Since 2008, the Women in Poker Hall of Fame has dedicated itself to “celebrating the exceptional achievements and contributions of women in the poker world” by giving them a hall of honor. It’s that time of the year again, as nominations are now open for the class of 2024.
To nominate a woman for the hall, visit the Women in Poker Hall of Fame’s page by clicking here.
Be aware the Women in Poker Hall of Fame has set criteria for nominees. They are:
- A candidate must have been active as a player or industry leader for a minimum of 10 years prior to election and 35 yrs of age or older.
- Player/industry leader must have contributed to the world of poker in some significant way. This person can qualify by either winning major poker tournaments, or by making significant contributions to the industry of poker.
- Player/industry leader must be a proponent of women in poker. All nominees must be approved by a committee of the Board of Directors and Inductees.
- Nominees must agree to terms and conditions of the Women in Poker Hall of Fame.
After nominations are compiled and screened by the Women in Poker Hall of Fame Nominations Committee and current members of the Hall of Fame, qualified candidates will be placed on the ballot.
Current Hall of Fame members and selected poker media members will then distribute 10 votes to the women — or a singular woman — they think deserves induction starting on Oct 14. The points will then be added up, and the next class will be announced mid-November.
The inductees will be celebrated at the Women in Poker Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon in December (location and time to be announced soon). Last year’s ceremony took place in PokerGO studios at the ARIA.
The inductees will join the 25 current members. Last year, the committee selected four new members, which was the most since the inaugural class.
| Year | Inductees |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Barbara Enright, Susie Isaacs, Linda Johnson, Marsha Waggoner |
| 2009 | June Field, Jan Fisher, Cyndy Violette |
| 2010 | Billie Brown, Jen Harman, Kathy Liebert |
| 2011 | Phyliss Caro Yazbek, Kristy Gazes, Margie Heintz |
| 2012 | JJ Liu, Kathy Raymond |
| 2014 | Deb Giardina, Allyn Shulman |
| 2016 | Debbie Burkhead, Victoria Coren Mitchell |
| 2018 | Maria Ho, Lupe Soto |
| 2022 | Angelica Hael, Terry King, Vanessa Selbst, Jennifer Tilly |
Three Frontrunners
It’s good that the Women in Poker Hall of Fame does not follow the Poker Hall of Fame, which only inducts one member per year, because there are plenty of worthy nominees.
Kristen Foxen should be a shoe-in this year. She came a cat’s whisker from making the World Series of Poker Main Event’s final table this year, and has been a serious and successful poker player since 2011, when she first made PokerStars’ Supernova Elite status for the first of three consecutive years. This level requires playing at least 2.5 million hands a year.
Her first of four WSOP bracelet’s came in 2013. She has nearly $9 million in tournament winnings, according to the Hendon Mob. Only last year’s inductee Vanessa Selbst has more winnings on the women’s all-time list.
As if that isn’t enough, Foxen earned enough points on the tournament trail to win the Global Poker Index Female Player of the Year back-to-back-to-back, starting in 2017.
Loni Harwood Hui may not be a household poker name, but she’s won enough playing tournament poker to sit at number seven on that list with nearly $4 million in cashes. She’s been logging results since 2012. In 2015, she won the WSOP National Championship, a $10,000 buy-in event that took place at Harrah’s Cherokee. It was her second bracelet, which joins her five WSOP Circuit rings. At 35, it’s her first year of eligibility.
Liv Boeree has been cashing in WSOP events since 2012, and the 40-year-old astrophysicist from East Molesy, U.K., will soon pass the $4 million in tournament winnings mark. She is the only female player with a WSOP bracelet and a EPT title, which she won in 2010 by taking down the €5,300 Main Event in San Remo for €1,250,000.
Nominations will remain open until Sept. 23.
