Rocket League women's teams look to make history at Olympic Esports Week
Players from G2 Luna and Williams Resolve are set to play each other in an exhibition show match in Singapore on 23 June.
After forming less than a month ago, G2 Luna will face off against Williams Resolve in an explosive Rocket League exhibition show match on 23 June at the Olympic Esports Week, which you can watch on Olympics.com. The two teams are filled with accomplished Rocket League players who have been competing in the game at a high level.
The chance to compete on a stage this big, alongside more than a dozen other esports communities, isn't one that they take lightly.
"The Olympics is such a world renowned event, so it's so surreal to be a part of something like this," said G2 Luna player Carlee "kiaa" Eichhorst. "Also to represent women and potentially be an inspiration for someone out there is amazing."
Williams Resolve, made up of Sophie "Stvn" Stepvenson, Millie "Duckz" Ward and Bella "Crimson" Selwood, finished first in the fifth season of the Women's Carball series just last month. The three players have been together since October of 2022 and are regarded as one of the top teams in European Rocket League.
"It's crazy to be flown around the world to represent Resolve as an organisation in a show match at the (Olympic Esports Week)," Stevenson said. 'It's not something anyone would have expected when they started playing Rocket League."
A Rocket League showcase for a new team
One American and two Canadian players formed G2 Luna, the female squad within the major esports organization G2, very recently. All three members of the team, including Jaime "Karma" Bickford, Gio "Avenger" Sy, and Eichhorst, came together at the end of May 2023. This tournament will be one of the earliest chances to see this squad play on the big stage.
Both teams are filled with players who have been fighting for a larger presence in the competitive Rocket League scene. The esports industry doesn't provide nearly as many opportunities for players like Bickford, but that hasn't stopped them from paving the way for other women in the future.
"The women's scene in Rocket League is something that needs a lot of support. It's been struggling to find it," Bickford said. ""Having an org like G2 come in is inspiring."
Two Rocket League exhibition show matches will take place at the Olympic Esports Week 2023, including another match between the men's teams Gen.G Mobil1 Racing and Karmine Corp, on 23 June at 15:30 (Singapore time).
The Olympic Esports Series 2023 is a global virtual and simulated sports competition, created by the IOC, and in collaboration with game publishers such as Psyonix and International Federations (IFs).