The event typically starts on the second Thursday of the NABC and is restricted to female players.
The Whitehead Women's Pairs is an event for partnerships consisting of two female players.
The contest was held annually at the Summer North American Bridge Championship until 1962.
That was changed the following year and subsequently contested at the Spring North American Bridge Championship.
No Women's Pairs champion has defended its title in more than 50 years, but four early winners did so on seven occasions: 1939, 1942–43, 1948, 1956–58.