Women’s Poker Week 2026 rolled on in Las Vegas, with the latest event taking place on Sunday, June 21, over the poker room at the Golden Nugget. A total of 132 hopefuls turned out for their shot at a coveted Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) trophy, the fabulous Women’s Poker Association (WPA) trophy, the beautiful Golden Nugget trophy, and the $8,064 first-place prize. The total prize pool was a bountiful $32,472. The pay bubble was reached at 19 players.
The atmosphere was electric from the start. LIPS once again delivered a fun and welcoming environment, while Cardplayer Lifestyle, in partnership with the WPA, was on hand to provide coverage throughout the event.
The mood around the room was upbeat and festive, with players laughing, catching up with friends, and enjoying the occasional “green tea” shot between hands.
The field featured several familiar faces from the women’s poker community, including Jamie Kerstetter, Ruth Hall, Maureen Bloechlinger, Kristen Deardorff, Poker Hall of Famer Barbara Enright, Marsha Wolak-Barnett, and WPA board member Bridgette Adkins.
With a strong turnout for the $300 buy-in event and plenty of talent in the field, the stage was set for another memorable day of women’s poker.
A three-way chop was agreed to by the final three players, and fittingly, there were three trophies waiting to be awarded. With the chip counts incredibly close, Tina Stafford holding the shortest stack, while Ruth Hall and Jessica Plusko were tied for the lead, the trio decided to make a deal.
From left to right: Ruth Hall, Tina Stafford, and Jessica Pusko
In a generous gesture, Ruth agreed to award Jessica the official first-place finish. While Ruth already has several victories to her name and many trophies, Jessica has yet to capture a first-place finish in a major field event. The moment was especially meaningful, as Jessica will now take the LIPS trophy home to the San Francisco Bay area.
Jessica, who has played poker for many years and enjoyed success along the way, described the victory as particularly memorable. Reflecting on the tournament, she said, “It is awesome that there are women’s events in general,” adding that, “You have to play a different strategy than regular tournaments.” That strategy clearly paid off. Jessica credits much of her success to staying quiet at the table and carefully reading her opponents’ character and tendencies. She also wears a gratitude bracelet while playing, explaining, “It is a blessing to get to play in these events.”
Tina claimed the WPA trophy. Known for her fearless style and perfectly timed aggression, Tina has earned a reputation as a player who never hesitates to apply pressure when the moment is right. According to WomenPokerNews.com, her approach to the game was heavily influenced by conversations with the late Doyle Brunson, whose advice continues to guide her play: “When you’re in a hand, it’s gonna be you or me, and it sure the hell ain’t gonna be me.”
Ruth “Ruthless” Hall took home the Golden Nugget trophy. With more than $500,000 in live tournament earnings, Ruth is not someone opponents look forward to facing across the felt. A respected poker coach and accomplished competitor, she is also one of the original founding members of the Women’s Poker Association and remains a passionate advocate for growing opportunities for women in the game.
Just missing out on the chop was fourth-place finisher Michelle Woodward, who kept both the rail and the table entertained throughout the day. Every time she won a pot, she celebrated with her signature “ride-the-pony” dance.
Finishing in fifth place was the ever-cheerful Maureen Bloechlinger of Switzerland. A passionate advocate for women in poker, Maureen is currently on a quest to collect poker flags from around the world and will host a ladies’ poker event in Nairobi, Kenya, later this year.
Sixth place went to Marsha Wolak-Barnett. With more than $1 million in live tournament earnings, Marsha was one of the most accomplished players in the field. She captured a gold bracelet in the 2011 Women’s Event at the World Series of Poker and now coaches aspiring players through Epic Poker Coaching. A former international tennis player, she remains a fierce competitor at the tables.
In seventh place was Nathathai Pearson, who plans to play every tournament on the 2026 Women’s Poker Week schedule, showing no signs of slowing down after another deep run.
Eighth place belonged to Laura Westfall of Oregon. According to The Hendon Mob, she has accumulated more than $100,000 in live tournament earnings and is certainly no stranger to making final tables.
Rounding out the final table in ninth place was Samantha Gonzalez of Texas, who battled through a tough field to earn a seat among the tournament’s final nine players.
