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Women-Only Esport Competitions Are on the Rise — But Where’s the Money?
‘If you want to get more women in the door, offer them $100,000 instead of $50,000’
Earlier this year, Emmalee “EMUHLEET” Garrido and her Dignitas Female teammates took first place playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at the Intel Challenge Katowice, one of the most prestigious women’s esports tournaments in the world. They earned a $25,000 sum, divided between the team’s four players and one coach.
Though $25,000 is a sizable prize, it’s not enough for the team to live on. So Garrido holds down a job as a nurse in California during the day, leaving her house at 4 a.m. every day for her two-hour commute. After work, she dedicates at least five hours to practicing Counter-Strike. “My passion really drives me,” says Garrido. “Even if I only get four to five hours of sleep, I can go all night long practicing with my team.”
Prize pools in esports have never been higher. Last year, The International, an annual Dota 2 tournament, awarded more than $25 million in winnings. But though more and more esports athletes are able to make a living off of gaming, very few of them are women. The problem is driven by participation; in Overwatch League, for instance, there is only one female player out of a competitive field of 194…
