The esports world is evolving and women are stepping up. From championship titles to record prize pools, female esports players are claiming their place on the global stage. While the spotlight is getting brighter, the path forward still has its challenges, from unequal prize distributions to harassment in online spaces. Today, we take a closer look at the key stats and milestones shaping the female esports scene in 2025.
The Gender Gap in Viewership and Participation
Despite progress, the gender gap in esports remains stark. In 2024, 67% of esports viewers were men, while only 33% were women. Regionally, female viewership was 34% in North America, 35% in the Middle East, and up to 41% in Southeast Asia and Korea.
Yet the number of female gamers tells a different story: 46% of all gamers worldwide are women. The contrast between gameplay participation and esports engagement highlights the barriers still faced by women transitioning from gaming into competitive esports.
Top Female Esports Players
A handful of standout female players are making headlines.
- Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn remains the highest earning woman in esports, with over $472,000 in StarCraft II winnings.
- Li “Liooon” Xiaomeng follows with more than $241,000 in Hearthstone earnings and the distinction of being the first woman to win a Hearthstone Global Finals.
- VALORANT pros Alexis “alexis” Guarrasi and Melanie “meL” Capone have each earned over $130,000.
- Ksenia “vilga” Klyuenkova boasts nearly $125,000 from CS2 competitions.
Viewership Trends and Team Recognition
Despite rising prize pools, viewership for women’s esports declined by 26% in 2024, largely due to a 21% decrease in the number of events. Titles like VALORANT and MLBB dominated female viewership, together accounting for 90% of all watch time. Still, women's tournaments only made up 5.6% and 1.3% of each title's total esports viewership, respectively. CS2 had the lowest share, at just 0.2%.
A standout success was the MLBB women’s tournament at the SEA Games 2023, which attracted a peak audience of 1.3 million viewers, a record for female esports.
Top teams such as MIBR GC (3.5M hours watched), G2 Gozen, Shopify Rebellion, and ZETA DIVISION GC captured growing audiences in 2024. In mobile esports, Team Vitality Female led with 1.5 million hours watched.
Platform Preferences and Online Harassment
Mobile gaming remains the preferred platform for female gamers, with 84% playing on mobile compared to 74% of men. PC gaming attracted 40% of women, while console and VR were preferred by 33% and just 8% respectively.
Online harassment, however, continues to cast a shadow. In the UK, 49% of women reported abuse while gaming in 2023, and that figure spiked to 75% among women aged 18–24. A quarter of those affected reported feeling depressed, and 11% said it made them feel suicidal. As a result, many women now hide their gender or avoid live streaming.
Despite these challenges, 71% of gamers said they have intervened when witnessing abuse, and 66% agree that women face more negative comments in gaming spaces. These insights highlight the urgent need for safer, more inclusive environments.
Why Female Esports Needs Your Support
Female esports is gaining momentum, but your support can take it further. With growing prize pools, increased visibility, and more top tier female players entering the scene, now is the time to spotlight and support women in esports. However, many obstacles remain. From lower viewership numbers to toxic online behavior, it’s clear the industry needs stronger, ongoing efforts to ensure women can thrive. Visit a Casino with Online Betting and support the rise of female esports through platforms that are creating a more inclusive future for all gamers.
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Last updated: July 2, 2025
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Reviewed by Felipe Morgante
