The first female playable character in the main Pokémon games is Kris. She was introduced in Pokémon Crystal, the 2000 update to Pokémon Gold and Silver, as the game’s optional female player character.
Gold and Silver originally offered only the male protagonist, but Crystal expanded the player’s choice by adding Kris alongside the existing male character, Ethan’s predecessor. Kris’s inclusion was an important step for the series because players could now experience the Johto adventure through a female Pokémon Trainer.
A common mix-up is confusing Kris with May, Dawn, or Hilda. May was the first female protagonist designed for the Game Boy Advance generation, appearing in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Dawn followed in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, while Hilda was introduced in Pokémon Black and White. Kris was later replaced by Lyra in the remakes Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, which is why newer players may associate Johto’s female protagonist with Lyra rather than Kris.