Transgender Woman Brushes Off Hate Amid Deep Run in WSOP Ladies Championship

Aubrey Williams, a transgender woman and experienced online poker professional, advanced to the final table of the 2026 World Series of Poker Ladies Championship. Her deep run, which saw her equal the chip lead entering Day 3, attracted negative attention from some social media users, though Williams maintained that her fellow players at the event were consistently friendly and welcoming.

Williams, with cumulative live earnings of $369,125 according to Hendon Mob, dismissed the online criticism, stating, "The internet's not a real place." She emphasized that her reason for participating in the Ladies Championship was straightforward: "I'm a woman, so I play in the women's event. It's not like making a statement or anything. I'm just playing a tournament."

Her poker career began during the "Poker Boom" in middle school. Williams transitioned to playing online poker full-time around 2019, securing two WSOP Circuit rings in online events and earning a significant win of $52,540 at the Borgata Winter Poker Open $1,000 Hybrid Championship earlier this year. Following this Borgata victory, similar online backlash occurred, which Williams contrasted with positive in-person interactions at the poker tables.

Many women players encouraged Williams to participate in ladies' events, changing her initial reluctance. She described these events as enjoyable to play. During her WSOP Ladies Championship run, several figures in the poker community, including streamer Patrick Leonard and Global Poker Award winner Caitlin Comeskey, publicly defended Williams against online harassment.