Sources – VALORANT: Barça eSports Wants to Join the Game Changers Circuit

FC Barcelona is making its entry into women's esports. During the Sports Tomorrow Congress, hosted by the Barça Innovation Hub at the Mobile World Congress 2025, Jordi Guarte, the club’s head of esports, officially revealed plans to launch a women’s team. However, he did not specify which game would be the focus of this initiative. Barça eSports, which first entered the esports scene in 2019 with Rocket League, has since withdrawn from Epic Games’ title but has expanded its presence in Riot Games’ two flagship franchises: League of Legends and VALORANT.

According to sources from Sheep Esports, it is precisely on Riot’s FPS that the club intends to establish its women's division. Barcelona is aiming to join the Game Changers ecosystem, which has proven to be a successful pathway in recent years, providing female players with the opportunity to integrate into the professional competitive scene. Shopify Rebellion’s prodigy, Ava “florescent” Eugene, has become the emblem of this success, making history this winter as the first player from Game Changers to transition into the mixed-gender elite circuit, joining Apeks in VCT EMEA.

"The inclusion of a women's team is not only aimed at competing in the most prestigious international tournaments but also at setting a benchmark in the industry, demonstrating Barça's commitment to diversity and gender equality in sports," the club stated in a press release issued alongside the Sports Tomorrow Congress. The VALORANT division would become the third women’s team within FC Barcelona’s structure, which already boasts squads in football and basketball. The football team, in particular, stands as a model of excellence and expertise.

Barcelona’s women’s football team has dominated the domestic and European scene, securing five consecutive Primera División titles and winning three of the last four editions of the UEFA Women’s Champions League—while reaching the final in the fourth. Two of the club’s stars have collectively claimed the last four Ballon d’Or Féminin awards: Alexia Putellas in 2021 and 2022, followed by Aitana Bonmatí in 2023 and 2024. This level of success could serve as an inspiration for Barça’s future VALORANT players. However, at this stage, the organization is still far from reaching such heights in the FPS scene, as it has yet to recruit the five players who will represent its colors.

Meanwhile, the Stage 1 of the VCT EMEA Game Changers circuit is currently underway and will conclude on March 19. Should Barça seek to recruit from among the continent’s top talents, the organization will have to wait a few weeks before entering the offseason. If the club manages to finalize its roster in time, it could potentially participate in Stage 2, set to begin on May 26. The team is also working on international expansion, and considers all the options in the big leagues.