After months of anticipation, the Equal Esports Cup 2025 is set to reignite the womenâs 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 seasonâs contenders â 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 â 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 esport of tomorrow, competitions like these aim to end segregation in esports â in hopes that one day, they wonât be needed at all.
This editionâs 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 â 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.
The EEC Schedule. Courtesy: Leaguepedia
â Last Minute Airlines â Turbulence Guaranteed
One of the most unlikely teams of the season, Last Minute Airlines made their way into the Equal Esports Cupâfittingly, as their name suggestsâat the very last minute. Despite nearly missing the competition due to a late registration, the
ex-GameWard Astrals core stormed through the open qualifiers, dropping only a single game to Zerance Bloom. While much of the roster comes from the former Astrals lineup, Danli "Danli" Shen is a new addition to the squad, joining alongside Lilly "Lilium" Cintosun, who was brought in just before the tournament began to replace the teamâs original midlaner. A veteran of the scene with previous stints on Solary Academy and KOI Amethyst, Lilium is known for her highly unique playstyle centered around assassin championsâand she poses a serious threat to any unsuspecting midlaner.
While expectations remain low, this squad is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining to watch in the entire tournament. With two
FOTY (Flipper of the Year) votes to their name, this team wonât hesitate to push opponents to their limits and snatch a few wins from those who come unprepared. Individual talent isnât lacking eitherâamong their ranks is current EEC champion Isla "Sana" L, a previously unknown name who rose to prominence last year thanks to her jungle prowess and love for champions like Ivern and Maokai.
"If flights get delayed, weâll turn the chaos into opportunity. Weâre offering discounted tickets to every team we send home earlyâhopefully enough to afford our next Boeing 747."
â Isla "Sana" L., Jungler of Last Minute Airlines
Nexus Reapers â A Quiet Threat
Though many may not see them as title contenders, Nexus Reapers packs some serious firepower. Led by the mid-jungle duo of Alena "TIFA" Maurer and AgnÄ "Karina" IvaĆĄkeviÄiĆ«tÄâa former G2 and Vitality pairingâthe squad is determined to assert itself at the very top of the Equal Esports Cup, even without the support of an organization.
"A successful split for me would be reaching the finals. While this team was built to aim for first place, we canât ignore the advantage that teams like G2 Hel have with months of additional training. Still, we can reach top 2âand maybe even win on a good day. Based on what Iâve seen in our prep and from the other teams so far, Iâm confident weâll perform well. [...] I'm just glad we're finally getting to play. A lot has happened over the last six months, and Iâm happy we can focus on the Rift. Femmes FatalesâI'm looking forward to seeing you in playoffs."
â Diane Masson, Head Coach of Nexus Reapers
One of the most unexpected storylines of the year, Sabrina "Ghidi" Ghidini will also make her return to the scene in 2025 with Nexus Reapers. A legend of the early women's scene, Ghidi was once among the most accomplished AD Carries in Europe, nearly completing golden roads in 2020 and 2021 by winning almost every tournament she attended. After retiring in 2022, her return is nothing short of remarkableâand the Italian veteran still has plenty to offer.
Joining her in the bot lane is Elianne "Dunneboshond" Haas, who will be competing in the womenâs and non-binary scene for the first time. Though not yet a household name, Dunne has consistently stood out in solo queue, peaking at 800 LP in both 2024 and 2025, and recently finished as runner-up in the 4 Nations 2025 Spring Playoffs alongside Karina.
Also rejoining the competitive fold is Lily "GWolfieG" Kraft, a 2023 EEC champion who has been largely inactive since her title run. Once a star in her role, she now sets out to rekindle the spark that once defined her career.
Galions Pearl â Armed and Afloat
At first glance, Galions Pearl might seem like a new face in the sceneâbut donât be fooled. Behind the new name is the roster formerly known as GO Aurora, the first-ever Coupe des Ătoiles champion and third-place finisher in last yearâs Equal Esports Cup. The team rebranded in September after streamer Maxime âSixenâ Tchoroukian became co-CEO of the organization.
From last yearâs lineup, two key players remain: Alice âWiosnaâ MossĂ© in the top lane and Charlotte âCosmĂŻcâ Tranquillin in the bot lane. After a demanding tryout process to find a new midlaner, the team recruited the relatively unknown Iva âIveâ MatkoviÄ, and rounded out the roster with Kamilla âHaoâ Djamalov in the jungle and Gina âLumiâ Kircher as support. While Hao and Ive may not be well-known names in the W&NB scene, their addition is part of a broader strategy laid out by coach Mario âBalleenoâ Lombardi for this yearâs competition.
