About Us
The Women’s Poker Association (WPA) is a global, all-volunteer community dedicated to celebrating and elevating women in poker. Our mission is to heighten the exposure of current female poker players while encouraging new women to join this exciting game.
We actively advocate for women in poker, striving to bridge the gap between players and the industry by initiating meaningful conversations and creating opportunities to enhance the poker experience.
At the heart of the WPA is our core four programs: Advocates Program, Player of the Year Program, Final Table Celebration Program, and Raise It Up Program. Each one is designed to support and promote women in poker:
Through these initiatives, the WPA aims to inspire more women to participate in poker, achieve success, and enjoy the game at both amateur and professional levels. Join us in our mission to create a supportive and inclusive environment where women can thrive in the world of poker.
OPEN BOARD POSITIONS
Our Sponsors
Our Partnerships
Board of Directors
Want To Volunteer?
Tara Windsor Smith
Position: President
Location: Mount Dora, FL
Tara Windsor Smith is currently the Director of Business Operations at Faded Spade. Faded Spade provides custom plastic playing cards to casinos and poker rooms globally. In addition, Faded Spade Virtual Poker provides non-profits, small businesses and corporations a virtual poker experience that helps them reach their individual goals with philanthropic fundraising, client engagement, employee connectivity, and brand promotion. Previously Tara was the VP of Sales for Game On CHIPCO, an industry leader in poker & casino gaming chips. Even though Tara has been in the casino industry for over a decade, her love and passion for the game of poker didn’t begin there. When Tara was 5 years old, her grandfather taught her two very important lessons: how to play 5 Card Draw and how to add up her penny, nickel and dime winnings from the dinner table.
In the mid 2000’s Tara was introduced to No Limit Hold’Em. When she was not at the baseball field rooting for her son’s team to win, she was spending her free time practicing NLHE at local bar poker leagues. From there she advanced to the cash games and the tournaments at her local poker room. In 2009, Tara joined forces with the trailblazing organization, Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS).
For 6 years she represented LIPS as their Southeast Director; in this position she focused specifically on introducing new women to poker, coordinating ladies tournaments and cultivating relationships with neighboring poker rooms and casinos. This effort significantly contributed to the ongoing education, awareness, encouragement and continued growth of the female player base in the sunshine state.
“What has been accomplished over the past decade for the recognition and advancement of women in poker, is just absolutely amazing! However, the job isn’t finished yet, and we still have a ton more to accomplish. I am thankful to be in the company of so many amazing, talented, passionate, like minded and intelligent women. An elite group which is made up of players of all levels, advocates, industry professionals and legends”, says Tara.
Tara feels it is vital that all women in this arena, at any stage of their poker journey, always feel welcomed and respected. She feels the global platform that the WPA is creating for all women in poker has already brought huge awareness within our industry, positive changes and forward-thinking initiatives which are being recognized and carried out worldwide.
Tara is an extremely proud mom to her 26-year-old son Cameron. She lives in Mount Dora, Florida with her husband Jarame (who enjoys poker and supports the WPA mission as a proud Purple Tie Guy) and their dog, CoCo the chocolate lab.
AJ Rudolph
Position: Board Member, Vice President
Location: Las Vegas, NV
AJ is the Program Manager for Corporate and Technology at Poker Power. In her 15 year experience of playing poker, she has used those skills to work her way up the corporate ladder in the male-dominated tech field using the leadership skills and confidence that she’s gained through poker.
Being part of the Poker Power team gives her the chance to combine her passion for poker and empowering women.
AJ is married with two young sons and has a Caribbean rescue dog named Lilly.
Ivonne Montealegre
Position: Vice President, International Division
Location: Malta
Ivonne Montealegre is a gaming marketer with an MSC in Clinical Psychology and studies in philosophy, marketing and anthropology. Ivonne’s journey into poker began when she started working in her native Costa Rica as an event director for some of the most well-known poker brands back in the late 90s. From then on, she has created and directed very prestigious tours including: Punta Cana Poker Classic, Battle of Malta and now the Malta Poker Festival.
