After months of anticipation, the Equal Esports Cup 2025 is set to reignite the women’s and non-binary competitive scene. As its first large-scale tournament and league of the year, the competition offers a real extended test for this season’s contenders — while also serving as a prelude to the long-awaited and recently announced League of Legends Game Changers (LGC) Rising circuit. Now in its third edition, the EEC has become a pillar for equity in esports. With a record twelve participating teams, the competition continues to grow, offering more players a chance to shine on a structured and visible stage.

While the global scene is technically open to all, the path to the top has long been paved with systemic barriers — from toxic environments and lack of representation, to early social conditioning. Though a few exceptional players have previously broken through and reached Tier 1 leagues, initiatives like the EEC and LGC remain vital. With the goal of building a sustainable pipeline for the esports of tomorrow, competitions like these aim to end segregation in esports — in hopes that one day, they won’t be needed at all.

This edition’s opening day kicks off on July 1st at 18:00 CEST on the official Equal Esports Twitch channel, featuring two groups of six teams each. This piece focuses on Group A — home to established powerhouses like G2 Hel and Vitality Rising Bees, rising organizations like Zerance Bloom and WLG Female Stars, and promising orgless squads like Las Divinas and Femmes Fatales. With so much on the line, teams will need to achieve a top-three finish in their group if they wish to advance. The reward? A spot in the six-team double elimination playoffs, a shot at the live finals at Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, and one of three coveted places in the 2025 LoL Game Changers Rising.

Femmes Fatales — Misfits Turned Contenders

Newcomers to the scene, the Femmes Fatales have been turning heads after qualifying through the EEC’s Open Qualifiers. The goal? Make playoffs and secure a spot in LGC Rising. While their name might not yet carry much weight, this budding roster has continued to impress — despite fielding three players with little prior experience in high-level competition. With Ana "Iana" Ioana Popp, former support of Chester Gaming (who placed 4th last year), serving as a key voice for the squad, the Femmes Fatales are not a team to underestimate. Her leadership should also prove essential in enabling rookie AD Carry Evelin "Eveevii" Eschner who previously competed in Prime League lower divisions.

As for the team’s origins, Femmes Fatales was initially formed as a mix of players to participate in a showmatch against Solary Académie back in February — a match they won. Three players from that original lineup remain on the squad today. Since then, the team has managed to qualify with minimal prep time, all while weathering a last-minute roster swap in the support role and a change in coaching staff. Fueled by friendship and determination, they’ve been putting in the work despite not having organizational backing.

Though every member of the team brings something unique, viewers should keep an eye on rookie jungler Meloncola (Abigail Horst) — a standout talent known for her unorthodox picks like Yorick jungle. Her synergy with Torlaine could prove to be a crucial factor in Femmes Fatales’ pursuit of a playoff run. Last but not least, Erika (Erika Perpétua) brings an extra layer of unpredictability, known primarily for her pool of carry-oriented champions — most notably her pocket picks like Akali and Pantheon.

WLG Female Stars — Greece's Underdogs

Though seen as outsiders by many, the Greek organization enters the fray with little to lose and everything to gain. As best put by the team’s support and one of its most experienced players, Charlotte "Charlotte" Yeung: "We enter this competition with slightly less pressure on our shoulders, as we are underdogs and everyone’s sixth pick for Group A. In a way, despite the critics, it makes it easier to focus and play how we’ve been practicing, which I believe will be different from the other teams. If people have low expectations, you can only beat them and surprise them — and that’s our advantage."

Expectations be damned — WLG are the perfect team to support if you love a good underdog story. While we haven’t yet seen the squad in action, resilience, unpredictability, and a little fiesta in the botlane are what you can expect from this young roster, according to its members. "We play the meta, sure — but we also play what fits us best. Our strength lies in knowing our comfort zone and turning it into an advantage. We're not afraid to break the mold if it means securing the win," commented Wassila "Wassy" Louahala, the team’s jungler.

A self-proclaimed Cosmic Drive merchant, Leil remains one of the team’s top prospects and a player to watch. Best known for her control mages, the Greek midlaner is set to make her Equal Esports Cup debut this year, with plenty of eyes on her… and just as many on the team’s botlane duo. Will she rise to the occasion?

Las Divinas — A Victory Foretold?

A roster of close-knit friends, Las Divinas is one of the teams directly invited to this year’s Equal Esports Cup — despite not being backed by a parent organization. While the lineup has changed slightly, this squad stands as the spiritual successor to last year’s Rigas In Paris and MAD Lions KOI Femenino, and is a solid choice for those who enjoy more structured, teamfight-oriented playstyles. Although they find themselves in a group many expect to be dominated by G2 Hel, a second or third place finish is not out of question. Strong fundamentals alone might allow them to outperform more well-known rosters.

