2026 USBC Queens kicks off this week in Las Vegas
May 12, 2026
LAS VEGAS – The 2026 United States Bowling Congress Queens starts this week at Gold Coast Bowling Center in Las Vegas, the third time in four years that the city has hosted one of the most prestigious events in women’s bowling.
Last year, Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee, defeated Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane for her second career major title and fifth Professional Women’s Bowling Association title overall, becoming eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame as soon as she turns 40. Barnes later won a sixth PWBA title in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the PWBA Anniversary Open in an arena setting.
No player has won back-to-back Queens titles since Japan’s Katsuko Sugimoto accomplished the feat in 1981 and 1982, and 200 other bowlers will look to make sure that Barnes doesn’t win a second straight tiara when competition gets underway Thursday morning.
Before competition begins, two practice sessions will take place Wednesday morning and afternoon before honoring three women later that evening at the PWBA Hall of Fame Ceremony.
Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, and Australia’s Cara Honeychurch will be the latest to join the Hall of Fame in the Performance category while Leila Wagner of Annapolis, Maryland, will be inducted in the Meritorious Service/Builder category for her off-the-lanes accomplishments.
Tournament action will get underway Thursday morning when all 201 bowlers take to the lanes for their first of three five-game qualifying blocks.
A Squad will be up first on Thursday at noon Eastern with B Squad following at 4 p.m. Eastern. Both squads will be bowling two rounds on fresh oil and one round on the burn.
The top 63 qualifiers, plus Barnes, will move on to the double-elimination match-play bracket starting Sunday, where each bout will be a three-game total-pinfall match.
The final two bowlers remaining in the Winners Bracket will bowl each other for the No.1 seed for the stepladder finals, while the final four in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for the last three spots on the show.
The stepladder finals will begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. Eastern live on CBS Sports Network, where the winner will receive the coveted tiara and top prize of $60,000. All competition leading up to the televised finals will be streamed live exclusively on BowlTV.
For more information on the USBC Queens, visit BOWL.com/tournaments/usbc-queens.
Last year, Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee, defeated Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane for her second career major title and fifth Professional Women’s Bowling Association title overall, becoming eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame as soon as she turns 40. Barnes later won a sixth PWBA title in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the PWBA Anniversary Open in an arena setting.
No player has won back-to-back Queens titles since Japan’s Katsuko Sugimoto accomplished the feat in 1981 and 1982, and 200 other bowlers will look to make sure that Barnes doesn’t win a second straight tiara when competition gets underway Thursday morning.
Before competition begins, two practice sessions will take place Wednesday morning and afternoon before honoring three women later that evening at the PWBA Hall of Fame Ceremony.
Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, and Australia’s Cara Honeychurch will be the latest to join the Hall of Fame in the Performance category while Leila Wagner of Annapolis, Maryland, will be inducted in the Meritorious Service/Builder category for her off-the-lanes accomplishments.
Tournament action will get underway Thursday morning when all 201 bowlers take to the lanes for their first of three five-game qualifying blocks.
A Squad will be up first on Thursday at noon Eastern with B Squad following at 4 p.m. Eastern. Both squads will be bowling two rounds on fresh oil and one round on the burn.
The top 63 qualifiers, plus Barnes, will move on to the double-elimination match-play bracket starting Sunday, where each bout will be a three-game total-pinfall match.
The final two bowlers remaining in the Winners Bracket will bowl each other for the No.1 seed for the stepladder finals, while the final four in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for the last three spots on the show.
The stepladder finals will begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. Eastern live on CBS Sports Network, where the winner will receive the coveted tiara and top prize of $60,000. All competition leading up to the televised finals will be streamed live exclusively on BowlTV.
For more information on the USBC Queens, visit BOWL.com/tournaments/usbc-queens.