A Golden Finale to Women’s Poker Week
Regrettably, all good things must come to an end, and so concludes Women’s Poker Week 2025. But what a week it was, capped off by a thrilling final event held at the sleek and modern Resorts World Las Vegas on Monday, June 30! Cardplayer Lifestyle was on-site to capture every exciting moment.
This year’s Women’s Poker Week was nothing short of a smashing success, boasting everything from high-stakes buy-in events to mixed games and impressive prize pools. Events spanned across the city at iconic venues including South Point, Westgate, The Venetian, MGM Grand, The Orleans, Aria, Wynn, Golden Nugget, and Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas. One of the standout events was the inaugural high roller at The Venetian, which drew 117 players, a strong field that reflects the rising enthusiasm for women’s poker. Among them was Jin O’Grady, who won her seat at Jamie Kerstetter’s Meet-up Game earlier that morning and powered through to a four-way chop at the final table.
Women put in long, grueling hours, driven by the dream of taking home championship trophies, Player of the Year points, and life-changing payouts. Many of the stunning trophies were provided by the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS), led by the ever-charismatic Lupe Soto, and the Women’s Poker Association (WPA), championed by leaders AJ Rudolph (President) and Tara Smith (just-retired President).
AJ Rudolph, Lupe Soto, and Tara Smith
Players came from around the globe to take part in the action. Among them, the energetic “Queens Squad” from France, led by Cecile Ticherfatine, made their presence felt with deep runs and enthusiastic rail support. Stories of resilience, triumph, and community echoed through every event.
A headline moment came when Shiina Okamoto of Japan captured her second consecutive WSOP Ladies Event bracelet, along with $184,094 in prize money, a dominant performance that cemented her status as a powerhouse (here’s last year’s recap). Also making the final table, eventually finishing runner-up, was Heather Alcorn, the 2019 WSOP Dealer of the Year, proving her skills at the felt extend far beyond dealing.
PLON Ladies Event at Resorts World
At Resorts World, the Poker League of Nations (PLON) Crystal Cup Championship brought together 148 competitors, all vying for the title, a share of the $45,288 prize pool, and a coveted trophy. PLON, founded by Lena Evans, is the world’s largest women’s poker community, offering free content, global support, and regular tournaments, with over 50 ambassadors worldwide. Final table participants were also treated to well-stocked swag bags, a signature PLON touch.
Leon Wheeler, Director of Poker at Resorts World, shared his heartfelt support: “At Resorts World, we’re always proud to support women’s events. The more women we see in the game, the better it is for poker as a whole. Personally, it’s close to my heart. My wife, who’s an incredible player herself, and I actually met at the poker table. So supporting Women’s Poker Week means a lot to me on multiple levels.”
A feel-good theme of the day was “Keep it Golden”, a reminder to stay positive and gracious both on and off the felt. That energy was epitomized by Ayaka Muraishi of Japan, who hit a straight flush near the bubble and beamed with joy.
Straight flush 2025 Resorts World PLON WPA
Also in the field was Salima Dhanani, who kicked off Women’s Poker Week with a win in the warm-up event at Horseshoe & Paris and returned to finish the week strong.
With 15 players paid, the winner walked away with $12,678, while the minimum cash was $1,010. As the money bubble neared, the table tightened considerably. But once it burst, the Director observed with a chuckle, “Well, that was the easiest bubble ever.”
The final 17 players featured a who’s who of women’s poker, included Ruth ‘Ruthless’ Hall, who notched eight cashes over the week and is on track to reclaim Player of the Year, Lena Evans, PLON founder and community powerhouse, Svetlana Gromenkova, fresh off a 5th-place finish at the LIPS National Championship, Sumire Uenomachi, who finished 7th in this year’s WSOP Ladies Event, and Barbara Enright, a Poker Hall of Famer and three-time WSOP bracelet winner, just to name a few.
The winner was Gunisha Sinha, who agreed to an even-money chop with Lynn Samples, leaving Gunisha with the trophy and the first-place title.
| Rank | Player | Prize |
| 1 | Gunisha Sinha | $10,260 |
| 2 | Lynn Samples | $10,260 |
| 3 | Lena Evans | $5,213 |
| 4 | Svetlana Gromenkova | $3,628 |
| 5 | Melanie Pittard | $2,722 |
| 6 | Hassiba Haimiche | $2,178 |
| 7 | Ayaka Muraishi | $1,791 |
| 8 | Ruth Hall | $1,504 |
| 9 | Kelly Slay | $1,291 |
| 10 | Tiffany Wong | $1,137 |
Gunisha Sinhas Winner PLON 2025 WPA
From start to finish, this year’s Women’s Poker Week was a celebration of skill, spirit, and sisterhood. We saw bold bluffs, emotional wins, international camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. The game of poker is better because of these women, and we can’t wait to see what next year brings.
