League of Legends finally gets a women’s pro league after more than 15 years

For more than fifteen years, League of Legends (LoL) has been a mainstay, with professional play being a significant aspect throughout its existence. Now, Riot Games is entering the scene and establishing the Game Changers LoL league, which has been eagerly anticipated by many.

Most esports leagues are predominantly male, even though they generally do not impose gender restrictions. Often, the skills of female and underrepresented gamers are overlooked when filling professional team positions, although there are some notable exceptions.

The Valorant’s Game Changers League has made a significant impact in the world of esports by shining a bright light on women, offering the largest prize pool and audience numbers among women-focused leagues. Some players from this league have even been recognized as potential contenders for regular VCT spots, with one player securing a spot in 2025 – though this didn’t come without its share of debate.

Approximately two decades following the initial launch of League of Legends, Riot Games is at last establishing a Game Changers league, specifically designed to showcase emerging talent and offer a platform for women to participate in competition.

Riot creates League of Legends Game Changers league

Previously, there haven’t been many organized opportunities for women and underrepresented genders to play League of Legends competitively. These attempts were often individual endeavors and scattered throughout the years. However, it’s significant that for the first time, Riot Games has expressed an interest in officially supporting a women’s League of Legends circuit.

Riot aims to initiate their new league without undervaluing the previous attempts at league creation. They plan to begin with LGC Rising, and competition is expected to commence within a few short months.

Here’s the proposed schedule:

  • Open Qualifier: August (Date TBC)
  • Group Stage: September 13–14, 20–21, 27–29
  • Playoffs: October 10–12 and 14–15
  • Grand Final: October 30, live on stage at Paris Games Week

For the initial LGC tournament, we’ll invite three existing and associated LEC teams, award slots to the top three teams from the Equal Esports Cup, and provide opportunities for two more teams to compete by participating in an open qualifier.

The significance of the LEC (League of Legends European Championship) section lies in the fact that Game Changers will initially only be available in Europe. At present, there’s no indication from Riot Games that they plan to extend their operations beyond this region.

Indeed, it’s commendable that Riot is attempting to promote inclusivity in League of Legends esports by providing opportunities for various players to showcase their skills and talents.

Riot pointed out that their triumph with the Valorant Game Changers served as a major motivator in forming this league initially. Given that it has evolved into a global initiative over the past few years, there’s potential for League of Legends to expand further.

Read More

2025-06-19 19:18