The Women’s Rodeo World Championship returned to Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas, from May 12–14 and May 17, 2025, respectively. The WRWC is set to award a record $802,000 in total payout, making it one of the richest women’s only rodeos in history. Follow along here for all the barrel racing updates from the WRWC.
How It Works
All year, women’s rodeo athletes have been working to earn a qualification to the WRWC through various avenues. The first being the nominations system similar to World Champions Rodeo Alliance events. Any athlete 13 years and older are eligible to nominate events at which they compete — whether rodeos, jackpots or open events — contestants earn points for the WRWC Leaderboard. The event must have a payout to be eligible for the Virtual Rodeo Qualifier platform. The results must be posted publicly or official results provided to the WRWC results team. All results sent in must be complete with full names, placement, times/scores, and payout for all paid rounds of competition. Points vary by division and are scaled for go rounds and final rounds or aggregates. In rodeo or jackpot events, top 10 money winners receive points per go-round. Non-placing athletes get consolation or nomination points if they have a qualified time or score.
WRWC Leaderboards
These points are then distributed into three leaderboards depending on your specific classification, which is based on earnings and points in the WRWC: Pro, Challenger or Limited.
- Limited classification targets athletes not yet Pros or Challengers, providing competition at WRWC events only. It includes breakaway roping and barrel racing (team roping is excluded from Limited). Limited athletes cannot compete on Pro or Challenger leaderboards. For barrel racers to be eligible for the Limited leaderboard an athlete can not have held a Pro card in over five years, can not have competed in any regional association finals event in the past five years, and must have $75,000 or less in EquiStat reported lifetime earnings.
- An athlete’s Challenger status is based on earnings at the segment start. Midway review (January 15, 2024) may promote you to the Pro leaderboard if earnings exceed requirements. Qualifier Series points will also move with you. Barrel racing uses EquiStat earnings as the ranking system to determine Challenger classifications. Athletes are eligible to participate as a Challenger if their annual earnings from 2018-2024 are no more than $20,000, or they have not earned more than $100,000 in lifetime earnings.
- An athlete’s Pro status is based on earnings at the segment start. Qualifier Series points will also move with you.
WRWC Qualifier Series
The second way to qualify is through the Qualifier Series. The Women’s Rodeo Championships and Major Event producers partnered to offer Qualifier Series events. By nominating the QS events through the Virtual Rodeo Qualifier, athletes earned a generic qualification to compete at WRWC. Positions are earned by being the highest placing WRC nominated athlete from their respected discipline and leaderboard. These QS winners will compete in the Qualifying Rounds of the WRWC regardless of leaderboard position.
How to Advance
The WRWC kicked off inside the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, with the Limited barrel racing on May 12. The first day of competition highlighted the first round of competition for the Pro and Challenger classifications, but the Limited barrel racing.
- The Limited barrel racing featured a one-round open 4D with the 1D winner earning a $1,000 world champion cash bonus and an advancement to the WRWC at AT&T Stadium on May 17.
- Those competing the Pro and Challenger classifications must compete through two long rounds of competition inside the Cowtown Coliseum held May 12-13. The No. 1 – No. 20 on the Pro and Challenger Leaderboards plus, up to 12 winners from the Qualifier Series and up to 12 athletes form the Last Chance Qualifier all earned qualifications to the long round competition.
- From there, the top 2 fastest times from both the Pro and Challenger in each round, and the top 8 in the aggregate earn advancements to the Semifinals, held May 14 at Cowtown Coliseum. In the Semifinals, the top 4 from the Pro and Challenger Leaderboards, plus the top two from round one, top two from round two and the top 8 aggregate all compete in the Semifinals. The fastest time in the semifinal round, and the top two fastest times on the three-run aggregate for each Pro and Challenger all advance to the WRWC at AT&T Stadium, held May 17 in Arlington, Texas.
- The WRWC Championship Round will culminate May 17 inside AT&T Stadium, and features seven athletes competing in one round of competition for the world title.
The full progression chart of how an athlete advances to AT&T Stadium can be found HERE.
Along with the WRWC title the Pro and Challenger Leaderboard athletes will earn year-end titles at the conclusion of the Semifinals.
