Women’s esports has experienced remarkable growth, with stakeholders actively investing in initiatives to increase female participation in the competitive gaming scene. The year 2023 marked a turning point, with significant milestones in women’s esports. According to data from Esports Charts, total watch time for female esports broadcasts reached an impressive 28 million hours. Peak viewership skyrocketed by over 198%, climbing from 392,400 in 2022 to an astounding 1.37 million in 2023.
Organizations like Gen.G, Luminosity, Dignitas, and G2 Esports have been instrumental in fostering women’s representation and signing female rosters across various competitive games. Notably, G2 Esports secured two VCT Game Changers Stage championships in 2024. UK-based Guild Esports has also emerged as a key player, hosting a series of tournaments aimed at advancing women’s presence in esports.
In this article by cyber-sport.io, we’ll explore some of the most popular women’s esports ecosystems worldwide and the progress driving this growing sector.
Valorant
VALORANT has emerged as one of the most popular and dynamic ecosystems for women in esports, thanks to its impressive viewership numbers and substantial prize pools.
Riot Games, the publisher of VALORANT, has been proactive in fostering inclusivity within the game since its 2020 launch. The introduction of the VCT Game Changers initiative in 2021—just a year after the game’s beta debut — cemented Riot’s commitment to creating opportunities for women in the VALORANT competitive scene.
The impact of these efforts is evident in the Game Changers World Championships. The events in 2022 and 2023 achieved peak viewership of 239,334 and 293,993, respectively, establishing VALORANT as the leading PC-based women’s esports ecosystem. Only Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has surpassed these figures in terms of female esports viewership.
The 2023 VCT Game Changers Championship, held in São Paulo, Brazil, showcased the scene’s growth, bringing together regional qualifiers from around the globe. Beyond Riot’s ecosystem, standalone events like the UK’s 2024 Red Bull Instalock further demonstrate the growing interest in advancing women’s participation in VALORANT esports.
Teams such as Shopify Rebellion, Team Liquid Brazil, and G2 Gozen have become fan favorites due to their standout performances in the Game Changers Championships. Their success highlights the viability of women’s esports when supported by well-structured platforms and initiatives. Additionally, Game Changers has influenced broader competitive opportunities, with new rules enabling a clearer pathway for Game Changers players to progress into tier-two (Challengers) and tier-one (International) VALORANT leagues.
These developments showcase how VALORANT is setting the standard for inclusivity and growth in women’s esports.
Counter-Strike
As one of the most iconic FPS titles in esports, Counter-Strike has established a robust infrastructure for female players through initiatives like the ESL Impact circuit and various women-focused tournaments.
In 2023, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) accounted for an impressive 23.4% of the total prize pool allocated to women’s esports, according to Esports Charts. This success is largely attributed to high-profile tournaments such as ESL Impact and the IESF Female World Esports Championships. Looking ahead, the 2024 IESF Female World Championship will feature a $160,000 (£126,300) prize pool, while ESL Impact Seasons 5 and 6 will each offer $123,000 (£97,100).
The Counter-Strike franchise has also been a launchpad for some of the highest-earning female esports players in history. Notable figures include Julia ‘juliano’ Kiran, Michael ‘mimi’ Lintrup, and Petra ‘Petra’ Stoker, all of whom have earned World Championship titles in both CS:GO and VALORANT.
With initiatives like these, Counter-Strike continues to solidify its position as a trailblazer in fostering competitive opportunities for women in esports.
Fortnite
Epic Games’ Fortnite has solidified its status as a trailblazer in the battle royale esports genre, particularly in the Western gaming world. While the game’s built-in competitive events are a major draw, organizations like Gen.G, eFuse, and Raidiant have played a key role in fostering opportunities for women in the competitive Fortnite scene.
In 2024, the industry saw a breakthrough with The Milk Cup, a monumental tournament announced by dairy brand Gonna Need Milk. Featuring a $250,000 (~£197,300) prize pool and 400 female participants from across the U.S., it became the largest women’s Fortnite competition to date, making waves in the esports community.
Tournaments such as Women of the eRena have also been instrumental in bringing together elite female teams to compete for a $75,000 (~£59,200) prize pool. Earlier efforts, like Gen.G’s 2019 partnership with Bumble to form an all-female roster, paved the way for such initiatives, even though the roster project has since ended.
In addition to competitions, Fortnite’s female ecosystem thrives thanks to prominent creators who inspire and connect with fans. Streamers like Kittyplays, ironmouse, and Kayla ‘Sommerset’ Coy have left a lasting impact. Sommerset, for example, clinched first place in the qualifiers for The Milk Cup, showcasing her competitive expertise. Similarly, ironmouse hosted her own $15,000 (~£11,800) Zero Build Invitational in 2023, further elevating the scene, and earned the Content Creator of the Year award at the 2023 Game Awards.
By combining innovative partnerships, groundbreaking tournaments, and influential personalities, Fortnite is redefining the landscape for women in esports, setting a benchmark for inclusivity and competitive excellence.
Rocket League
Rocket League has taken significant steps to expand its female esports ecosystem, with developer Psyonix and partners like BLAST championing women-centric initiatives. Highlights include a women’s show match at the 2023 Olympic Esports Week and a tournament during the Commonwealth Esports Championship in 2022.
In 2023, Psyonix celebrated Women’s History Month with an in-game event and supported key tournaments such as the $10,000 Women in Rocket League (WIRL) competition and the Ally Women’s Open. Guild Esports, in collaboration with Sky UK, contributed to the momentum by hosting the Boost Championship, further bolstering opportunities for female players.
Notable teams like G2 Luna, Luminosity Gaming, and Dignitas are at the forefront of the women’s Rocket League scene. With major events on the horizon, such as the $75,000 (~£59,200) Star Chasers Showdown in 2024, Rocket League’s share of women’s prize pools continues to grow. This tournament, backed by Ally Financial in partnership with BLAST and Raidiant, features offline and online matches across Europe and North America, solidifying the game’s global reach.
Raidiant, a women-led broadcast provider, has been a key supporter of female Rocket League esports, organizing events like the Ally Women’s Open in 2023 and the upcoming Star Chasers Showdown. Psyonix’s commitment extends into collegiate esports, with West Virginia University launching a women’s varsity Rocket League team in 2023. Additionally, DreamHack hosted the $20,000 (~£15,745) Rocket Clash tournament, showcasing top female rosters from around the world.
Beyond esports, Rocket League’s ecosystem includes influential female content creators. Twitch streamer Athena, for instance, gained recognition when a skill mechanic, the “Athena flick,” was named in her honor in 2020.
With growing support from developers, broadcasters, and sponsors, Rocket League is accelerating the development of its women’s esports scene and fostering a more inclusive gaming community.
