According to esports reporter Slasher, female VALORANT players like Version1’s meL are being denied opportunities to practice and try out with tier one teams due to sexism from male players.
During a recent stream with VCT caster Sean Gares, Slasher revealed that meL has attempted multiple times to practice with top-tier teams, only to be rejected because at least one male player on each team refused to play with a woman. As a result, she never even got the chance to try out.
MeL, who is the second-most decorated in-game leader in the VALORANT Game Changers ecosystem, has faced this discrimination despite her impressive track record. While playing for Cloud9, her team dominated the North American scene, winning six NA Game Changers trophies between 2021 and 2022. However, the glass ceiling created by sexism within tier one teams has prevented her from breaking through.
This issue is not unique to VALORANT but is prevalent in other tactical first-person shooters like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). Slasher mentioned that mimi, the captain of G2, also experienced similar discrimination during her time as a CS:GO pro.
Julia “juliano” Kiran, another prominent figure in the women’s Counter-Strike scene, shared her own experiences of being denied tryouts and spots due to male players’ unwillingness to play with a woman. She has advocated for mixed teams to address this issue.
Even talented players like Version1’s florescent, who aspire to join franchised league teams in the future, may have their ambitions cut short if these discriminatory practices persist.
To ensure equal opportunities for all players, it is crucial for organizations and the VCT itself to take action against male players who gatekeep their female counterparts. This will allow the best players, regardless of gender, to have a fair chance at success.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
