She Plays. She Leads. She Changes Esports.

In December 2025, Kuala Lumpur witnessed the beginning of a new chapter for women in Esports.

Teams of talented female players from around the world stepped onto the stage of the World Esports Championship (WEC) 2025, embracing a moment that finally belonged to them.

This moment signals that female esports players are no longer an “add-on” to major tournaments or a side showcase. They now fully stand under the spotlight– where everyone must see them, recognise them, and respect their skills. The creation of the Women Division is, in itself, a powerful statement.

It marks the beginning of a new era, one where the skill, tactical thinking, and competitive spirit of female players must be seen by the world on a stage equal to that of their male counterparts.

It represents a shift in the industry’s story:

From being noticed to being taken seriously,

From getting a chance to getting to define the stage itself.

Players stayed fully focused in the heat of the match. (Source:IESF)

Seen by Millions, Recognized by Few

Although women make up a significant part of the global gaming community, they have long been pushed to the margins  of professional Esports. Their presence was often treated  as an “exception,” their abilities questioned, and their voices excluded from the industry's core conventions.They lived in the same gaming world, but were not given the same stage or the same resources. 

This is why the Women’s Division at WEC 2025 became a powerful breakthrough for female players and fans from all around the world. 

For years, stereotypes defined women gamers: “not strong enough,” “not professional enough.” Standing on an international stage, with precise control, calm decisions, and mature teamwork. Female players are rewriting those old stereotypes with their performances.

Voices That Break the Silence

Voices from women across the world are coming together, forming a force that can no longer be ignored, and reshaping esports.

“I want to see more female players pursue their esports career, in spite of the hardship."said TEGAMI, a MLBB player from Team Cambodia.

Team Cambodia’s Players and coaches huddle up for their pre-match talk. Left to right: MOSHII, TEGAMI, BOB, EIILAN, UEE, BAOBEI. (Source:IESF)

This spirit of pushing forward, even when it's hard, reveals a deeper truth: the journey for women in Esports often involves barriers far more complex than skill alone. They face social doubt, limited structural support, and the constant pressure of proving that they belong.

When female players appear on an international stage, their struggle becomes symbolic, something the industry, and the world, must recognise.

This recognition is the first step in breaking the old belief that esports is a “men’s club.”

“I think it gives more visibility to the women out there who want to feel included and to feel safe.” Velvet, a MLBB player from Team Egypt, pointed out something sharp and honest, being seen brings a deep sense of safety and belonging.

Left to right: VELVET, NANA, NUCCI, NAMES, FVVN. Team Egypt ,getting ready for the match. (Source:IESF)

For a long time, the Esports community has not always been a welcoming place for women.

A dedicated and recognised women’s division can let female players focus on the game itself, without having to defend their identity before they even start.

Velvet added that this visibility “gives them more of a push to be more dedicated, to actually want to be a part of these events.” It turns many women from quietly wondering “Maybe I could…” into confidently saying “I can be one of them.”

Putri Nurshafiqah Binti Muhammad Ali, a local fan from Malaysia, spoke about the real barriers faced by many women gamers. “They always think that women cannot play games. Women have to do housework, or stay in the home.” Esports demands time, focus, and commitment, all of which clash directly with the traditional gendered expectations placed on women.

This is exactly this reality that gives WEC 2025 in Kuala Lumpur a meaning far beyond the competition itself. Putri added with hope, “It also can open the mind of all people that women also have the ability to think strategically.”

When female players perform with skill and calm strategy in front of the crowd,they challenge old rules and outdated beliefs.

The Women’s Division at WEC sends out a clear message to the world: the stage for women is here, and their strength is shaping a new future for Esports.

A Battle Beyond the Scoreboard

At the same time, China is witnessing a breakthrough of its own, challenging the long-standing gender divide in Esports in a far more direct way.

At the King Pro League (KPL) Challenger Cup, the women's team, TE:SU, stepped onto the main stage that had always been dominated by men. In their very first match, they faced AG, a traditional powerhouse with six consecutive titles.

Team TE:SU. Left to Right: ZAIYE, KK, HUAISHA, YIMAN, HUAJIU. (Source: TE:SU)

TE:SU’s loss may have been within many people’s expectations, but the score cannot show what this match truly meant.

TE:SU did not just face a strong opponent—they also carried the burden of a less developed training system.

To all the voices questioning whether female players could stand against top men’s teams, they answered with every moment of teamwork and every bold play.

TE:SU showed a style, and a strength, that belongs to women in Esports.

After the match, player YIMAN shared her thoughts in an interview, “I hope more people will pay attention to the women’s league.I also hope that more women can stand on this stage in the future and compete alongside male players.”

YIMAN shares her thoughts in the  interview after the match. (Source:Xiaohongshu)

What they want is not a protected, separate lane. They want fair competition on the same stage, a stage where their strength is recognised first.

The match between TE:SU and AG carries a meaning far beyond the result itself. It broke the invisible line that once separated women’s tournaments from the mainstream arena, and it marked an important step toward deeper gender integration in Esports.

From Here, They Build the Future

Whether on the WEC stage in Kuala Lumpur or in the cross-division match at the KPL Challenger Cup, we are witnessing women in esports reshaping the rules in their own way.

Today, they fight to be seen. 

Tomorrow, they will no longer need to prove they belong.

When more women gain access to the professional system, when tournaments are willing to build a truly equal stage for them, and when fans recognise and support their competitive value, the future of Esports will become more diverse and more complete.

When women play, the game changes – and so does the future.