She has won several prizes for her tours including the GPI best tournament for under 2,000. Parallel to her poker activity she remains very active in networking amongst the gaming community, winning her award of Best Contribution to the Gaming Industry 2018. She is passionate and vocal about getting more women involved in the game.
Liz Huey
Position: Board Member, Secretary
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Liz Huey has been advocating for women’s poker for over 10 years. She is currently a teacher with Poker Power, is a private poker coach and has also been an avid player herself for over 20 years.
She has contributed many volunteer hours to the formalization of several states online poker guidelines. In 2018 Liz also had the opportunity to speak at the Global Gaming Conference for igaming and to Congress.
Liz has 3 beautiful grown children and her hobbies include cooking and listening to all types of music. Liz is known to be a fun personality so if you see her out & about, make sure to say hello!
Alexandra Nicolae
Position: Secretary, International Division
Location:
Joyce Alexander
Position: Board Member, Treasurer
Location: Boise, ID
I married my college sweetheart and we have been married for over 31 years. We live in Boise,Idaho. I am the mother of 2 wonderful daughters. I have an amazing son-in-law and one gorgeous granddaughter. I work full-time and my passion is poker!
I play as often as I can. I love the game and I am constantly striving to improve. I love to encourage people, especially women, to get involved in this amazing sport.
Janet Wyvill
Position: Treasurer, International Division
Location:
Christina Black
Position: Board Member
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Christina is originally from Boise, Idaho, but always knew her heart belonged a little closer to those sweet felt tables. Since 2018, she has resided in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Zach and their children.
As long as she can remember, poker has always been a family sport. Her Dad took up the game, introduced his children to the competitive drive and patience of the game, and it’s now rooted into their family’s culture.
Since 2014, she had been a consistent player whether at small tournaments in Jackpot or in the big leagues in Vegas. Originally she started as a single mother to help make ends meet, and now she plays because of her fierce competitive nature and the many friends she accumulates along the way.
When not working and raising her family, she can be found at the poker tables! She is passionate about supporting women in poker and is thrilled to be a Board Member and the Raise it Program Manager for the WPA.
Kerryjane Craigie
Position: Board Member, International Division
Location:
Rene Summers
Position: Board Member
Location: Albuquerque, NM
In my fast-passed job as an IT Professional, it’s stressful. I found it calm away from the multiple computer screens… in Poker.
Started playing online poker in 2003 for fun after a couple of colleagues invited her to a small home game and gave her the 5-minute intro lesson. Started taking more seriously in 2005 with the attendance of a couple of poker boot camps as they started to get popular. Played first live LIPS event in 2012 and fell in love with helping bring more women into poker and teaching women about poker.
“Poker is my relaxation and passion!” Won my seat to my first WSOP Ladies event in 2018 and out of just under a field of 700 made first cash at 40th place.
Still to come for 2019… you will find me at the LIPS event’s at the Bike and Vegas when I can, and I won my seat to the Aria WPT500 in June and the WPT League Championship in November.
Tatiana Fox
Position: Board Member
Location: Las Vegas & Melbourne, Australia
Tatiana has always loved poker and first played poker as a child with her father. To pay for college in Australia she worked as a dealer at Crown Casino. Tatiana moved to Las Vegas in 2016.
Tatiana practiced tournament poker in the daily tournaments held around Las Vegas playing every day with her husband at the time Bryce Fox, a mixed games professional. Tatiana looks forward to helping as many women as she can with their poker journey. Her favorite poker rooms are Crown in Melbourne Australia, the Hard Rock Hollywood in Florida and the Bellagio, Wynn & Aria in Las Vegas.
In June 2022, Tatiana published Robert and Michael Mizrachi’s first poker book, a collaboration with Chris Fox Wallace titled; Getting Started with HORSE Vol 1.
Vacant
Position: Board Member
Location:
Rebbecca Scales
Position: Board Member, International Division
Location:
Vacant
Position: Board Member
Location:
Ilana Belsky
Position: Board Member, International Division
Location: