The breakaway roping battle for the 2025 NFBR is reaching a critical point in the fourth quarter this weekend, Sept. 4-7, with the Cinch Playoff Series Finale in Puyallup setting the stage and the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls at the end of the month ultimately deciding the NFBR field.
The top 23 ropers in the WPRA Playoff Series standings and the NFR Open champ will go to battle for a purse of $75,000 and for the chance to qualify for the Governor’s Cup.
Table of contents
Puyallup breakaway roping draw
Set 1 (Sept. 4 & 5)
- Martha Angelone
- Kendal Pierson
- Bradi Good
- Haiden Thompson
- Braylee Shepherd
- Erin Johnson
- Jenna Dallyn
- Macy Young
- Aspen Miller
- Bailey Bates
- Cheyanne McCartney
- Taylor Munsell
Set 2 (Two performances Sept. 6)
- Joey Williams
- TiAda Gray
- Hali Williams
- Kelsie Domer
- Kinlie Brennise
- Zoie Bedke
- Shelby Boisjoli-Meged
- Suzanne Williams
- Beau Peterson
- Maddy Deerman
- Rylee George
- Josie Conner
Puyallup Breakaway Results
First round: 1. Aspen Miller, 2.7 seconds, $3,510; 2. Bradi Good, 3.0, $2,633; 3. Braylee Shepherd, 3.1, $1,755; 4. (tie) Martha Angelone and Bailey Bates, 3.2, $439 each.
Puyallup Format
Puyallup will be two rounds, back-to-back, performance to performance. There will be two “sets” or “sections,” both comprised of 12 ropers. Following the long rounds will be a top eight Semifinals, followed by a top four Finals.
The top four ladies based on the average from each of the two sets will advance to the Semifinals on Sunday, Sept. 7. The top four ladies from the Semifinals will advance to the Finals.
Puyallup breakaway roping payout
The Cinch Playoff Series in Puyallup has a purse of $75,000. If a roper were to win both performances in their set and the finals, they could walk away with $20,420.
Payout per performance
- 1st Place: $3,510
- 2nd: $2,632.50
- 3rd: $1755
- 4th: $877.50
Semifinals payout
- 1st-4th place: $0
- 5th: $1,600
- 6th: $1,600
- 7th: $1,600
- 8th: $1,600
Finals payout
- 1st Place: $13,400
- 2nd: $10,050
- 3rd: $6,700
- 4th: $3,350
How the WPRA Playoff Series works
Points stack up all season long at designated rodeos like Odessa, San Antonio and Salinas. Top 20 finishers at each Playoff rodeo earn points, based on times and averages. Tournament-style rodeos award points by advancement.
The Top 23 in the Playoff Series standings plus the NFR Open champ qualify for Puyallup. From there, the Top 8 in the Playoff Series year-end standings and Top 4 out of Puyallup advance to the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls.
The Puyallup cutoff hit Aug. 18. Sioux Falls closes Sept. 22, following the final stretch of Playoff Series rodeos. These are the remaining 2025 Playoff Series rodeos:
- Lewiston, Idaho – Lewiston Roundup – Sept. 3-6
- Abilene, Texas – West Texas Fair & Rodeo – Sept. 4-13
- Puyallup, Wash. – Puyallup Rodeo – Sept. 5-8
- Pendleton, Ore. – Pendleton Round-Up – Sept. 10-13
- Mandan, N.D. – Rough Rider Cup – Sept. 19-21
And why is the Governor’s Cup so significant? The Governor’s Cup takes place Sept. 26-28, and offers a payout across eight events of over $1 million.
The close of the WPRA regular season is Sept. 30. That means that the following massive payouts will hit during the final days of the season and it will have an impact on who makes the National Finals Breakaway Roping in December as the buzzer sounds.
Who’s season could Puyallup make or break?
As of September 4, Rookie Haiden Thompson, Braylee Shepherd, TiAda Gray and Martha Angelone are anywhere from $20K and more off of No. 15 Erin Johnson’s $86,967.
2024 Puyallup Champion Maddy Deerman came away with more than $16K at the event, which would boost any one of the ropers in the low 20’s into bubble territory.
Kendal Pierson at No. 24 is in a similar position, but with approximately $58,824 won, she has more legwork to do than her peers closer to No. 20.
And out of the top 25 breakaway ropers, 22 are roping at Puyallup, meaning anyone has an opportunity to secure an NFBR qualification or push themselves up the leaderboard as the ProRodeo season enters its final stretch.
