Biography
Liz Johnson is one of the greatest bowlers in women's history. She was born on May 2, 1974, in Cheektowaga, New York, near Buffalo, and has spent three decades at the top of the PWBA while also breaking barriers on the men's tour.
In 2005 she became the first woman to reach a televised final on the PBA Tour, at the Banquet Open. She beat Wes Malott 235–228 in the semifinal before losing the title match to Tommy Jones. In 2017 she won her first national PBA Tour title at the PBA Chameleon Championship.
She kept breaking new ground on the senior tour: in 2024 she became the first woman to make a PBA50 championship round, and in June 2026 she became the first woman to win a PBA50 Tour title, at the South Shore Classic.
Career at a Glance
- PWBA titles: 25 (15 standard titles and 10 majors)
- Major titles: 10, the most by any woman
- U.S. Women's Open: 6 wins (1996, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- PWBA Player of the Year: 3 (2015, 2016, 2017)
- Halls of Fame: USBC Hall of Fame (2015), PWBA Hall of Fame (2025)
- PBA firsts: first woman in a PBA Tour TV final (2005), first woman to win a PBA50 title (2026)
Titles and Achievements
Johnson's 10 majors are the women's record:
- U.S. Women's Open: 1996, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
- USBC Queens: 2009, 2015
- PWBA Players Championship: 2001, 2017
She also won gold with Team USA at the 2011 World Women's Championships in Hong Kong, and has rolled televised 300 games in PWBA competition.
Playing Style
Johnson is a classic stroker.
Smooth delivery
Low-to-moderate rev rate
Exceptional accuracy
Elite spare shooting
- Her game emphasizes control over power.
Ball Speed
Competitive ball speed: 16–17 mph
She maintains consistent speed to maximize repeatability.
Career Highlights
- 1996: first U.S. Women's Open title.
- 2005: first woman to bowl in a PBA Tour televised final (Banquet Open, runner-up).
- 2015–2017: three straight PWBA Player of the Year awards and three straight U.S. Women's Open titles.
- 2017: won the PBA Chameleon Championship, her first national PBA Tour title.
- 2026: first woman to win a PBA50 Tour title.
Equipment Used
Reactive resin bowling balls with controlled backend motion
Symmetrical cores for predictability
Surface adjustments for flatter oil patterns