LINCOLN, Neb. – After 56 games over the last six days, the five players who are advancing to the stepladder finals at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska, have been finalized.
The No. 1 seed will be Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, making her fourth straight championship-round appearance and looking for her first major title. She was the 2023 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Player of the Year and is currently the front runner for the award this year.
Lauren Russo of O’Fallon, Missouri, is the No. 2 seed, Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, is the No. 3 seed, and Maryssa Carey of Hobart, Indiana, is the No. 4 seed. All three players are making their first stepladder finals appearance on TV as professionals after having prior TV appearances during their respective collegiate careers (Russo at McKendree, Elliott at Nebraska and Jacksonville State, Carey at Indiana Tech).
Carey will face No. 5 seed New Hui Fen of Singapore to open the stepladder as New seeks her third title of the year and is just behind Snodgrass in points for Player of the Year.
While TV is not new territory for any of the finalists, it’s slightly different for Elliott and Russo, who competed in Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) with teammates behind them.
“I had girls that were behind me every step of the way, and now it’s individual so I have to kind of reset my mind,” said Russo, who won an ITC title with McKendree in 2017. “I just have to trust my process, stick to what I know best and remember who I am.”
Russo will have at least one person behind her during the show, as husband and Professional Bowlers Association titlist, Matt, has been at Sun Valley Lanes all week.
“Matt supports me with whatever I decide I want to do,” said Lauren. “He reassures me whenever I’m unsure on a ball change or what the lanes are telling me. He’s always there to lean on and provide adequate support needed.”
Elliott is a two-time NCAA championship, winning with Nebraska in 2021 and Jacksonville State in 2024. She also has ITC and Intercollegiate Singles Championship TV appearances in 2024, just before beginning her professional career and taking home PWBA Rookie of the Year honors.
“It’s really cool that I get to make a TV show in my professional career,” said Elliott, who knows just how prestigious this event is.
“This is the tournament that if I were to win one, this would be it. The fact that I have the opportunity to even compete for the green jacket is just an honor in itself,” Elliott said.
New and Carey will start the stepladder at 7 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night on CBS Sports Network. The winner will take home the coveted green jacket, the iconic eagle trophy and the $60,000 top prize.
All rounds of qualifying and match play were streamed live on BowlTV.
