Our coverage of the 2025 Women’s Poker Week continued on Saturday, June 28, with the $400 Moneymaker Ladies NLH at the MGM Grand Saturday, June 28. The Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) $360 National Championship Day 1a and Day 1b were also running at South Point Casino on June 27 and 28. The Women’s Poker Association (WPA) and Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) will be celebrating the final tables.
Day 1a of the LIPS National Championship drew a strong field of 242 players, with 68 advancing to Day 2, which takes place today. Leading the pack are chip leaders Marina Mendy (248,000), Laura Poulter (214,000), and Monica Jimenez (209,000). These talented women will face a challenging field on Day 2, including fierce competitors like Vanessa Castro, fresh off her victory in the Venetian $600 No-Limit Hold’em LIPS Ladies Event, as well as proven crushers Mia Fallstrom, Jenni Ding, and the WPA’s incoming President, AJ Rudolph.
We are in the money with 36 players left in the LIPS National Championship! Congratulations Ladies! pic.twitter.com/9L26s76fdy
— ♠️♥ LIPS Tour ♦️♣️ (@LIPS_Tour) June 29, 2025
Day 1a drew 123 players with 33 bagging at the end of the day, while Day 1b attracted 119 players, with 35 bagging at the end of the day. The total prize pool was $73,810, and 36 places were paid.
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
| 1 | $15,094 | 10-12 | $1,476 |
| 2 | $9,263 | 13-15 | $1,292 |
| 3 | $6,016 | 16-18 | $1,181 |
| 4 | $3,949 | 19-21 | $1,070 |
| 5 | $2,915 | 22-24 | $989 |
| 6 | $2,546 | 27-26 | $915 |
| 7 | $2,214 | 28-30 | $864 |
| 8 | $1,919 | 31-36 | $812 |
| 9 | $1,661 |
South Point LIPS Championship
— Roxanne Johnson (@Roxannelee321) June 30, 2025
The second ladies’ event took place at the MGM Grand, where 185 hopeful entrants took their shot at winning a nice cash prize along with the coveted WPA trophy, alongside the Moneymaker Tour trophy. The prize pool surpassed the $50,000 guarantee, reaching $61,050. The first-place finisher earned $15,470, and 24 players made the money, with a minimum cash payout of $565.
Andy Lee, Tournament Director at the MGM Grand, had this to say about the event, “I’m looking forward to women exploding onto the poker scene. As women start winning major events, such as the main event, we can expect to see an increase in the number of women in the poker player community. It’s only a matter of time.”
The final table was set in the early hours of the morning after a fierce and determined battle among the remaining women, each vying for the top prize and the two stunning trophies presented by the Moneymaker Tour and the Women’s Poker Association. As the chips settled and only two players remained, Latima Nanji and Alison Pendergast opted for a deal. In a unique twist, second place would walk away with slightly more prize money, an arrangement made after Alison expressed her desire to claim the coveted trophies. It was a finish that highlighted not just competitive spirit, but mutual respect and savvy negotiation on the felt.
Final table results
| Rank | Player | Prize |
| 1 | Alison Pendergast | $12,625 |
| 2 | Fatima Nanji | $13,004 |
| 3 | Nali Phommavong | $6,260 |
| 4 | Marion Auneau | $3,805 |
| 5 | Svetlana Gromenkova | $2,940 |
| 6 | Rhonda Kincaid | $2,435 |
| 7 | Sang Sang He | $2,075 |
| 8 | Donnie Craft | $1,810 |
| 9 | Roxanne Sanchez | $1,555 |
Alison Pendergast
WPA Player of the Day: Nancy Birnbaum
Our Player of the Day section is brought to you by Maria Ho, Advocate for Women in Poker, Professional Poker Player, Commentator, and Women in Poker Hall of Fame Inductee.
When asked why it was important for Maria to support Women’s Poker Week, Maria had this to say, “I am proud to support the WPA and all organizations that help bring more women into poker. It’s a goal that the community as a whole should strive for. It’s paramount to create a comfortable environment for all players to enjoy and thrive in this game we love so much.”
Be sure to check out Maria’s recent TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/H-0agRnaClE
With the nickname “Trouble,” Nancy Birnbaum is a force to be reckoned with on the felt. Known for her aggressive style and unshakable table presence, Nancy embodies toughness, and her poker resume backs it up, with over $1 million in recorded tournament earnings.
Her most significant career cash came at the $500 + $50 No-Limit Hold’em WSOP Circuit Event in New Orleans, where she captured her first WSOP Circuit ring. Since then, she’s added two more to her collection. Florida has proven to be her most successful battleground, likely due in part to the support and inspiration she draws from friends and family back home.
This summer, Nancy has been making waves in Las Vegas, including a deep run in the WSOP Ladies Event where she finished 60th out of a massive field of 1,368 players.
Her poker journey began in the early 2000s in Florida. Already a skilled blackjack player, Nancy watched Chris Moneymaker’s historic WSOP win and felt a spark of curiosity. She began making the hour-long drive to the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa to learn the game firsthand. Her first tournament ticket at the venue didn’t go her way: “I got crushed,” she laughed, but her natural competitive drive kicked in, and she dove headfirst into mastering the game.
Off the felt, Nancy is deeply grounded. Her friends and family adore her, and she strikes a healthy balance between her poker life and real life. Her fiancée, Heather, fondly recalls an unforgettable 2024 cruise through Italy. Heather even mapped out all the nearby poker rooms just in case, but Nancy made it clear: this trip was about relaxing, not raising. Instead, they enjoyed delicious meals, took in the sights, and even rented a Vespa for the day.
Nancy Birnbaum stands as a role model for women in the game. Her fearless style, sharpened skill set, and steady personal foundation make her not only one to watch this year, but a continuing force in the future of poker.
2025 Ladies Poker Week: What’s Next?
Monday, June 30:
- Resorts World Annual Brunch at Wally’s World at 11:00 a.m.
- Resorts World, $360 PLON $40,000 GTD Ladies-only Crystal Cup Championship at 1:05 p.m.
