The biggest night in women’s rodeo roping is heading to Texas. On December 18 and 19, 2026, the top 15 breakaway ropers in the world will chase one title in Fort Worth. This guide covers the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping, which now goes by a new name: the Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals. You will find the dates, venue, tickets, likely schedule, contestants, and travel tips in one place.

Please note one thing before you read on. Organizers have not yet released every detail for 2026. Therefore, this guide marks any item that still needs a final check.

Quick Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Event name	Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals
Former name	National Finals Breakaway Roping
Dates	Friday and Saturday, December 18 and 19, 2026
Venue	Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas
Sanctioning body	Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA)
Field size	Top 15 money winners from the regular season
Title sponsor	Wrangler
Prize	World Champion Breakaway Roper title

What Is the National Breakaway Finals?

Breakaway roping is a timed event. A rider chases a calf and throws a loop around its neck. The rope is tied to the saddle horn with a thin string. When the calf runs out the rope, the string breaks away, and the clock stops. The fastest time wins. Unlike tie-down roping, the rider does not throw or tie the calf.

The finals crown the world champion in this event. Only the top 15 money winners on the WPRA breakaway standings earn a spot. The regular season closes on September 30, so every dollar from rodeos across the country counts.

A Short History

This sport has grown fast. It became a regular event at many pro rodeos in 2019. By 2024, about 500 rodeos had added it to their schedules. Since 2020, the national finals have decided the world title.

The first finals took place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, in 2020. The event then moved to Las Vegas, where it ran from 2021 through the early years of the decade. In Las Vegas, it ran two days before the National Finals Rodeo began. Jackie Crawford won the first title. Sawyer Gilbert followed in 2021, and Martha Angelone won in 2022.

The 2025 finals did not go as planned. Organizers set the dates for December 2 and 3 in Las Vegas. However, an equine herpesvirus outbreak forced a postponement. The contest moved to Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, and the ropers ran on December 22 and 23. Taylor Munsell took the world title.

Why the Move to Fort Worth Matters

The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association signed a three-year agreement with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. As a result, the finals leave Las Vegas for a new home. Fort Worth already has a strong link to the sport. Its stock show earned a WPRA award for offering equal money for women ropers.

Additionally, the new date puts the finals in mid-December, close to the start of the National Finals Rodeo season. Fans who love rodeo can plan a longer trip around both events. Wrangler stays on as title sponsor, a role it has held since 2020.

Dates, Venue and Location

Will Rogers Coliseum

The ropers will compete at Will Rogers Coliseum, part of the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth. The address is 1 Amon Carter Square, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. The building recently finished a major remodel. The coliseum has hosted rodeo for generations, so the setting suits this event well.

Getting There

Fort Worth sits in north Texas, about 30 miles west of Dallas. Two major airports serve the area: Dallas Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field. From either one, you can drive or take a ride share. In addition, the Cultural District around the venue has hotels, restaurants, and museums within a short trip.

Parking details for the finals have not appeared yet. Therefore, check the venue and WPRA websites a week before you travel. Arrive early on both nights, because stock show events draw large crowds to this district.

Tickets for the 2026 Finals

Official Sales

Ticket sales opened through Ticketmaster. A presale ran until Friday, July 31, with a special code, and general sales began that same day. The WPRA also invited fans to sign up for presale news on its website. Official face values for 2026 have not appeared in the sources I could check, so confirm prices on Ticketmaster or the WPRA event page.

For context, the 2025 finals in Las Vegas charged 30 dollars for general admission and 45 dollars for reserved seats per day. Prices in Fort Worth may differ, because the venue and market have changed.

Resale Market

Resale sites list tickets for opening night. One listing shows a start time of 7:00 p.m. Central on Friday, December 18, with prices that start near 66 dollars including fees. Resale prices can run above face value, and most sales are final. However, buyers usually get a refund if the tickets never arrive, fail at entry, or the event is cancelled and not rescheduled.

Smart Buying Tips

• Buy from Ticketmaster or the venue first. Official tickets cost less and carry fewer risks.
• Compare both nights. Saturday often brings the championship buzz, but Friday sets the tone.
• Look at the seating map. Seats near the arena floor give a close view of the box and the catch.
• Save your tickets to your phone ahead of time. Cell service can slow down in a full building.
• Avoid unknown sellers on social media. Use trusted platforms with buyer protection.

Expected Schedule

The WPRA has not published a full run order. However, the last full-format finals ran 10 rounds over two days. Therefore, fans can expect about five rounds each night if the format stays the same. Treat the table below as a planning guide, not an official timetable.

Day	Date	What to Expect
Friday	December 18, 2026	Opening night. A listing shows a 7:00 p.m. Central start. Gates likely open about an hour earlier. Expect the first rounds.
Saturday	December 19, 2026	Final night. The last rounds decide the average winner and the world champion.

A typical performance starts with a grand entry and the national anthem. Next, the ropers run one at a time in each round. The announcers then call the times and update the leaderboard. Once the last round ends, officials add up the money and crown the champion.

Format and Rules

Each roper runs in every round. Judges check each run for several things. The rope must reach the calf, and the string must break away. The horse must also wait for the barrier to release before the rider leaves the box.

