It is a Saturday night in Las Vegas and the air in the Horseshoe feels heavy. Somewhere near the feature table, Kristen Foxen is staring down an opponent with a level of intensity that makes the casual railbird uncomfortable. People often search for the hottest female poker players expecting a list of models who happen to hold cards, but if you ask anyone actually sitting at the table, "hot" means something entirely different. It means you’re on a heater. It means your 3-bet percentage is terrifying.
Poker isn't a pageant. It’s a psychological war of attrition where the "hottest" players are the ones currently dismantling high-stakes fields.
Honestly, the landscape has changed so much in the last few years. We’re well past the era where women were just "marketing faces" for poker sites. Today, players like Foxen, Maria Ho, and Vivian Saliba are literally redefining the game's elite tier. They aren't just winning "Ladies Events"; they are crushing the PokerGO Tour and outlasting thousands in the Main Event.
Why Kristen Foxen is the Hottest Name in Poker Right Now
If we’re talking about who is actually "hot" in terms of performance, Kristen Foxen is the undisputed queen. Some people still call her by her maiden name, Bicknell, but whatever you call her, she’s a nightmare to play against.
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She recently made history as the first woman to win five WSOP bracelets. Think about that. Most professional players spend their entire lives chasing one. She has five. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, she was essentially a permanent fixture at the PokerGO Tour final tables. In early 2026, she’s still at it, proving that her 13th-place finish in the 2024 WSOP Main Event wasn't a fluke.
What makes Foxen different?
It's her range. Most players have a "lane." She doesn't. She’ll play a $100k Triton High Roller with the same cold-blooded precision she uses in a $1k online 6-max. She’s currently sitting at the top of the GPI Female Rankings for a reason. You don't get there by being a "face." You get there by being a shark.
Maria Ho: The Icon Who Never Slows Down
Then there’s Maria Ho. You’ve probably seen her on Poker After Dark or heard her commentary on major broadcasts. It’s easy to forget she has over $5 million in live earnings because she makes the media side look so effortless.
But don't let the charisma fool you.
Maria is one of the most consistent grinders in history. She has this uncanny ability to navigate massive fields. She’s been the "Last Woman Standing" in the WSOP Main Event twice—a feat almost nobody else has accomplished.
The Real Skill Gap
People often underestimate the mental stamina required for these runs.
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- The Main Event is a two-week marathon.
- Most players crumble by Day 4.
- Maria has done it for nearly two decades.
Her influence goes beyond the chips, too. She’s a Hall of Famer who actively fights for better ethics and diversity in the game. When Maria speaks, the industry listens. That’s a different kind of "hot"—that’s power.
The Global Surge: Saliba, Margets, and the New Guard
The search for the hottest female poker players usually leads to Vivian Saliba, and for good reason. The Brazilian pro is a Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) specialist. If you know anything about PLO, you know it’s a high-variance, four-card headache. It’s significantly more technical than No-Limit Hold'em.
Saliba took down a WSOP Europe bracelet in 2024 in a €2,000 PLO event. She isn't just an ambassador for 888poker; she’s a legitimate technical expert who specializes in the game’s most complex variant.
Who Else is Lighting Up the Circuit?
- Leo Margets: The Spanish pro has been a force for years. She’s got a Master’s in Communications and a WSOP bracelet on her shelf. She recently ranked in the top 3 of the 2025 Women’s Money List.
- Cherish Andrews: Honestly, Cherish might be the most underrated player on this list. In 2024, she was arguably the best female tournament player on the planet, racking up points and cashes with a terrifyingly aggressive style.
- Maria Konnikova: The psychologist-turned-pro. Her book The Biggest Bluff is legendary, but her actual play is what's impressive lately. She bagged a WSOP bracelet in 2024, proving that her "poker experiment" has turned into a career of elite dominance.
The Financial Reality of the "Hot" List
Let's talk numbers because that's the only leaderboard that matters in Vegas. Vanessa Selbst still holds the all-time record for female earnings with over $11.9 million, but since she’s moved into law and hedge funds, the active "hot" list is catching up.
- Kristen Foxen: Over $9 million and climbing.
- Kathy Liebert: A legend who is still cashing in 2026. She’s approaching $7 million.
- Liv Boeree: Though she spends more time on science and "Effective Altruism" these days, she still has over $6.6 million in lifetime earnings.
It's funny. People think the "hottest" players are the ones on Instagram. In reality, the hottest players are the ones you never want to see at your table during a bubble.
Actionable Insights for Rising Players
If you're looking at these women and wondering how to replicate that "heater," it isn't about luck. It's about the work.
Study the variants. Don't just play Hold'em. Look at Vivian Saliba's success in PLO. When the Hold'em fields get too "solved," the money moves to the 4-card and 5-card games.
Manage your bankroll like a business. Every player on this list, from Maria Ho to Sofia Lövgren, treats poker as a profession. They aren't "gambling" in the traditional sense; they are managing risk.
Focus on mental game. Maria Konnikova didn't win because she had the best cards; she won because she understood human psychology better than the people across from her.
The "hottest" players in 2026 are those who adapt. The game is getting harder. Solvers are making everyone play better. To stay at the top, like these women have, you have to be willing to reinvent your strategy every single season.
Next Steps for Your Game:
Analyze your own "hot" streaks by tracking your Expected Value (EV) rather than just your cashes. Start by using a tracking app to log at least 50 sessions. This will reveal if you're actually playing like an elite pro or just riding a temporary wave of luck.