Three Women Poker Pros Reach Elite Status

Kristen Foxen, Vanessa Selbst, and Victoria Coren Mitchell have built legendary careers in the male-dominated world of professional poker.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 4:04am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a high-stakes poker game, with the players and table broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the mental focus and strategic depth of the sport's top competitors.The geometric abstraction of a high-stakes poker match captures the mental intensity and strategic complexity that defines the game's elite players.Las Vegas Today

Poker has long been dominated by men, but a handful of women have risen to the top echelons of the sport through a combination of mathematical acumen, emotional discipline, and an ability to read opponents. Kristen Foxen, Vanessa Selbst, and Victoria Coren Mitchell have each achieved remarkable success, with Foxen winning five GPI Women's Player of the Year titles, Selbst reaching the #1 ranking on the Global Poker Index, and Coren Mitchell becoming the first woman to win two European Poker Tour Main Events.

Why it matters

The accomplishments of these three women demonstrate that poker is a game of skill that can be mastered by players of any gender. Their success has helped to break down barriers and inspire more women to pursue careers in professional poker, which has traditionally been a male-dominated field.

The details

Foxen has accumulated over $13 million in live tournament earnings, placing her 118th on the all-time money list, and has won five WSOP bracelets. Selbst is the only woman to reach #1 on the Global Poker Index and has won three WSOP bracelets in open field events. Coren Mitchell is the first and only player, male or female, to win two EPT Main Events.

  • Foxen was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2024 alongside Jeanne David.
  • Selbst returned to the WSOP Main Event in 2025 after a multi-year hiatus.
  • Coren Mitchell was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2016.

The players

Kristen Foxen

A five-time GPI Women's Player of the Year and holder of five WSOP bracelets, Foxen is one of the most consistent and successful female poker players in the world.

Vanessa Selbst

The only woman to reach #1 on the Global Poker Index, Selbst has won three WSOP bracelets in open field events, cementing her status as one of the all-time greats of the game.

Victoria Coren Mitchell

The first and only player, male or female, to win two European Poker Tour Main Events, Coren Mitchell has also worked as a writer and television presenter.

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What they’re saying

“Winning one bracelet requires skill and timing. Winning five requires an approach to the game that holds up across different formats, opponents, and pressure situations.”

— Kristen Foxen

“Her absence did little to diminish her reputation. The results she posted during her peak remain among the best ever recorded by any player.”

— Vanessa Selbst

“Winning one EPT Main Event is a career-defining result. Winning two has never been done by anyone else.”

— Victoria Coren Mitchell

The takeaway

The success of Kristen Foxen, Vanessa Selbst, and Victoria Coren Mitchell in the male-dominated world of professional poker demonstrates that the game is one of skill, not gender. Their accomplishments have paved the way for more women to pursue careers in the sport and have set a new standard of excellence that future players will strive to match.