With no automatic spots for the Top 15 and expanded qualifying opportunities, the Million Dollar Breakaway is leveling the playing field and giving more athletes a shot at the biggest payouts of breakaway.
The Kimes Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway has already changed the game for breakaway ropers. Now, it’s expanding once again.
After two years of showcasing the very best in breakaway roping with the biggest payouts offered, the event has announced a new format for 2026. This annoucement explains the way competitors will qualify, compete, and win this year.
This time, every lady starts the same.
No More Automatic Spots
In 2024 and 2025, the Top 10 breakaway ropers in the WPRA World Standings were guaranteed a place in the Finals. This gave them a direct path by skipping over the qualifer and the Semi-Finals.
That rule is no longer. Starting in 2026, no one is guaranteed a spot, not even the best in the world. Every lady, whether they’re ranked No. 1 or just starting out, will have to earn their way in through qualifiers, creating what is now a truly level playing field.
There may be some mixed reactions going on to this. This changes a lot. Now the finals field could look very different. It could still be filled with the biggest names in the sport, or it could be a group of young guns, rookies, and breakout girls making a name for themselves on the biggest stage.
Here is the perspective that has the girls thinking. In the past two years, the ladies that were fighting for their spot in the top 15 in the World for a NFBR qualification also had something else on their mind. Not only did they want to be in the top 15, but a top 10 finish after the finals would guarantee their spot into the Kimes roping too. This was an extra incentive.
More Opportunities, More Access
The changes don’t stop there. The Million Dollar Breakaway is also expanding its qualifying system, creating more opportunities across the country and giving more athletes a legitimate shot at making the field.
New and returning qualifiers include a new summer qualifier, a new fall qualifier, a returning qualifier at Oklahoma's Richest Event, the returning last chance qualifier in Scottsdale, and additional opportunities tied to the Premier Women's Rodeo's events.
In total, 211 competitors will make up the Semi-Finals field.
The goal remains the same for every single one of the ladies. That finals performance, that is where the money is.
A total of 20 ropers will advance to the Finals, 17 from the Semi-Finals and 3 automatic qualifiers (qualifier winners.)
A Defining Moment for Breakaway
Breakaway roping as an event is still continuing to grow rapidly. The Million Dollar Breakaway has quickly become one of the most important events in women’s rodeo, and not just because of the payout, but because of what it represents.
It represents opportunity, growth, and a platform for the sport’s best, and next, to compete on a stage unlike any other. Now, with this new format, that opportunity just got bigger with more athletes and more chances.
Semi Finals Qualifiers
First Chance Qualifier - 20
Summer Qualifier - 20
Fall Qualifier - 20
Oklahoma Richest Qualifier - 60
Last Chance Qualifier - 40
Buy Back Round - 5
PWR Leaderboard - 20
PWR Qualifying Events - 26 (5 from each Main qualifier and 1 buy back round)
Total: 211