Schlegel, a wife and mother from Rosemount, Minnesota, got off to an excellent start by solving the opening Toss-Up puzzle. A devoted fan of singer Brandi Carlile, she quickly established herself as one of the night’s strongest competitors. She faced Mitch Landsburg from Pennsylvania, who joked about once sitting in a hot tub with Justin Bieber, and Anushi Parikh from Texas, a Bollywood dance instructor who solved the second Toss-Up. The competition remained close through the early rounds, with each contestant finding opportunities to build momentum as the game moved through several different puzzle categories.

One of the night’s biggest turning points came during the Crossword puzzle in the category “___ Cone.” Schlegel appeared to have complete control after solving most of the board before an unfortunate Bankrupt spin abruptly ended her turn. Landsburg immediately seized the opportunity. Rather than buying another letter, he confidently solved the puzzle with “Snow, Waffle, Pine,” adding $1,000 to his total and moving into the lead. It was a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change on Wheel of Fortune, where a single spin often determines whether contestants celebrate or watch valuable winnings disappear.

Schlegel answered in spectacular fashion during the next puzzle by taking a gamble that many contestants avoid—the Express Train. Choosing to ride the train instead of playing cautiously meant every correct letter earned more money, but one wrong guess would wipe out everything she had collected on that puzzle. Rarely do contestants complete the Express successfully, making it one of the show’s riskiest decisions. Schlegel remained calm under pressure, solving “Doing Absolutely Nothing” after uncovering nearly every letter. The solve earned her $9,900 and a Caribbean cruise as the Prize Puzzle, boosting her total to $18,145. Fans on Reddit praised her strategy, with many saying it was refreshing to see someone use the Express Train exactly as intended instead of playing conservatively.

The battle remained competitive until the end of the main game. Landsburg captured two of the three Triple Toss-Up puzzles, while Schlegel claimed the remaining one to maintain her advantage. Anushi Parikh added to her own score by solving the final puzzle, “Lunch Bunch,” finishing with $6,950. Landsburg ended the game with $10,700, but Schlegel’s consistent performance throughout the night secured victory with $20,145 and a place in the Bonus Round. With thousands of dollars already guaranteed and family members cheering from the audience, she now stood just one puzzle away from dramatically increasing her winnings.

Choosing the category “Phrase,” Schlegel was joined by her parents and two best friends as she prepared for the final challenge. After receiving the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, and E, she selected C, D, M, and O. The puzzle appeared as “_ L_ _E _O_R _ R.” As the ten-second clock began counting down, Schlegel worked through several logical possibilities. She guessed “I Love Your Hair,” then “I Love Your Words,” followed by “I Love Your Care” and “I Live Your…” Each attempt came close in rhythm but failed to unlock the correct answer. When time expired, host Ryan Seacrest revealed the solution: “I Like Your Aura.” Inside the envelope was an additional $40,000, meaning Schlegel had narrowly missed the chance to leave with a total of $60,145.

The reveal immediately ignited debate among Wheel of Fortune fans, many of whom argued that the phrase was unusually difficult or simply unfamiliar. Reddit quickly filled with reactions from puzzled viewers who questioned whether “I Like Your Aura” was common enough to appear as a Bonus Round solution. One fan bluntly asked whether anyone actually says the phrase, while another dismissed it as a “hipster phrase.” Others admitted they had been convinced the answer would be “I Love Your Work” or another more familiar expression before the final letters appeared. A few viewers recognized the word “aura” as modern slang referring to someone’s vibe or energy, but many maintained they had never heard the complete phrase used in everyday conversation. While Schlegel still walked away with more than $20,000 and a Caribbean cruise after an impressive performance throughout the game, the ending left fans once again questioning whether Wheel of Fortune’s Bonus Round puzzles are becoming so difficult that even outstanding contestants are losing prizes because of phrases many viewers simply don’t recognize.