For the top 12 cowboys and cowgirls who received the exclusive invite to The Governor’s Cup, it all comes down to Sioux Falls.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), along with the State of South Dakota, Experience Sioux Falls and Cinch, has brought the Cinch Playoffs to the Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sept. 26-28. The event marks the richest rodeo in South Dakota history, boasting a $1.4 million payout and offering one final opportunity for ProRodeo athletes to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
Contestants include the top four finishers from each event at the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Washington, earlier this September, along with the top eight athletes from the Playoff Series standings. With NFR dreams on the line, every ride and every run could determine who advances to Las Vegas this December.
The format invites all 12 athletes in each discipline to compete in the first two rounds. After those rounds, the top eight, based on a two-head aggregate time/score, advance to a single-run semifinal. From there, the top four compete in a shootout-style round on Sunday to determine who will take home The Governor’s Cup and secure their place in the history books.
Friday night’s opening round set the tone for a weekend filled with drama, high scores, top runs and record-breaking performances. In the bareback riding, Cole Franks set the bar high right out of the gate with an impressive 87.5-point ride to kick off the 2025 Governor’s Cup. His ride energized the crowd and raised the stakes for the decorated field heading into round two.
The steer wrestling action was equally thrilling as Rowdy Parrott stopped the clock at a blazing 3.3 seconds, setting an unofficial arena record. While Parrott has already secured his ticket to the 2025 NFR, all eyes were on the intense bubble race. Less than $6,000 separates the athletes ranked 14th through 20th in the world standings, meaning every run this weekend could make or break a season’s campaign.
Team ropers Luke Brown and Trey Yates also made a statement in the opening round. Entering the event ranked 16th and 15th, respectively, the duo delivered a smooth 4.3-second run, worth nearly $12,000 each, to take home the first round win. The win pushed them inside the coveted top 15, giving them a real chance to qualify for the NFR in the final days of the regular season.
In the saddle bronc riding, Statler Wright continued to carve out his own legacy. Wright’s 87.25-point ride earned him the round one win and nearly $12,000. Already sitting comfortably inside the top 15 at 10th in the world, the victory strengthens his position as he eyes his second NFR appearance.
The tie-down roping featured one of the most anticipated showdowns of the weekend as world champions Riley Webb and Shad Mayfield continued their season-long battle for the top spot in the PRCA world standings. Sioux Falls fans were treated to a preview of the world title race that will unfold in December, as Mayfield came out on top in round one with a 7.8-second run, while Webb finished close behind in second. Fifteen-time NFR qualifier Shane Hanchey, who came into the weekend sitting less than $400 outside the top 15, kept his NFR hopes alive with a smooth 8.8-second run to set himself up well in the aggregate, ahead of Saturday’s second round.
The breakaway roping brought its own excitement as Taylor Munsell and her main mount, “Colonel”, shared the round win with Puyallup Champion Rylee George. Both clocked a lightning-fast 2.7-second run. The win boosted Munsell to the number one position in the world standings, narrowly edging ahead of Shelby Meged, who is not competing in Sioux Falls.
Barrel racing fans saw Megan McLeod-Sprague and her equine athlete, Jagger, set the pace early in the evening with a quick 14.43-second run. McLeod-Sprague will carry that momentum into Saturday night’s second round as she looks to build on her lead.
The bull riding closed out the night in dramatic fashion. 2023 World Champion Ky Hamilton delivered a standout performance, riding “Muscle Man” for 88.75 points to take the lead by a narrow quarter-point over fellow Australian Qynn Andersen.
As round one concluded, it became clear that the road to Las Vegas runs through Sioux Falls. With three rounds of competition remaining, world standings and championship dreams will come down to the final rides and runs. The payout only raises the stakes, with more than $1.4 million in total prize money on the line.
The Governor’s Cup Payout
Round & Performance Payouts:
Semifinals (5th–8th): $4,000 each
Finals Payouts:
With the competition heating up, every second and every point will matter in the days ahead. The action continues at 7:30 p.m. CT Saturday night, with all performances broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel, ensuring fans across the country won’t miss a moment of the excitement as the 2025 Governor’s Cup plays out in Sioux Falls.