FORT WORTH, Texas – The stage has been set, and now the cast is final as the 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship wrapped up their Last Chance Qualifier on May 17 at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Five barrel racers snagged a position in the 2023 event after taking the top spots during the qualifier (three challengers, two pros). The last two spots in the field of 195 for this week’s World Championship were reserved for the Last Chance Qualifier winners. Most notably, 2022 Rodeo Corpus Christi Barrel Racing Champion Halyn Lide took one of the two pro qualifications. Three Challenger Barrel Racers will also now make their WRWC debut after locking in the fastest times in their rounds.
One pair of team ropers will duke it out for their share of the $750,000 payout. Glover Coats (Bronte, Texas) and Kyane Hampton (Midland, Texas) are the lone team ropers to earn a spot. The challenger duo will join the 49-team roping pairs already entered the event. Coats and Glover finished in the No. 1 position after an impressive 23.18-second average time.
Shrya Cline (Springtown, Texas) and Kelsie Reininger (Sequin, Texas) finished in the top two spots in the Breakaway Roping Challenger Division, while Liz Hirdes (Turlock, California) and Kelsie Domer (Dublin, Texas) advanced to the World Championship in the pro division. This will be Chase’s fourth appearance at the WRWC.
A complete list of athletes who earned a position at the Last Chance Qualifier are:
| PRO BARREL RACING | |
| Name | Hometown |
| Halyn Lide | China Spring, TX |
| Tyra Kane | Weatherford, TX |
| CHALLENGER BARREL RACING | |
| Name | Hometown |
| Dee Dee Jordan | Graford, TX |
| Fallon Forbes | O’Connell, TX |
| Heather Jacobson | Douglas, WY |
| PRO BREAKAWAY ROPING | |
| Name | Hometown |
| Liz Hirdes | Turlock, CA |
| Kelsie Domer | Dublin, TX |
| CHALLENGER BREAKAWAY ROPING | |
| Name | Hometown |
| Shyra Cline | Springtown, TX |
| Kelsie Reininger | Seguin, TX |
| CHALLENGER TEAM ROPING | |
| Name | Hometown |
| Glover Coats/Kyane Hampton | Bronte, TX/ Midland, TX |
The WRWC is the largest event purse in the history of women’s rodeo. It will pay out $750,000 in 2023 while crowning World Champions in both the Pro and Challenger classifications in the following disciplines: Team Roping (Heading and Heeling), Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing.
To view the complete roster and results, please click here. The full schedule and advancement chart can be found here.
Each WRWC Event Champion will take home a minimum of $60,000, while the All-Around Champion will collect a $20,000 cash bonus. The WRWC is a culmination of a year-long race of women’s rodeo events worldwide. On May 17, WRWC will host a Last Chance Qualifier where an additional 9-39 athletes will to the roster. The additions will be based on discipline and entries.
All qualifying rounds of competition will be held May 18-19. The top 12 in each roping event will advance to the May 18 Showdown Round. The top three from the Showdown Round will progress to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round to duke it out for the $60,000 prize. Barrel racers will be exempt from the showdown round, with 12 athletes advancing directly to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round. Detailed advancement can be found here.
A complete tentative competition schedule of events is listed below:
| May 18 | Event |
| Noon CT | WRWC Round 1 (all except LB #1-10) |
| 7:30 P.M. CT | WRWC Perf 1 (Top 10 from LB) |
| May 19 | Event |
| 10:00 A.M. CT | WRWC Round 2 |
| 7:30 P.M. CT | WRWC Semi Finals |
| May 20 | Event |
| 1:00 P.M. CT | WRWC Showdown Round & Triple Crown of Rodeo Round |
The event will be broadcast daily on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV and Cowgirl Channel. The 2023 WRWC will also be featured on Cowboy Channel the week of May 22 at 8 p.m. ET each night.
Tickets are on sale now and start at $20. They can be purchased at the Cowtown Coliseum Box Office or cowtowncoliseum.com.
The 2023 event is part of the inaugural Women’s Rodeo World Championship Week, the richest women’s-only week of competition in Western sports, held during the 2023 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Finals: Unleash The Beast. The week-long schedule of events is slated to pay out $1.145 million in prize money, affording more than 800 women’s competitors the chance to compete for life-changing payouts. The Women’s Rodeo World Championship Week will feature three marquee events, including the 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship, an NBHA (National Barrel Horse) one-day event, and The Cowgirl Gathering.
Since launching in May 2020, the WRWC has awarded more than $2.25 million in new money to women’s rodeo athletes. For more information about the WRWC, visit wrwc.rodeo.
-WRWC-
ABOUT WRWC
The Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) is the largest annual purse for a women’s rodeo event and will payout more than $750,000 in 2023 while crowning World Champions in the Women’s Rodeo disciplines; Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, and Barrel Racing. An all-around champion will also be crowned. WRWC is a culmination of a year-long race of women’s rodeo events worldwide. Athletes qualify for the WRWC by earning points and leaderboard positions using the VRQ (Virtual Rodeo Qualifier). The 2023 championship event will occur at the historic Cowtown Coliseum May 18-20.