"What will make the difference for us is that we might not have the biggest individual names or superstars, but from the very beginning, our goal was to truly become a team. We've put all our effort into understanding how, when, and why to play as oneâhow to make sacrifices for each other in order to pursue the same goal. The team showed incredible endurance and resilience during some really tough months of scrims, but no one ever gave up. [...] Weâll be stronger as five. Weâll be a team where anyone can carry and be the clutch factor, depending on the situation."
â Mario âBalleenoâ Lombardi, Head Coach of Galions Pearl
Despite being one of the sceneâs most established teams, Galions Pearl was not invited to LCG Risingâmaking this yearâs Equal Esports Cup their shot at reaching the biggest stage. They may not be tournament favorites, but theyâre more than capable of making top contenders sweat.
This wonât be their first competition of the year, either. Thanks to a new partnership between Prime League and GGWP, the team was allowed to compete in the Prime League Summer Split. After a 7â1 run in the qualifiers, they entered at the highest available levelâPRM Division 5. Since then, theyâve aimed to qualify for the promotion playoffs and are well on track, currently sitting at a 9â1 record in their group.
â Written by Josselin "Huzyan" Deborde, representative of Les GĂątĂ©s Pearl.
Solary Academy â Shining in Shadows
Style and substance â Solary is not entering the Equal Esports Cup quietly. Though many have underrated the squad, and while Solary may not have had the strongest historical results, the team is living up to its name: fostering the talents of tomorrow and aiming to upset the competition. With three active members who finished in the top four of last yearâs Equal Esports Cup, and with the addition of promising rookie jungler Thorn (Alexis S.), who peaked near 700 LP this year, Solary cannot be underestimated.
"Our game plan boils down to executing the fundamentals of competitive League better than anyone elseâbut weâve got more than a few wildcards up our sleeve, and weâre more than happy to put on a show. We have no intention of fumbling the spotlight. [...] To our fans: itâs no secret we had to weather a storm of social media backlash at the start of the year, and youâre the ones who kept us grounded. Itâs hard to put into words how much that support has meant, and we hope to repay it with our performance at this EEC. To our opponents? Bonne chance."
â Evie "Pivotless" Pullen, Top Laner of Solary Academy
Former home of now-star G2 midlaner Rym "rym" Salloum, current Vitality jungler Iulia "Yushia" Boldor, and many other standout players, Solary has remained a pillar of the womenâs scene through thick and thin. With consistent investment and long-term commitment, the organization has established itself as one of the most influential forces in the space. This year, theyâre led by former Team GO Aurora midlaner and established veteran Luna "Lilith" Benzerara-Arnoux, a proven presence in high-level play.
As previously mentioned, Thorn is the player to watch for Solary. The youngest member of the squad and one of its most exciting prospects, she could very well become a key difference-makerâmuch like Yushia once wasâsurprising many with her wide champion pool and confident playstyle. In addition, Fabienne "Clef" Kersting is an AD Carry to keep an eye on. Coming off a standout season with Chester Gaming, she has quietly cemented herself as one of the strongest in the sceneâespecially if sheâs given room to play her game.
SK Gaming Avarosa â Cold-Blooded Queens
Co-organizers of the Equal Esports Cup, 2023 champions, and invited participants to League of Legends Game Changers Rising, SK Avarosa is a roster built for dominationâand nothing short of that will satisfy them. With the addition of former G2 veteran Olivia "Lizia" Calistus, 2024 champion AD Carry Mia "Miella" Steger, and seasoned support Eva "Kyanna" Murn, anything less than winning the entire competition would be considered a failure in SKâs eyes.
Backed by some of the best individual talent the scene has to offer, SK Avarosa is not only expected to top their group but also to be a serious contender for the title at Gamescom. While the team has faced some struggles recently in the mixed-gender Prime League, they benefit from months of experience togetherâan edge over many of the newer, less established rosters in the competition.
"We might look a bit flippy, but you should never count us out. The more we int, the deadlier weâll be in the future. [...] What sets us apart from most teams is that weâre not afraid to fight and make plays. If we see an angle or a chance to skill-check the enemy, weâll take it. And if theyâre not ready, weâll punish them. [...] Thank you all so much for your support!"
â Mia "Miella" Steger, AD Carry of SK Avarosa
One player to watch is Dafni "Apollonia" Gkerveniâone of only two players remaining from SKâs 2024 lineup and a 2023 champion. A pillar of the team, Apollonia faced a difficult 2024 season but has since been on a tear. Her steady improvement over the past months has begun to cement her as one of the sceneâs most reliable and consistent midlaners. Peaking near 800 LP this year, sheâs a serious threat if left unchecked. With G2 Hel standing in their path, the question remains: can SK Avarosa rise to the challenge?
Header Photo Credit: Sheep Esports
