The Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) has officially announced a major shift for the sport's premier event: the National Finals Breakaway Roping, now renamed the Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals, is headed to Fort Worth, Texas. A new three-year partnership with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will bring the competition to the iconic Will Rogers Coliseum, starting in 2026. This move marks a new chapter for breakaway roping, a discipline that has seen explosive growth in recent years.

To understand the significance of this decision, we have to look back at a wild 2025 season. An outbreak of the EHV-1 virus threw the rodeo world into chaos, forcing the NFBR to relocate at the last minute to the historic Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards. What could have been a disaster turned into a triumph: tickets sold out in minutes, the stands were packed, and the electric atmosphere proved that these athletes deserve a stage as big as their talent. That moment sparked conversations that ultimately led to this long-term deal.

Breakaway roping has come a long way in a short time. The very first NFBR was held in 2020, where Jackie Crawford was crowned the inaugural World Champion. That year, like everything else, was complicated by the pandemic, with both the NFR and NFBR taking place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. In the years that followed, the NFBR was held in Las Vegas, but always in venues separate from the main Thomas & Mack Center stage.

That separation fueled ongoing debates: Why aren't the women roping alongside the men at the NFR? Why isn't the prize money equal? Will breakaway ever be added as a permanent NFR event? While those big questions remain unanswered, one thing became crystal clear—when the contracts were signed to keep the NFR in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future, breakaway roping was left out of the conversation entirely.

But Fort Worth saw an opportunity. When the 2025 NFBR was cancelled in Vegas due to the EHV-1 outbreak, the city stepped up and delivered a show that felt like home. Cowtown Coliseum, with all its Western heritage, provided the perfect backdrop for the kind of championship atmosphere these hardworking women deserve. The overwhelming fan response made it impossible to ignore: this event had found its true home.

Now, with Will Rogers Coliseum set to host the Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals, the future looks brighter than ever for the sport. It's a win for the athletes, a win for the fans, and a powerful statement that breakaway roping is here to stay. If you're looking to gear up for the action, our collection of performance rodeo apparel has everything you need to support the ladies from the stands.