Big performances on the lanes in Las Vegas at 2025 Women’s Championships
May 26, 2025
LAS VEGAS – Najah Owens of Raleigh, North Carolina, came into her second appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships wanting to improve her scores from last year’s performance, and she’s leaving the 2025 event with her name in the tournament’s record book.
The 31-year-old right-hander became the first competitor to roll two 300s during the same appearance at the USBC Women’s Championships, and she’s also just the third bowler to connect for multiple 300s at the tournament across 105 editions of the event.
USBC Hall of Famers Jeanne Naccarato and Jodi Woessner also have a pair of 300s at the Women’s Championships. Naccarato’s perfect performances took place in 2014 and 2019, while Woessner recorded her 300s in 2023 and 2025.
Owens’ first 300 happened during her team event Friday at the South Point Bowling Plaza, as she posted games of 203, 300 and 279 for a 782 series. The second one was rolled Saturday during singles, as she put together scores of 228, 300 and 237 for a 765 total.
She added 696 in doubles to also move into second place in Diamond All-Events with an astounding total score of 2,243 – the sixth-highest score in tournament history. USBC Hall of Famer Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, leads at the 2025 event with 2,261.
Owens’ singles score places her in a tie for fifth in the Diamond Division, and her performance Friday helped Fire Storm to sixth place in Diamond Team with 2,711.
Owens was on a level of her own at South Point. She had a very big following throughout both 300s.
“I had my teammates in the back, just giving me good pointers from Game 1,” said Owens, winner of the 2023 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Pinehurst Regional. “I then eventually got comfortable, and I just released my swing and let the ball do the work.”
It was an incredible experience for many to watch. Owens was emotional after the fact, and she was very humble and happy to be an inspiration for other bowlers and fans that were watching her succeed. She was cool, calm and collected throughout her entire nine games.
“I felt more relaxed, because my teammates gave me good advice throughout my series,” Owens said. “I just stayed patient throughout and tried not to overthink any moves. It’s emotional, with all this adulation from everyone, and that’s a special feeling.”
Owens came into her appearance with a game plan and her arsenal ready to go. She picked bowling balls that she saw others have success with while watching videos on Facebook from the tournament.
She’s been bowling since she was about 6 years old and competed collegiately at North Carolina A&T State University from 2012-2016, helping the Aggies claim the 2015 Intercollegiate Team Championships.
Owens’ overall performance is what makes the Women’s Championships a fun event to watch, as her hard work paid off at the 2025 tournament.
“Wow, all this hard work I put in has come to fruition,” Owens said. “What I have been through with certain aspects of my game, it’s all coming together at the right time and it’s nice to see it happen firsthand. I am very emotional and overwhelmed with joy.”
Christen Riggins
While Owens was closing out her fantastic day, Christen Riggins of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, also had a big day on the lanes at South Point, bowling on the same pair as Owens for doubles and singles.
Riggins took the overall lead in Emerald All-Events on Saturday, bowling an extraordinary score of 1,834. She passed the previous leading score by more than 80 pins. Shari Salmon of Cumming, Georgia, had held the lead with 1,753.
“Even though bowling is an event, you do it on your own,” Riggins said. “The overall vibe, connection and mental piece of it is what makes it great. Having that support from my husband, family, friends and teammates makes it more effective and greater in my eyes.”
In team on Friday, Riggins shot a solid 553 series. In doubles, she fired her best score of the week, finishing with 644. For singles, Riggins had a fantastic series of 637, which was only six pins short of also tying Anna Maria Grenville’s 643 for the lead in Emerald Singles.
Riggins felt a unique and joyful feeling after taking the overall lead in Emerald All-Events.
“It was truly inspiring for me to bowl this well, and I’m very happy to have taken this lead because I am a fairly new bowler,” Riggins said. “This is officially my third year at this tournament, and the ironic part is I bowled on the wrong foot. This is such a surreal feeling to be in right now.”
Emerald All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 136-155.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.
The 31-year-old right-hander became the first competitor to roll two 300s during the same appearance at the USBC Women’s Championships, and she’s also just the third bowler to connect for multiple 300s at the tournament across 105 editions of the event.
USBC Hall of Famers Jeanne Naccarato and Jodi Woessner also have a pair of 300s at the Women’s Championships. Naccarato’s perfect performances took place in 2014 and 2019, while Woessner recorded her 300s in 2023 and 2025.
Owens’ first 300 happened during her team event Friday at the South Point Bowling Plaza, as she posted games of 203, 300 and 279 for a 782 series. The second one was rolled Saturday during singles, as she put together scores of 228, 300 and 237 for a 765 total.
She added 696 in doubles to also move into second place in Diamond All-Events with an astounding total score of 2,243 – the sixth-highest score in tournament history. USBC Hall of Famer Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, leads at the 2025 event with 2,261.
Owens’ singles score places her in a tie for fifth in the Diamond Division, and her performance Friday helped Fire Storm to sixth place in Diamond Team with 2,711.
Owens was on a level of her own at South Point. She had a very big following throughout both 300s.
“I had my teammates in the back, just giving me good pointers from Game 1,” said Owens, winner of the 2023 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Pinehurst Regional. “I then eventually got comfortable, and I just released my swing and let the ball do the work.”
It was an incredible experience for many to watch. Owens was emotional after the fact, and she was very humble and happy to be an inspiration for other bowlers and fans that were watching her succeed. She was cool, calm and collected throughout her entire nine games.
“I felt more relaxed, because my teammates gave me good advice throughout my series,” Owens said. “I just stayed patient throughout and tried not to overthink any moves. It’s emotional, with all this adulation from everyone, and that’s a special feeling.”
Owens came into her appearance with a game plan and her arsenal ready to go. She picked bowling balls that she saw others have success with while watching videos on Facebook from the tournament.
She’s been bowling since she was about 6 years old and competed collegiately at North Carolina A&T State University from 2012-2016, helping the Aggies claim the 2015 Intercollegiate Team Championships.
Owens’ overall performance is what makes the Women’s Championships a fun event to watch, as her hard work paid off at the 2025 tournament.
“Wow, all this hard work I put in has come to fruition,” Owens said. “What I have been through with certain aspects of my game, it’s all coming together at the right time and it’s nice to see it happen firsthand. I am very emotional and overwhelmed with joy.”
Christen Riggins
While Owens was closing out her fantastic day, Christen Riggins of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, also had a big day on the lanes at South Point, bowling on the same pair as Owens for doubles and singles.
Riggins took the overall lead in Emerald All-Events on Saturday, bowling an extraordinary score of 1,834. She passed the previous leading score by more than 80 pins. Shari Salmon of Cumming, Georgia, had held the lead with 1,753.
“Even though bowling is an event, you do it on your own,” Riggins said. “The overall vibe, connection and mental piece of it is what makes it great. Having that support from my husband, family, friends and teammates makes it more effective and greater in my eyes.”
In team on Friday, Riggins shot a solid 553 series. In doubles, she fired her best score of the week, finishing with 644. For singles, Riggins had a fantastic series of 637, which was only six pins short of also tying Anna Maria Grenville’s 643 for the lead in Emerald Singles.
Riggins felt a unique and joyful feeling after taking the overall lead in Emerald All-Events.
“It was truly inspiring for me to bowl this well, and I’m very happy to have taken this lead because I am a fairly new bowler,” Riggins said. “This is officially my third year at this tournament, and the ironic part is I bowled on the wrong foot. This is such a surreal feeling to be in right now.”
Emerald All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 136-155.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.