Roster Set for Women’s Rodeo World Championships
May 1, 2025 (FORT WORTH, TX) — The WRWC released the official roster and position draw, featuring more than 300 of the most elite cowgirls in the world. Athletes will compete across breakaway roping, team roping, barrel racing, and goat tying for a shot at the coveted WRWC All-Around World Championship and life-changing payouts. Find the full roster and draw HERE.
The roster also boasts strong family representation. Katelyn Perkins of Morristown, Arizona, will compete in both barrel racing (Challenger) and team roping heading (Pro), while her mother Shanna Perkins, of Geneva, Idaho, will also compete in both disciplines at the Challenger level. Shanna’s daughter and Katelyn’s sister, Kayla Perkins (Morristown, Arizona), joins them in team roping heeling (Challenger) — making them one of the WRWC’s standout family trios.
Katelyn Perkins is the lone athlete competing in four disciplines at this year’s event — Pro Heading, Challenger Heeling, Challenger Breakaway Roping, and Limited Barrel Racing. She leads a dynamic field of multi-event competitors, including eight athletes entered in three disciplines and an impressive 32 athletes competing in two.
Seasoned veterans and explosive rookies highlight the barrel racing at the 2025 WRWC. The roster includes household names like Cheyenne Wimberley (Stephenville, Texas), Stephanie Fryar (Waco, Texas), Jordan Driver (Garden City, Texas) and breakout talent Mackenzie Mayes, who is riding the momentum of a historic 2024 season.
In 2024, 20-year-old Mayes surged to the top of the barrel racing Challenger leaderboard following wins in Round Two and the Semifinals, setting a new arena record aboard Chicado Moon (“Rousey”). Her blazing run beat the previous record of 12.967 set by Laura Mote (Llano, Texas) on Reliance Ranches’ Reb Hot Redbull aka “Redbull” in 2023. Despite an outstanding average time of 39.914 from Madison McCaffity (Omaha, Texas), it was Ryann Pedone (Sunset, Texas) who ultimately captured the Pro World Championship cash bonus.
Additionally, for the third consecutive season, the WRWC has united with the Ariat Texas Rattlers from the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams league to honor Texas resident cowgirls competing at the 2025 event. The Texas resident who earns the most points in any one discipline at the WRWC will be earn The Honorary Texas Rattlers Cowgirl Cash Bonus Award. These women will wear a patch while competing to distinguish their Team Texas distinction. Past recipients of this bonus include Laura Mote in 2023 and Makenzie Mayes in 2024.
The 2025 Women’s Rodeo World Championship will officially kick off on Sunday, May 11, with the Tito’s Welcome Gala and Back Number Ceremony, presented by Cowgirl Magazine, at 6 p.m. CT at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall.
Competition begins May 12–14 at Cowtown Coliseum with Rounds One and Two, followed by Semifinals across all disciplines: Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, and Team Roping. Each day features a full slate of Pro, Challenger, and Limited Division heats, followed by buckle ceremonies at Tannahill’s celebrating daily winners.
The excitement peaks on May 17, when the Championship Round takes place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington during the PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Championship. The Top 7 barrel racers and breakaway ropers, along with the Top 6 team roping pairs, will go head-to-head in a winner-take-all showdown that crowns champions in all four disciplines.
All rounds at Cowtown Coliseum are open to the public with free entry, offering fans a rare chance to witness the world’s top cowgirls in action up close. Fans can also watch the action exclusively on The Cowboy Channel and the Cowboy Channel + app. To view the broadcast schedule, click HERE.
Tickets for the May 17 Championship Round at AT&T Stadium are on sale now at PBRWorldFinals.com, SeatGeek.com, or by calling (800) 732-1727.
Since its inception in May 2020, the WRWC has awarded more than $3.75 million in new money to women’s rodeo athletes. For more information, visit womensrodeochampionships.com.
WRWC Long Rounds at Cowtown Coliseum
The WRWC kicked off inside the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, with the Limited barrel racing on May 12.
Charmaine Holdren topped the Limited barrel racing with a 13.382 to win the 1D, advance to AT&T Stadium and earn $1,381.