WPA Player of the Day: Barbara Enright
Our final WPA Player of the Day is brought to you courtesy of Tom Wheaton, Founder & CEO, Faded Spade Playing Cards & Above the Felt, and Jamie Kerstetter, Advocate for Women in Poker, Commentator, Professional Poker Player, Venetian Poker’s Women’s Poker Ambassador.
“Poker isn’t just about cards, it’s about community. We support the WPA because they’re helping build a more balanced and inclusive future for the game, one where women feel welcome, empowered, and respected at every table, whether playing in the poker room or leading in the boardroom. That mission aligns with everything we stand for at Faded Spade,” said Tom, when asked about Women’s Poker Week.
Jamie added that supporting Women’s Poker Week was essential when she stated, “The WPA does great work creating opportunities, building community, and mentoring new women in poker. I’m proud to stand behind WPA and push for more women to get in the game.”
Player of the Day: Barbara Enright, A True Trailblazer
Our WPA Player of the Day is none other than the legendary Barbara Enright, a true icon in the world of poker, infamous in the best way. A proud owner of three WSOP bracelets, Barbara has been an unwavering inspiration for women in the game, especially at a time when female players were a rarity at the tables. She also proudly serves as a PLON ambassador, continuing to support and elevate women in the game.
Barbara’s first WSOP bracelet came nearly 40 years ago, in 1986, when she won the $500 Ladies Limit Seven Card Stud event for $16,400, a moment she still considers her proudest achievement. Remarkably, she hadn’t even come to Las Vegas to play poker. She happened to win $77 after betting $11 on a horse named Now Victory at the Union Plaza. A chance encounter with a friend led her to a satellite tournament for the bracelet event, which she entered with her newfound winnings and won. Barbara fondly recalls the golden era of poker: low rake, elegant buffets, and jackets awarded to all final table players. When she won her first bracelet, she was so overcome with emotion that she cried. Back then, that prize money was truly life-changing.
Eight years later, Barbara returned to win the same event for her second bracelet and $38,400. Her third bracelet, and her largest cash prize of $180,000, came in a Pot-Limit Hold’em event, making her the first woman to win a bracelet in an open (non-gender-restricted) event.
In 2007, Barbara made history as the first woman ever inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. The following year, she was honored again with induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, cementing her status as one of the most respected figures in the game.
When asked how her poker journey began, Barbara credited her mother, who was an avid player and would come home with fascinating stories from the tables. That early inspiration stuck. Over the years, Barbara has evolved her playing style, saying she now plays “not as wild” as she once did. As for studying the game? She’s read exactly one poker book: Play Poker, Quit Your Job and Sleep Till Noon by John Fox. The philosophy of independence and freedom resonated with her, and she committed fully to a poker career that has since earned her nearly $2 million in tournament winnings, allowing her to travel the world, often with expenses covered by poker magazines for event coverage.
When asked for a fun fact about herself, Barbara laughed, “I’m not as mean as I look.” As for how she maintains stamina in long tournaments, she said, “I used to play cash games for 40 hours straight. If I’m in the zone, I’d rather play through.” By comparison, today’s 12-hour tournament days are a breeze.
Her third bracelet almost didn’t happen; exhausted and sleep-deprived, she hadn’t planned to play. But with a little encouragement and some financial backing from friends who covered half her buy-in, Barbara entered the event and dominated her way to victory.
She closed with a smile and a simple truth: “Poker has been good to me.”
Recapping 2025 Women’s Poker Week
As we conclude Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of the 2025 Women’s Poker Week, we share a message of gratitude and hope for the continued growth of women’s participation in the game. We thank our readers for their support, whether through reading, sharing, or engaging with our content, and emphasize the importance of media coverage in highlighting the achievements of women in poker.
That sentiment still holds today. As we look ahead to another exciting year, we remain committed to celebrating and amplifying the voices of women in poker and to helping grow the game we all love. On behalf of the WPAs’ President AJ Rudolph, the retiring President Tara Smith and LIPS Founder Lupe Sote, we would like to thank all of the wonderful women who participated this week, all of the venues who hosted Ladies events, and of course our fabulous sponsors; Faraz Jaka from Jaka Coaching, Maria Ho, Jamie Kerstetter, Adrian Naggy from LearnWPT, and Tom Wheaton from Faded Spade Playing Cards & Above the Felt.
