-spade flop. When the 5-spade hit the turn, she check-raised all-in over Serock’s second bet, aiming to apply pressure with her second pair and straight draw. Serock called with top two pair, and after the river failed to bring a helpful card, Foxen was out in 13th place.
This hand exemplified her readiness to make aggressive, high-variance plays with substantial financial implications on the line, even when the final move didn’t result in success.
2. Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst’s peak performance in poker is a topic of enduring discussion. In her prime, she played fearlessly, consistently making her opponents uncomfortable. She actively pursued pots, exerted considerable pressure, and forced players into difficult decisions, compelling them to demonstrate the strength of their holdings.
This assertive style established her as one of the era’s most captivating players and one of the toughest opponents to face.
Selbst secured three WSOP bracelets and amassed a tournament record that maintained her position at the pinnacle of women’s all-time rankings for an extended period. Her most significant payday came from the 2010 Partouche Poker Tour Main Event, where she earned over $1.8 million. Furthermore, she achieved the distinction of being the first woman to reach the No. 1 spot on the Global Poker Index.
At her peak, Selbst wasn’t merely ranked as the best female player; she was recognized as the premier tournament player globally.
Her strategy wasn’t centered on passive play. She adopted an aggressive, challenging approach, playing as if she possessed the ability to outthink and outmaneuver every opponent at the table. While this often led to chaotic gameplay, it also resulted in a multitude of victories.
3. Kathy Liebert
Kathy Liebert stands as a testament to longevity and resilience in the poker world, qualities that carry immense weight. While many players experience a single breakout year or win a major tournament before fading, Liebert has maintained relevance across various iterations of the game—a far more challenging feat.
Her winning streak predates poker’s surge in television popularity. She continued to achieve success during the poker boom and maintained her ability to cash in tournaments even as the game became more technical. Her career is characterized by consistent results rather than a single, lucky breakthrough.
Liebert boasts over $7 million in live tournament earnings, a WSOP bracelet, six World Poker Tour final table appearances, and hundreds of recorded cashes, solidifying a distinguished career built on years of unwavering discipline.
Her victory at the 2002 Party Poker Million was particularly noteworthy, establishing her as one of the leading female earners in the game at the time.
Liebert never sought the spotlight as the most prominent personality in poker. Her strength lay in her persistent determination and discipline. Poker notoriously penalizes players who fail to adapt, yet Liebert consistently evolved with the game, earning her a significant place in poker history.
She also paved the way for subsequent generations of female players. While women were still striving for genuine recognition in major open events, Liebert was already compiling a record that was impossible to disregard. She didn’t need explicit acknowledgment as a pioneer; her results spoke volumes.
4. Liv Boeree
Liv Boeree rose to become one of poker’s most recognizable figures, with her success on the felt validating her widespread appeal. Beyond her presence in interviews and broadcasts, she demonstrated her prowess by winning major events, competing against strong fields, and proving her capability at the highest level of the game.
Her career defining moment came in 2010 with her victory at the EPT San Remo Main Event, a monumental achievement. EPT titles carry significant prestige, and San Remo was one of the tour’s most prominent stops at the time. This win catapulted Boeree to overnight fame.
She later added a WSOP bracelet to her collection and built a career that placed her among the top female tournament earners. In 2024, she achieved another significant result, finishing fourth in the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event for $2.8 million, marking one of the largest payouts ever recorded by a female player.
Boeree’s appeal possessed a unique quality. She combined intelligence, confidence, and an innate ability to articulate the complexities of the game. Her background in astrophysics influenced her approach to poker, viewing it through the lens of probability, risk assessment, and decision-making, which lent significant weight to her analyses beyond typical table talk.
In poker, players rarely operate with complete information; their game relies on inference, adaptation, and making the best possible move with available data. Boeree demonstrated a profound understanding of this aspect of the game.
Furthermore, she contributed to modernizing poker’s image. Boeree was not an old-school grinder who shied away from the spotlight. She was comfortable in front of the camera, engaging in interviews, and embracing her role as one of the game’s public faces.
5. Maria Ho
Maria Ho is widely regarded as one of the most respected all-around figures in the poker community. She is a formidable tournament player, an accomplished commentator, and one of the most recognizable women in the game.
Her tournament record is equally impressive, featuring millions in live earnings, numerous WSOP cashes, and multiple high finishes in major events. A career highlight includes being the last woman standing in the WSOP Main Event on more than one occasion.
She finished 38th in the 2007 WSOP Main Event, earning $237,865, and followed this with another “last woman standing” achievement in the 2014 Main Event, placing 77th. Her closest call to a bracelet came in 2011 when she secured second place in a $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event at the WSOP, winning $540,020. Her extensive WSOP record includes over 100 cashes and nine final tables, alongside World Poker Tour accomplishments, including a WPT title and a third-place finish in the 2017-18 WPT LAPC Rockstar Energy High Roller for $188,875.