While the team tends to play around their botlane, Las Divinas remains particularly compelling thanks to their top laner, Diana "FengDere" Hrnjadovic, and her unique champion pool. From Dr. Mundo to her signature Briar and Yorick, she brings a volatile edge to the lineup. Chara "Delicate" Giannopoulou, who hasn’t competed since her 2023 stint with Team GO Aurora, also returns as a key player to watch. With a carry-heavy pool and the ability to snowball leads, she could be the X-factor that propels Las Divinas into the Cup’s playoff stage.

That said, their placement in Group A marks their first real test. So far, the squad has only competed in the Prime League 6th Division, where they currently stand undefeated in first place. Will they step up to the challenge?

Zerance Bloom — Blossoming Prospects

Four rookies, one veteran, and a shared dream. Zerance Bloom enters the Equal Esports Cup as an unexpected success story, showcasing some of the scene’s hidden gems. Led by former Vitality AD Carry Velouria "Viki" Baty, now serving as team captain, this squad is a project rooted in humility but driven by ambition. While they might not be seen as frontrunners for the title, Zerance Bloom impressed with a dominant run through the open qualifiers—dropping only a single game — and continued their momentum with a victory at the Echoes of the Rift LAN event in Paris.

While every player on the squad deserves recognition in their own right, Malorie "Malo" Lefebvre stands out as the star of the show for Zerance. Touted as one of the most promising rookies in the scene, she narrowly missed out on multiple opportunities this offseason — despite interest from several high-profile organizations. A positive and uplifting presence, her teammates describe her as a driving force within the team, not only for her strong mechanics but also for the energy and cohesion she brings to the squad.

Despite their lack of experience, expectations remain relatively high for this up-and-coming roster. Most anticipate they’ll finish at least mid-pack in Group A, if not push all the way to a playoff berth. With so many compelling storylines surrounding them, it almost feels unfair how easy it is to root for this team — a Cinderella story everyone hopes will get its happy ending.

Vitality Rising Bees — Going Above and Beeyond

Known talents, the Vitality Rising Bees are one of three teams directly invited to the League of Legends Game Changers Rising. Despite that privilege, the team has set its sights high for both the LGC and the EEC. "We want to win both the EEC and Game Changers. We've put in a massive amount of work to improve and perfect our macro game and champion pool, and we're now at a point where every team should fear us," commented Joshua "BurntSanctuary" Keller, head coach of the team.

Still, opinions on the squad remain split — especially as few have had the chance to see this new VRB lineup in action. With limited appearances in the Nexus Tour, the team posted decent results, much like many women’s teams navigating this grueling competition. While they notably dropped a match to Zerance Bloom, it was a best-of-one—hardly a result to draw definitive conclusions from. Regardless, the squad remains both humble and ambitious.

Experience and synergy should not be underestimated—this squad features a core of former BDS Valkyries members, including the team’s former botlane and coaching staff. Joining them is their original midlaner, Manon "Sha" Legaignoux, making her return after a one-year stint with G2 Hel. But beyond these familiar faces, one player stands out in particular. As highlighted by head coach Iulia "Yushia" Boldor, the team’s jungler is a pivotal piece of the roster. The first player signed to the project, the staff has placed a great deal of hope in the talented Romanian. Though still relatively new to the scene, her growth since her time on Solary Académie has been remarkable—and she’s expected to be a major asset in the team’s push for success.

G2 Hel — Eyes on the Prize

A team that needs no introduction, G2 Hel are — and have always been — one of the most recognized organizations in the women's scene. Still, as surprising as it may sound, the newly improved squad is yet to claim its first Equal Esports Cup title. Boasting household names and having earned recognition over the years for their titles in the Coupe des Étoiles 2024 and Storm Takeover, the Samurais are now hoping to add yet another trophy to their cabinet, continuing their impressive run in the mixed scene.

Rym "rym" Salloum remains a no-brainer if you're looking for a player to watch: one of the most impressive rookies on the scene — and possibly already its best midlane — she stands as a pivotal member of the team. Still, Marta "Shiina" Mesas Garrido and Ève "Colomblbl" Monvoisin continue to be pillars and two of the most consistent players in the scene. Competing since the early days of the women’s circuit, both have delivered steady and impactful performances, proving to be major assets in G2's innovative, fast-paced, and strategic gameplay.

A well-rounded squad, G2 Hel now look to make the EEC their first stop before diving into League of Legends: Game Changers Rising, where they are one of the founding member teams. As long as Zeniv continues to draw enemy attention on her toplane island — and while Maya "Caltys" Henckel's hunger for femboys remains sated — G2 Hel seem poised to keep their grasp on the circuit.