The $750,000 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship kicks off on May 17—here’s how to watch, who’s entered and what this whole event is all about.

What is the WRWC?

The 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).

• What is the WCRA and How Can Barrel Racers Play? (Part 1)
• Commissioner Q&A: Linsay Rosser Sumpter Shares Her Vision for the WRWC
• Hailey Kinsel and Jules Master the Cowtown Coliseum First Barrel to Win WRWC Barrel Racing Semifinals

WRWC schedule

On May 17, a last chance qualifier will determine the final athletes who earn a position in the WRWC in team roping, breakaway roping and barrel racing.

Round One

On May 18, athletes check in, meet and are introduced to fans beginning at 10 a.m. CST in the Fort Worth Stockyards. For the first rounds of competition athletes are divided into their respective divisions, with 11-20 from the VRQ leaderboard, qualifying athletes from select Qualifier Series events and the Last Chance Qualifier champion competing at 12 p.m. in Cowtown Coliseum. During the 7:30 p.m. performance, the cowgirls who entered the competition in position 1-10 on the VRQ leaderboard compete.

Round Two

On May 19, round two kicks off at 10 a.m., and all athletes compete in the second round of competition

Semifinals

The Semifinals performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on the evening of May 19.

Buckle presentations take place at 11 p.m. on May 18 and 19 at the Cowboy Channel Bar.

On May 20, the athletes who qualify to the Finals mingle from 8-10 a.m. at the Champions Breakfast at the National Cowgirl Museum Hall of Fame, presented by Renew Gold.

Finals

The Showdown and Triple Crown of Rodeo rounds begin at 1 p.m. inside Cowtown Coliseum, which is when the WRWC event and all-around champions are determined. Winners will have the opportunity to be recognized at Dickies Arena that evening at the PBR World Finals inside Dickies Arena.

Who’s entered in the WRWC?

In the preliminary round, barrel racers will be split up by their qualifying classification: Pro or Challenger

What’s the difference between Pro and Challenger athletes?

According to the WCRA,

You are a Challenger if your earnings do not exceed the amount listed below in any of the one defined time periods:

·       2018= $20,000 Annually
·       2019= $20,000 Annually
·       2020= $20,000 Annually
·       2021= $20,000 Annually
·       2022= $20,000 Annually
·       Lifetime Earnings = $100,000

Barrel Racing will use the Equi-Stat ranking system to determine the Challenger classification. Athletes are eligible to participate as a Challenger if their earnings for either (not both) time periods listed above are below the amount listed for that time period.

How to watch the WRWC

The Women’s Rodeo World Championship events will be streamed on PBR Ridepass on Pluto TV and The Cowboy Channel.

Keep up with results and interviews from the champs all week long at BRM and go to wrwc.rodeo for more information.