Her experience lends credibility to broadcasts, as she speaks from a place of genuine understanding. When discussing pressure situations, her insights are not speculative; she has navigated those spots and understands the weight of making critical decisions with significant stakes.
Maria Ho’s impact on poker extends beyond her trophy count. She has been instrumental in maintaining the visibility of women as both experts and competitors in serious poker tournaments.
6. Jennifer Harman
Jennifer Harman’s prowess in poker cannot be solely measured by her tournament earnings, as a significant portion of her reputation stems from her exceptional performance in cash games, particularly in the renowned high-stakes mixed games in Las Vegas. These games were largely private, meaning wins and losses were not publicly tracked in the same way as tournament results. Harman’s esteemed position in poker history is derived from her consistent invitation to participate in these elite games and the respect she commanded from the top players seated at those tables.
In this context, Harman is regarded as a legend.
She secured two WSOP bracelets in open events, but her true legacy in poker history is cemented by her participation in some of the world’s most significant cash games. For instance, the Bellagio’s “Big Game” was frequented by elite players, formidable egos, and immense pressure, and Harman was a fixture in this environment at a time when very few women were involved.
Such respect is difficult to feign in poker. While image can sustain a player at lower stakes for a period, at the highest cash game levels, weaker players are invariably exposed. The stakes are exceptionally high, and the players are acutely skilled, yet Harman consistently secured her seat at the table.
Harman’s career serves as a reminder that poker history is not solely chronicled through tournament payouts. Some of the most demanding poker is played away from the bright lights of final tables, and she strategically built her reputation in these arenas.
7. Annie Duke
Annie Duke is one of the most complex figures in poker history. At her peak, she was among the most successful and recognizable women in the game. She won a WSOP bracelet in 2004 and also clinched the WSOP Tournament of Champions that same year, earning a $2 million prize.
Duke also possessed a keen understanding of poker’s public dimension. She authored books, appeared on television, granted interviews, and became a prominent figure during poker’s boom period.
Her reputation is also intertwined with an online poker site that gained notoriety after insiders utilized “superuser” access to view opponents’ cards. Duke was a public face of this site, and although she was not officially implicated in the cheating, the association undeniably impacted how many poker fans perceive her career.
In poker, trust is paramount. When scandals involving online poker arise, individuals’ associations are often recalled. This aspect of her public narrative continues to resonate.
8. Annette Obrestad
Annette Obrestad’s ascent was nothing short of iconic. Long before achieving renown in live tournaments, she was already a celebrated online player under the moniker “Annette_15.” This online persona became synonymous with poker excellence as she consistently triumphed in games as a teenager. While many peers were still grappling with fundamental strategy, Obrestad was already establishing herself as a formidable online competitor.
In 2007, she captured the WSOP Europe Main Event title, becoming the youngest WSOP bracelet winner at just 18 years old. This victory coincided perfectly with a pivotal moment in poker history, as online players began to dominate live events. Having accumulated vast experience through high-volume play, they had rapidly honed their skills and adopted a more aggressive, mathematically driven approach to the game. Obrestad emerged as a prime example of this new generation of players.
Despite her later move away from professional poker, her name remains etched in poker lore as a fairytale narrative of a teenage online prodigy who transitioned to major live events and emerged victorious.
9. Maria Lampropulos
Maria Lampropulos stands out as an exemplary player who earned her status through significant victories rather than consistent media exposure. Her journey was not one of becoming a poker celebrity first; rather, she achieved success, and her impressive record followed.
Her two most significant titles are both highly commendable. She won partypoker MILLIONS and subsequently triumphed at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event in 2018. The PCA victory was particularly noteworthy, as it made her the first woman to win this prestigious event, earning her over $1 million.
Her playing style is characterized by patience and resilience rather than flashiness. This methodical approach can sometimes be underestimated because it doesn’t always generate viral moments. However, major tournaments are won through consistent, sound decision-making over extended periods, not necessarily through entertainment value.
10. Joanne “J.J.” Liu
Joanne “J.J.” Liu is recognized as one of the most respected long-term players in women’s poker. Her career has been meticulously built over time. One of her most significant achievements was her runner-up finish at the 2007 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Main Event.
Liu also possesses one of poker’s most memorable table presences, distinguished by her distinctive style, confidence, and relaxed demeanor. Beneath this outward composure lies a serious and highly skilled player. She possesses a deep understanding of live poker, including its nuances of pace, player dynamics, and the psychological pressures involved.
Liu embodies the type of enduring poker career that commands respect. She did not rely on a single major media push; instead, she forged her record through persistent dedication and skill.