The event showcased exactly what the Ladies International Poker Series and the Women’s Poker Association strive to promote: competitive poker, camaraderie, and a welcoming environment where women can thrive. From first-time champions to seasoned veterans, the final table was filled with talent, personality, and stories that made for a memorable day at the Golden Nugget.
| Final Table Results | The Golden Nugget | ||
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Jessica Plusko | San Francisco area, USA | $5,939 |
| 2 | Ruth Hall | Texas, USA | $5,939 |
| 3 | Tina Stafford | Pennsylvania, USA | $5,668 |
| 4 | Michelle Woodward | Las Vegas, | $2,844 |
| 5 | Maureen Bloechlinger | Switzerland | $2,115 |
| 6 | Marsha Wolak-Barnett | Forida, USA | $1,615 |
| 7 | Nathathai Pearson | Arizona, USA | $1,268 |
| 8 | Laura Westfall | Oregon, USA | $1,024 |
| 9 | Samantha Gonzalez | Texas, USA | $852 |
The Golden Nugget was thrilled to host this event for Women’s Week and Golden Nugget Las Vegas Director of Poker Operations Joel Garcia had this to say:
“The Ladies Event has been a staple for us during the Grand Poker Series for years, and what’s special about this year is we collaborated with LIPS to bring more awareness both to the game and to Ladies in Poker. Lupe Soto and Christina Black have been awesome to work with, and we’re excited to see what’s to come in 2027. Whether it’s a poker room or a poker tournament, the game can be very intimidating to new players, and it’s important for all of us as operators to create a fun and safe space for women who are new coming in. We’re incredibly proud to be part of something that lifts women up both on and off the felt.”
Player of the Day: Christina Lofquist
Although Christina Lofquist wasn’t in the field today, she was gracious enough to sit down with us for an interview. A longtime supporter of the Women’s Poker Association, Christina is passionate about growing the game and creating opportunities for women in poker. She is also a proud ambassador for RunGood Poker Series, a role she absolutely loves. Whether she’s promoting events or helping create a fun and welcoming atmosphere at the tables, Christina’s bubbly personality makes her a natural fit.
Christina’s love of cards began long before she ever sat down at a poker table. Family gatherings were often centred around card games, including one of her favourites, Pass the Trash. Those early experiences helped sharpen both her card-playing instincts and her ability to read people, skills that would later serve her well in poker.
Her introduction to the game came while working as a bartender. The establishment hosted “Poker Pub,” a free-to-play poker league, and Christina decided to give it a try. What started as curiosity quickly became a passion. She recalls playing poker in college, when her maximum buy-in was just $120 because that was all she could afford.
As the years went by, Christina reached a turning point. “I was sick of being a break-even player,” she said.
Determined to improve, she began studying the game seriously, joining PokerCoaching.com and spending hours watching videos from poker pro Tristan Wade. The work paid off. Her results improved, and she captured a ladies’ ring at an event in Tunica. “Maybe there is more to this than luck,” she remembers thinking.
READ MORE: The 5 Best Pokercoaching.com Videos from Tristan Wade
That realization fueled an even greater commitment to learning. She later won a second ring in Hammond and has continued to study and improve ever since. While she considers herself more of a cash-game player than a tournament specialist, she still enjoys fitting tournaments into her busy schedule.
When asked about poker superstitions, Christina shared a story that perfectly captured her sense of humour.
“Well, I went to the bank machine to get some cash to play, and it gave me all fifties.” Naturally, she turned to Instagram and created a poll asking, “Am I cursed or am I totally okay?” Laughing, she admitted that in her mind she was thinking, “I might as well light this on fire,” referencing the poker superstition that $50 bills bring bad luck.
Christina believes her greatest strengths at the table are patience and social awareness. “It’s not just a hoodie and sunglasses. It’s the table dynamics, and it’s the social aspect,” she explained. “I like to learn about people.”
That perspective may be influenced by her career away from the poker table. Christina works as an oncology nurse, a profession that keeps life’s ups and downs in perspective. “It helps me to be realistic at the table, and it shows me that there are worse things in life than getting sucked out on,” she said. “Work is stressful, so it is important to me that poker is fun.”
A few fun facts about Christina reveal even more of her personality. She won her school’s spelling bee in seventh grade and still looks back on the accomplishment with pride. While she never considered herself particularly athletic, she was surprisingly skilled at shooting free throws on the basketball court. And if you happen to find yourself sharing a meal with her, don’t be surprised if she orders a plate of raw oysters, one of her favourite foods.
Whether she’s representing RunGood, supporting the Women’s Poker Association, caring for patients as an oncology nurse, or competing at the tables, Christina Lofquist brings positivity, perspective, and passion to everything she does.
2026 Women’s Poker Week: What’s Next?
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2026 Women’s Poker Week continues:
- Monday, June 22nd — $600 Ladies NLH at Wynn at 11:00 a.m. with a $50,000 guarantee
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