Faze Clan
Esports organisation Faze Clan has announced the launch of its first ever all-female professional team, which will compete in the 2023 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Game Changer Series.
Confirmed:
- Faze Clan’s 14th team individual team will join VCT for the upcoming season
- David Beckham-backed Guild Esports also launches first all-female team to take part in Counter Strike: Global Offensive division
Context:
The announcement on International Women’s Day comes as part of Faze Clan and Guild’s efforts to address the lack of female representation within the esports industry.
The sport has long been embroiled in controversy over gender-based discrimination. In 2021, Riot Games reached a US$100 million settlement for a lawsuit involving more than 2,000 female current and former employees, who accused the organisation of various offences including unequal pay and harassment.
Comment:
“It’s been a long time coming but we’re stoked to officially announce bringing on our first all female esports pro team for Valorant,” said Erik Anderson, head of esports at Faze Clan.
“Signing this group of talented women is just the beginning of bringing female gamers to the forefront at Faze and I can’t wait to watch them play as a team.”
Coming next:
Introduced last year, the Game Changer Series is aiming to open up new opportunities for women in Valorant esports, as the division aims to establish itself as an inclusive space for all genders. More coverage and high profile backing will help attract more women into esports.
