The Women in Poker Hall of Fame (WiPHoF) has released its final list of nominees for 2024. The list of eight finalists was released early Monday, and many of the finalists were to be expected.
Kristen Bicknell Foxen highlights a list that includes WSOP and WPT Champion Liv Boeree, and the first woman to win a WSOP Main Event in Annette Obrestad. While the women on the list of finalists are all deserving, there was at least one notable snub.
Key Highlights
- Kristen Foxen highlights the list of eight finalists for the Women in Poker Hall of Fame.
- Finalists include Kara Scott, Liv Boeree, Jamie Kerstetter, and Jennifer Shahade.
- The public can vote for who they think should make the Hall until October 30, 2024.
Kristen Foxen Highlights Star-Studded 2024 WiPHoF Finalists
On Monday, the finalists for the 2024 Class of the Women in Poker Hall of Fame were announced. Eight deserving women made the list of nominees, highlighted by one woman who should be a lock for induction.
Here’s a breakdown of the list of finalists, starting with the most recognized names on the list.
Kristen Bicknell Foxen – Let’s get this one out the way early. Foxen is a slam dunk for induction this year. The four-time WSOP bracelet winner is already considered by some to be the GOAT of women’s poker and is on pace to shatter all women’s poker records.
Liv Boeree – While Boeree is largely retired from professional poker, she still has numerous achievements at the tables. She has over $3.8 million in live tournament earnings, as well as a WSOP bracelet and a WPT title. To date, she is the only woman to win both.
Jamie Kerstetter – Best known for her work in poker media, Kerstetter is a two-time Global Poker Awards winner for Best Twitter Personality. She has been featured on numerous poker programs, including WSOP Main Event broadcasts. A great player in her own right, she finished runner-up in the Ladies Championship at the 2024 World Series of Poker.
Kara Scott – Scott set the standard for poker broadcasting with her work on “Poker Night Live,” the World Series of Poker broadcasts, and numerous other poker programs over the years. She is one of the most respected poker broadcasters in the world, regardless of gender. Additionally, she has over $664k in live tournament earnings, including a runner-up finish in the 2009 Irish Open Main Event.
Willets and David Highlight Top Contributors
The WiPHoF is famous for recognizing great female players and industry leaders who have helped to grow women’s poker. The remainder of the list highlights top women in the industry and a former player who set a pair of records that have yet to be broken.
Rebecca McAdam Willetts – While many may not recognize Willets by name, she has been a champion for women in poker for nearly two decades. She previously worked for PokerStars, where she was responsible for partnerships, PR, and consumer engagement. Throughout the years, she has been a champion for women in poker and is a four-time Inspiration of the Year finalist at the annual Women in Gaming Awards.
If you play regulated poker in the United States, Jeanne David is at least partially responsible.
Jeanne David – If you play regulated poker in the United States, Jeanne David is at least partially responsible. Active as a lobbyist in Nevada, she has also advocated for poker regulation throughout the United States and Europe. While she has over $250,000 in live tournament earnings, her greatest achievements come from helping others enjoy legal online poker.
Jennifer Shahade – Shahade transitioned from chess to poker in 2014 by becoming a PokerStars MindSports Ambassador. Since then, Shahade has served as an ambassador for the game, a poker coach, and an advocate for women in poker.
Annette Obrestad – Obrestad is best known for becoming both the first woman to win a WSOP Main Event and the youngest person to win a WSOP Main Event. She won the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe Main Event in 2007 the day before her 19th birthday. After her win in 2007, she continued to be a presence at the poker tables, earning $3.94 million in tournament earnings. She has largely walked away from professional poker, but her accomplishments are still legendary.
One Major Snub on List of Finalists
Shirley Rosario was one person I expected to see on the list of finalists who did not make it. For years, I have advocated for Shirley to be inducted into the WiPHoF, and I was hoping that this would be her year.
Rosario is a staple of mixed games in the Los Angeles area and a three-time WSOP Circuit ring winner. She is also one of the earliest advocates for Women in Poker with her now defunct site Poker-Babes.com.
While I’m disappointed and could make an argument for her inclusion, the reality is that this year’s list of nominees is loaded.
I also have it on good authority that Rosario wasn’t entirely overlooked, with at least one WiPHoF member advocating for her. In the end, it seems that the field was just a little too stacked.
Vote Now to Choose the 2024 Inductees
If you’d like to vote for whom you’d like to see inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, now’s your chance. The public will count as one voting member on the panel selecting this year’s inductees.
Head over to WiPHoF.com and vote for whom you think should be inducted. Voting will be held until October 30, 2024, and the inductees will be announced soon after.
The 2024 WiPHoF Celebration Induction Ceremony & Luncheon will be held December 11, 2024, at 11:00am in Las Vegas. The location will be announced at a later date.
