350 athletes to compete at Cowtown Coliseum May 12–15 as newly branded PWR launches its “next evolution” with $800,000 purse and global spotlight on women’s rodeo
FT WORTH (May 5, 2026) – The 2026 Premier Women’s Rodeo (PWR) Championship is set to debut at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, from May 12–15, marking the first year of competition for the brand previously known as the Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC). The event, which has paid out over $4.5 million to female rodeo athletes since 2020, has released the list of 350 female rodeo athletes competing.
The “next evolution” of women’s professional rodeo under the new PWR banner offers record-breaking payouts and global visibility for female athletes. It will pay over $800,000 in 2026 while crowning World Champions in the Pro, Challenger, and Limited classifications in team roping (heading and heeling), breakaway roping and barrel racing.
Each PWRC event champion will earn a minimum of $60,000, while the All-Around Champion will collect a $20,000 bonus.
Additionally, the event will showcase the world’s top athletes in goat tying, women’s ranch bronc riding and women’s bull riding.
This marks the first time since 2008 that a women’s rodeo organization has included bull riding or bucking horse riding in an event.
The PWRC is a culmination of a year-long race of women’s rodeo events worldwide. Cowgirls across Pro, Challenger and Limited classifications in Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping, Heading, Heeling and Goat Tying nominated events in the VRQ year-round to earn a qualification to the PWR Championship.
“Coming into the richest week of women’s rodeo as the #1 ranked leaderboard athlete is an accomplishment worth celebrating,” said PWR Commissioner Linsay Rosser-Sumpter. “These athletes are now in contention to win the PWR World Champion cash bonuses that total $5,000 cash per discipline and $20,000 cash for the All-Around World Champion title.”
The leaderboard athletes are:
- All-Around: Kaitlyn Torres
- Professional Breakaway Roping: Martha Angelone
- Challenger Breakaway Roping: Kaitlyn Torres
- Limited Breakaway Roping: Chloe King
- Professional Barrel Racing: Bella Skinner
- Challenger Barrel Racing: Tatum White
- Limited Barrel Racing: Katelyn Perkins
- Professional Header: Erica Krantz
- Professional Heeler: Kaitlyn Torres
- Challenger Header: Ashtyn Pratz
- Challenger Heeler: Shanna Perkins
- Goat Tying: Landry Haugen
In addition to the 270 qualified athletes from the leaderboard and Qualifier Series Generic Qualifications, 80 cowgirls from the PWR’s Last Chance Qualifier will have the opportunity to earn a Last Chance qualification to the richest week of women’s rodeo. The Barrel Racing last chance qualifier is scheduled for May 6 at NRS Arena in Decatur, TX with the Team Roping and Breakaway Roping to be held Sunday May 10 at Circle T Arena in Hamilton, TX. To learn more about the PWR Last Chance qualifier and how to enter, click: https://www.premierwomensrodeo.com/PWR-Last-Chance/
The talent-packed field in Fort Worth is headlined by multi-time world champions and top-ranked competitors, including reining PWR All Around Champion Martha Angelone (Stephenville, TX), past world champion Julie Plourde, winningest cowgirl of all time Jackie Crawford (Stephenville, TX) and world champion bull rider Jorden Halvorsen (Youngsville, NC).
Please click https://www.premierwomensrodeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PWRC-ATHLETE-ROSTER.pdf to view the complete roster. The full schedule and advancement chart are also available https://www.premierwomensrodeo.com/athlete-info/ .
The complete schedule of events is listed here: https://www.premierwomensrodeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PWRSchedule_4x6.png
Fans will be able to watch the action daily on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV. The landmark event’s Championship Round on May 15 from Cowtown Coliseum will then be featured May 17th on ION/GRIT 1 p.m E.T.
About PWR (Premier Women’s Rodeo)
PWR is the leading organization for women’s rodeo, sanctioning the Premier Women’s Rodeo World Championship and other key events. Founded by PBR and built upon the success of the Women’s Rodeo Championship, PWR is dedicated to empowering women in Western sports through equitable competition, visibility, and opportunity. PWR offers the richest payouts, the broadest range of disciplines, and an inclusive qualification system designed for athletes of all levels — from grassroots competitors to elite professionals.
For more information – contact:
Andrew Giangola at 646-871-2402 or andrew.giangola@pbr.com
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