Game Changers IGL meL Speaks Out on Being Denied Trials with VALORANT Teams
meL, the IGL for Version1 Game Changers, has confirmed reports that she was denied trials with co-ed VALORANT teams. She expressed her disappointment at the situation becoming public.
The Issue
A viral clip featuring esports reporter Rod “Slasher” Breslau discussing meL’s situation with Sean Gares revealed that she had been denied trials with tier one VALORANT teams. The reason given was that some male players did not want to compete with a woman.
Confirmation on Twitter
In an elaborate Twitter post on September 19, meL confirmed that she had indeed been denied trials due to her gender. She also mentioned that one team had communicated to her that a player was not comfortable playing with a woman.
Unusual Reasons
meL further revealed that some co-ed teams refused to pay a buyout for her, citing reasons such as being too valuable and pivotal to their organization’s application for partnerships.
Addressing Doubters
Despite not wanting her personal information to be made public without her consent, meL felt the need to share her story because some people were refusing to believe that such discrimination could happen. She didn’t want to dismiss the experiences of others who had gone through similar situations.
meL also expressed the distraction caused by this situation, especially with the third series of VCT Game Changers approaching.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges she has faced, meL remains focused on improving as an individual and helping her teammates succeed. She expressed gratitude for the opportunities she has received so far.
The incident highlights the ongoing bias faced by women in esports. While efforts from Riot can contribute to bridging the gender gap by promoting co-ed rosters in VCT, there is still a long way to go.