A second RODEOHOUSTON win for Hali Williams changes the trajectory of the 2026 Breakaway World Standings. She moves to number 1 in the race for her first gold buckle.
On Championship Saturday in Houston, Texas inside NRG Stadium, a handful of cowboys and cowgirls left H-Town with an extra $65,000 to their name. Hali Williams was the breakaway roper that quickly rose to the top of the 2026 World Standings after a big RODEOHOUSTON win.
Hali Williams of Comanche, Texas is no stranger to the winners circle. In 2022, Hali was a new name in Pro Rodeo scene. Well, kind of. Despite what her WPRA card said, you couldn't really call her a rookie. Well before Hali Williams became the breakaway roper we all know now, she was dominating in the team roping too.
Hali's dad, Speed Williams is a 15 time NFR qualifier and one of few guys to ever make the big show on both ends in the team roping. He won the gold buckle 8 consecutive years in a row. The title was his every year from 1997 through 2004 while paired with heeler Rich Skelton. Hali and her brother Gabe took after their dad in that.
For Hali, team roping came naturally. She headed steers better, and more consistently than a lot of the guys doing it. At the time, if a lady wanted to make a career with a rope, team roping was probably the way to go because those jackpots had more money than any breakaway roping ever had. But then, breakaway started getting added, and growing. Pretty soon, the money was in the breakaway.
In typical Williams fashion, Hali took right to it. Her future as a nurse and a team roper on the weekends took a big shift. Something told her that she should give this breakaway thing a chance and put her other plans on hold at least for now. Hali is quick to credit God for that.
That team roping background has benefitted Hali too. The quick throws, the tip control, and the horsemanship all carries over. Hali is the only lady that actually uses a team rope to breakaway with as well. Your rope has to fit you and your style, and the feel of a team rope is what Hali likes, and it obviously works very well for her.
Hali roped outstanding in 2022 during her rookie year. So well in fact that it got her into those big winter rodeos the next year. RODEOHOUSTON was one of them. Early in 2023, Hali won her very first RODEOHOUSTON title in just her second year pro rodeoing. This completely changed the goals. Later that year, Williams would make her first trip to the National Finals Breakaway Roping.
Now in 2026, Hali has made 3 consecutive NFBR trips, and is chasing her fourth this year. One title that she has yet to claim is the coveted gold buckle at the end of the year that would make her a World Champion just like her dad. Hali has come very close several years. Though it is early in the year, it is safe to say that Hali has a real chance at it come December.
On Championship Saturday in NRG Stadium, Hali was one of the four ladies to advance out of the ten man round. Reining World Champion and RODEOHOUSTON Champion, Taylor Munsell had a repeat on her mind and also made the final four. Rylee George and Macy Young were the other two to beat. Hali, who was first out, knew that with this field of talented ladies, she had no room to safety up.
If you have watched Hali rope, you know that she likes to take some chances and use her rope. If she has to be fast and the pressure is on, she rises to the challenge. Hali reached out there and was a 2.6 to set the pace. This put a lot of pressure on the other ladies. In the end, Williams time would hold to be the fastest and give Hali her second RODEOHOUSTON win of her still very young career.
In her winning interview, Hali said, "I knew with Taylor being behind me and Rylee George has been on a heater and you never want Macy Young behind you at Houston because you know she's rank. I knew if I didn't throw, it wouldn't put enough pressure on the girls behind me and they would be able to just go catch."
That $65,000 check helped launch Hali into the number one position in the World Standings once again. There is still a lot of season left and a lot of money to win, however history has told us that a win in Houston sure helps the chances of a World Title at the end of the season.
In her interview, in true Hali fashion, she gave all the glory to God and credits her faith for every bit of winning she does. Williams is a true champion inside and outside of the arena. Win, lose, or draw Hali is known to wave at the crowd after every calf with a big smile on her face.
Janie Johnson asked Hali why this title is different from her previous win in 2023. Hali said "I think my relationship with God has grown a lot. After this win in 23, My faith was tested a lot and I realized I didn't know Him as good as I needed to. He really made me bear down and get to know Him,"
Getting emotional, Hali continued, "This is all His, I wouldn't be here without him."
Houston helped Hali's year immensely, but she's done a lot of winning lately elsewhere too. At Rodeo Austin, Hali leads the first round with a wicked 1.6. She will advance to the semis there as well with a chance at another Texas Swing title.
Anyone who earns the RODEOHOUSTON title is very deserving. This is not an easy title to win. To get to the final four round they had to make it through their Super Series, through their Semi Finals, and then again through that ten man round. Consistency is key, but the ability to go fast when the pressure is there to is equally important. No one is capable of this more than Hali Williams, and she proved that to be true once again this year.
Come December, at the 2026 NFBR there is sure to be a battle for the gold buckle. The field of ladies fighting for those top 15 spots are extremely impressive. The breakaway roping continues to grow and get faster and tougher every year.
Hali Williams is back on top comfortably and though there is a lot of year remaining, she is roping like she is planning to stay in number 1.