• The fastest time in a round wins that round.
• A barrier break adds a 10-second penalty.
• A catch that fails the rules can lead to a no time.
• Riders earn money for round wins and for the best average across all rounds.

Because a single miss can wreck a total, steady ropers often beat fast but risky ones. Consequently, the final night often shifts the lead more than once.

Contestants to Watch

The Field

The official top 15 depends on the September 30 cutoff. I did not find the final official list at the time of writing. Instead, the table below shows the Breakaway Roping Journal projection for September 28, 2026. These numbers are unofficial, and they came from WPRA standings through September 25. Check the WPRA site for the confirmed field.

Rank	Roper	Projected Earnings
1	Cheyanne McCartney	$196,884
2	Hali Williams	$194,090
3	Josie Conner	$190,597
4	Rylee A. George	$159,570
5	Jordi Edens-Mitchell	$148,284
6	Taylor Munsell	$132,781
7	Cadee Williams	$125,808
8	Haiden Thompson	$124,232
9	Danielle Lowman	$121,357
10	Bradi Good	$111,857
11	Madison Outhier	$111,252
12	Shelby Boisjoli-Meged	$110,203
13	Suzanne Williams	$107,615
14	Martha Angelone	$107,602
15	Aspen Miller	$102,735

Names Worth Watching

Cheyanne McCartney, Hali Williams, and Josie Conner lead the pack by a wide margin. Their season earnings sit close together, so the race for the top spot looks tight. Hali Williams and Josie Conner also showed up near the top of the early standings, which points to steady work over a long season.

Taylor Munsell enters as the defending champion. She won in 2025 under unusual conditions, and she sits sixth in the projection. Martha Angelone, the 2022 winner, sits near the cutoff line. Therefore, veterans with title experience fill both ends of the list.

Money alone does not decide this event. Nerves, horse care, and calf draws all matter. As a result, a lower seed can still win the buckle.

Past Champions

Year	Champion	Location
2020	Jackie Crawford	Arlington, Texas
2021	Sawyer Gilbert	Las Vegas
2022	Martha Angelone	Las Vegas
2025	Taylor Munsell	Fort Worth (moved from Las Vegas)

Prize Money

The WPRA has not announced the 2026 purse. For comparison, the 2025 finals offered a total of 300,000 dollars to the field. Many fans hope the Fort Worth deal brings a larger payout, given the stock show’s record on equal money. Still, wait for the official release before you plan around any number.

The Event Team

The WPRA has named the contract personnel for the 2026 finals. The crew includes names that fans know well.

Role	Name
Announcers	Garrett Yerigan and Steve Kenyon
Official event secretary	Amanda Sanders
Timers	Shawna Ray and Jayme Pemberton
Music director	Benje Bendele
Photographer	James Phifer
Chute boss	Bronc Boehnlein
Calf supplier	Ryan Jarrett

Good calves matter a great deal in this event. Ryan Jarrett, a PRCA All-Around World Champion, supplies the stock. Fair and consistent calves give every roper an equal shot.

How to Follow the Action

If you cannot travel, you still have options. The WPRA posts results and standings on its website and social channels. Breakaway-focused outlets also publish recaps after each round. Broadcast and streaming plans for 2026 have not appeared yet. Therefore, watch the WPRA site for news in the weeks before the finals.

Planning Your Fort Worth Trip

• Book your hotel early. Stock show and holiday travel fill rooms fast.
• Pack layers. December weather in north Texas can swing from mild to cold within hours.
• Plan a day in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The district offers history, food, and western shopping.
• Visit the museums in the Cultural District. They sit close to the coliseum.
• Dress in your best western wear. Fans love to show off boots and hats.

Conclusion

The 2026 finals mark a fresh start for women’s professional rodeo. The Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping now lives in Fort Worth under a three-year deal. It runs December 18 and 19 at Will Rogers Coliseum, with the top 15 ropers chasing a world title. Tickets sell through Ticketmaster, and resale options exist for late buyers.

However, a few details remain open, including the final field, the purse, and the exact run times. Therefore, check the WPRA website often as December nears. Whether you attend in person or follow online, expect a tight race and some big runs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the 2026 national breakaway finals?

The finals run on Friday and Saturday, December 18 and 19, 2026.

2. Where will the finals take place?

They take place at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. The event moved from Las Vegas under a three-year agreement.

3. Did the event change its name?

Yes. The National Finals Breakaway Roping now goes by the Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals. Wrangler remains the title sponsor.

4. How many ropers compete?

The top 15 money winners from the regular season qualify. The season closes on September 30.

5. How much do tickets cost?

Official 2026 prices were not confirmed in the sources I checked. Resale listings start near 66 dollars with fees. Check Ticketmaster for face value.

6. Where can I buy tickets?

Start with Ticketmaster and the venue. Resale sites also list seats, but prices may run higher.

7. What time does the show start?

One resale listing shows 7:00 p.m. Central on December 18. Confirm the time with the official ticket page.

8. How many rounds will the finals have?

The recent format used 10 rounds over two days. Expect about five rounds per night unless the WPRA announces a change.

9. Who won the last finals?

Taylor Munsell won the 2025 world title in Fort Worth after officials moved the event from Las Vegas.

10. How much prize money is available?

The 2026 purse has not appeared yet. The 2025 finals offered 300,000 dollars.

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