Reigning WDF world champion Deta Hedman has called on the PDC to do more to prevent clashes between its Women’s Series and major WDF events, revealing that her previous concerns have been met with the “standard answer” that women will simply have to choose where they play. The 66-year-old spoke out ahead of the announcement of the next PDC calendar, highlighting a particularly significant clash approaching this season.
The final four events of the 2026 Women’s Series are scheduled for Wigan in October, on the same weekend as three ranked events at the England Classic programme in Selsey. Hedman, who is fifth on the current Women’s Series Order of Merit after winning Event 11 in May and qualifying for the Women’s World Matchplay, said the clash directly affects her and many others. “A classic example is 9-11th October we have England Classic weekend at Selsey with 3 ranked events and PDC ladies series in Wigan,” she wrote on Facebook.
Hedman praised the PDC’s financial commitment, noting they “pay out fantastic money in ladies series” and that the Women’s Matchplay offers £15,000, the second-highest payout in ladies darts. However, she stressed that repeated clashes with established tournaments are limiting opportunities. “But we always get clashes with events in the UK & Ireland, UK and Ireland account for 80+% of ladies series entries in UK, and even when we go to Germany it's 40% of the entries,” she continued. “Recent years we have had clashes with IOM, Welsh, Scottish, English and British open events. It would be fantastic for the growth of the ladies game if these could be kept to a minimum.”
Hedman pointed to Gemma Hayter and Fallon Sherrock as examples of leading PDC players who also compete in major WDF events. “Recent events have seen Gemma Hayter compete when she can in UK WDF ranked events and World Masters in Vegas, this weekends Welsh Open saw Fallon Sherrock compete in Wales and the spectators there were so happy to see her,” she wrote. Hayter is currently fourth on the Women’s Series Order of Merit, one place ahead of Hedman, while Sherrock sits third.
Hedman, who became world champion at Lakeside in December 2025 at the age of 66, framed the issue around future generations. “At 66 won't affect me for too much longer but would be great for the youngsters to have potentially PDC, WADC and WDF tours to play on without clashing, I've asked about this before but standard answer is the Women will have to choose.” The final four Women’s Series events are due to take place in Wigan on 10-11 October, alongside the England Classic weekend in Selsey.