- CHARMAINE HOLDREN / WEATHERFORD, TX /13.382 / 1D / $1,381.20
- DREW ELLEN STEWART / NORMANGEE, TX / 13.463 1D / $1,035.90
- KINZEY NEWTON / ARLINGTON, TN / 13.477 / 1D / $690.60
- AMY OHRT / VICTORIA, TX / 13.542 / 1D / $310.77
In Round One, Kelsey Howard topped the Challenger round with a 13.444, worth $2,500. Taycie Matthews won the Pro round with a 13.186, for $2,500.
In Round Two, Hazlee McKenzie topped the Challenger round with a 13.239 for $2,500, and Rainey Skelton turned in a 13.205 for the first place check of $2,500.
WRWC Semifinals
In the Pro division, Taycie Matthews turned in a 13.308 for the Semifinals win, worth $3,000. She also topped the aggregate with a 39.527 on three runs, for another $3,500 and an advancement to AT&T Stadium. Makenzie Mayes turned in a 13.103 for second in the Semifinals round for $2,000. Madison McCaffity finished second in the aggregate with a 39.959 for $2,500, and an advancement to AT&T Stadium.
The final roster for the WRWC barrel racing:
| Kelsey Howard | Sallisaw, OK | Barrel Racing |
| Madison McCaffity | Omaha, TX | Barrel Racing |
| Charmaine Holdren | Weatherford, TX | Barrel Racing |
| Kathleen Menard | Ocala, FL | Barrel Racing |
| Makenzie Mayes | Scroggins, TX | Barrel Racing |
| Taycie Matthews | Wynne, AR | Barrel Racing |
| Payton Askins | Shawnee, OK | Barrel Racing |
WRWC Year-End World Champs
The WRWC crowned it’s year-end leaderboard champions in the Pro and Challenger divisions following the conclusion of the WRWC Semifinals inside Cowtown Coliseum.
Makenzie Mayes, of Scroggins, Texas, maintained her edge in Pro Barrel Racing. With runs of 13.465 and 13.567 in Rounds One and Two, respectively. Her 13.103 in the Semifinals earned second place helping her hold her spot in the standings. Her 40.135 average earned her an additional $1,500. Mayes began with 10,374.00 points and closed the WRWC segment with 14,880.00, earning the Pro Barrel Racing World Championship.
Kelsey Howard, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, topped the Challenger Barrel Racing field. Her runs of 13.444 in Round One, 13.492 in Round two, and 13.38 in the Semifinals earned her the average title. Howard started the event with 2,502 points, earned 6,698 during competition, and ended the segment with 9,200.00, capturing the Challenger Barrel Racing World Championship.
Top 10 Earners Through Semifinals (excluding bonus payouts):
| Name | Discipline | Earnings |
| Taycie Matthews | Pro Barrel Racing | $10,000 |
| Josie Conner | Pro Breakaway | $9,000 |
| Kelsey Howard | Challenger Barrel Racing | $7,250 |
| Jessi Remsburg | Pro Team Roping | $6,500 |
| Wylie Jo Hodges | Challenger Breakaway | $6,000 |
| Ashtyn Pratz | Challenger Team Roping Header | $6,000 |
| Emma Ivie | Challenger Breakaway | $6,000 |
| Shanna Perkins | Challenger Team Roping Heeler | $3,750 |
| Makenzie Mayes | Pro Barrel Racing | $3,500 |
| Lauren Barton | Challenger Breakaway | $3,000 |
Taycie Matthews Wins WRWC
MAY 17, 2025, (ARLINGTON, TEXAS) — Taycie Matthews and Fame Fire Rocks turned in a 12.674 in the Championship Round of the Women’s Rodeo World Championships to claim the $60,000 championship.
Matthews and “Pop Rocks” started the week of WRWC competition strong topping the first round of the Pro division with a 13.186 at the Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas. That earned them an advancing position into the WRWC Semifinals. The duo from Wynne, Arkansas, finished third in Round Two with a 13.308, and then followed that up in the Semifinals with another winning run of 13.033 putting her in the No. 1 position in the aggregate as well. All totaled in the long rounds of competition Matthews earned $10,000.
Heading into the Championship Round, which was held in Arlington, Texas, in conjunction with the PBR World Finals, Matthews had a game plan for the high-energy atmosphere inside AT&T Stadium.
When it was all said and done, Matthews walked away with $70,000 and a Women’s Rodeo World Championship added to her resume.
