TSM Breaks Ground in Apex Legends: Signs All-Women Roster for Competitive Play
TSM pioneers a transformative move in Apex Legends esports, signing an all-women roster featuring top talents. Dive into TSM’s vision for inclusivity and excellence in competitive gaming.
In late January, TSM made a significant move in the Apex Legends competitive scene by signing an all-women roster. This new squad, featuring top players like Jane “Janey” Newstead, Laurice “GuhRL” Habibi, Isabella “Avuhlie” Rivera, and Kornelia “Sabz” Zawistowska, enhances TSM’s presence.
While TSM already boasts an active roster in the Apex Legends Championship Series (ALGS), SM Lahti, TSM’s Head of Marketing, highlights the advantage of having an additional all-women roster. Lahti emphasizes that this approach allows players to participate in various competitions individually or as a team. As TSM prioritizes the needs of its athletes and creators, the organization aims to offer a supportive environment for those aspiring to compete at the highest level.
Although it’s premature to confirm the launch of more all-women rosters, Lahti expresses TSM’s openness to exploring new opportunities in competitive esports, irrespective of gender. TSM has previously supported a Game Changers team and multiple women as content creators. Looking ahead, the organization remains committed to backing players with strong potential, regardless of gender.
To delve into TSM’s perspective and motivation behind the new roster, The Esports Advocate (TEA) interviewed Laurice “GuhRL” Habibi, Isabella “Avuhlie” Rivera, Kornelia “Sabz” Zawistowska, and Jane “Janey” Newstead earlier this month. The discussion covered topics such as why they chose Apex Legends over other battle royale games, experiences with harassment or toxicity in their communities and the competitive scene, and opinions on the need for special tournaments or leagues for women to succeed and gain exposure.
Why choose Apex Legends?
The primary question for these players revolves around why they chose Apex Legends over other battle royale games like Fortnite, Call of Duty Warzone, or PUBG.
Avuhlie’s preference for Apex Legends is rooted in her long-standing admiration for Respawn’s games. Being an Xbox player, she found the game to be a natural fit and a compelling choice due to her history with Respawn’s titles. Avuhlie’s connection with games like TitanFall led her to try Apex Legends when Respawn released it, and she has stuck with it ever since.
Sabz, having experience with other battle royales like Warzone, favours Apex Legends for its dynamic movement and action flow. She appreciates the absence of excessive camping, emphasizing her enjoyment of engaging in encounters in Apex Legends compared to other games. Warzone, in particular, felt more focused on encounters with camping players, contrasting with the more proactive approach in Apex Legends.
GuhRL, a devoted first-person shooter enthusiast, gravitates towards Apex Legends due to its fast-paced nature and the demand for quick decision-making skills. Drawing parallels to the enjoyment she finds in games like Call of Duty, GuhRL appreciates the rapid decision-making inherent in Apex Legends, creating an immediate connection and enjoyment.
Janey, while having played other battle royales in the past, felt she missed the peak popularity of those titles. Comparing Warzone to a more casual version of Call of Duty games she enjoyed, Janey opted for Apex Legends at its launch to avoid missing out. Despite her proficiency, she found it more appealing than Fortnite, and Warzone felt like a casual experience, prompting her switch, especially after transitioning to PC gaming.
Toxicity and Harassment
When I questioned all four women about their experiences with toxicity in competitive gaming and content creation communities, most mentioned encountering minimal negativity. The issues they faced were not primarily gender-related but rather the typical banter associated with competitive scenes.
Avuhlie shared that while everyone deals with “weirdos and creeps,” her audience tends to be kinder due to her openness. She emphasized that being transparent with her chat fosters understanding, describing her audience as adorable and lovable.
Regarding the competitive scene, Avuhlie acknowledged improvements for women, citing initiatives like Riot’s Game Changers and the Apex community’s Women’s League. Although progress has been made, she noted there’s still room for growth, stating that the reception toward women in gaming is becoming more positive and widely accepted.
Sabz expressed gratitude for the kindness of the Apex community and identified her main challenge as finding a compatible squad. She emphasized that difficulty in finding the right team doesn’t necessarily mean people dislike each other but rather that they may not play well together.
GuhRL acknowledged the inevitability of some toxicity but stressed that it’s not exclusively tied to being a woman in content creation or gaming. She advised focusing on the positive and not wasting time on the negative aspects of being a content creator.
Janey shared that she hasn’t faced much toxicity from her community, attributing an increase in negativity to her growing viewer and follower counts. She observed that her statements and actions carry more weight due to her larger following, prompting her to be more cautious about how she presents herself in content creation and competitive scenarios.
Exploring the Perspectives on All-Women Esports Teams
Journalists often seek executives and community opinions on esports organizations with teams consisting entirely of women, girls, and marginalized groups. However, the voices of the actual players impacted by these initiatives are rarely heard. We asked the players about the necessity of women-only teams and the benefits they offer compared to mixed teams (comprising both men and women).
Avuhlie expressed her comfort competing with men or in mixed teams but recognized the need for some women to have a safe starting place: “While I have no issue with mixed teams, I’d love to see more girls taking the chance to play the normal league route. It’s a select few who make the effort to find a team for ALGS. Maybe they’re afraid to look for their group or hesitant to put themselves out there, saying, ‘You can trust me as a player; let me try and be on your team.'”
Sabz, comfortable in regular competitions, highlighted the ease for women to begin with other women. She noted that some women fear criticism from men, and having female teammates at the start can provide a more supportive environment: “It’s easier for women to start with other women because some are scared of men’s criticism. I learned quickly that they want me to improve, not belittle me for being a woman.”
GuhRL, currently substituting for the TSM squad, acknowledged the importance of all-women teams for certain players who may feel more comfortable and face less judgment: “While I’ve always played on mixed teams, I understand the significance for others who might feel less looked down upon or less scared in an all-women scene.”
Janey emphasized the importance of having a dedicated space for women, not as a sign of incapacity to compete against men but to offer a comfortable learning environment without judgment: “It’s not that we can’t compete against men; it’s about providing women a head start, showing them what to expect in a competition, and facilitating learning in a comfortable space.”
Addressing the Necessity of Women-Only Leagues and Tournaments
While all the players agree that women don’t “need” a special league or tournament, they acknowledge the numerous benefits, such as providing additional opportunities to compete, increasing visibility within the community, and offering a more comfortable space for competitors who may not feel welcomed elsewhere.
Sabz believes that these platforms offer a spotlight for women to showcase their skills: “It helps women demonstrate their abilities and how great they are at play. Others are watching, allowing everyone to see their performance. I wouldn’t say ‘women need it.'”
Janey agrees that more opportunities would be cool but doesn’t see it as an imperative need: “Having more leagues and tournaments for women would be great, leading to more teams based on sponsorships. I don’t think ‘we need it,’ but it would be cool.”
GuhRL sees the potential for a women’s competitive scene to inspire and help women grow in their way: “It can be inspirational for women trying to get into it. Having more tournaments with prize pools would make it much nicer, as without a prize pool, people may not play to their best and may not take it too seriously.”
Avuhlie strongly advocates for creating more opportunities through dedicated leagues and tournaments: “I believe that women do need their leagues. Some women need these platforms to be seen, as there are underrated players who don’t get the chance to shine. However, I would love to see more girls taking the chance to play in regular leagues.”
Guidance for Young Women Aspiring to Become Professional Gamers
Sabz emphasizes the importance of fearlessness and taking chances: “Don’t be scared—be open to everything. Try it once, and if it’s not for you, explore other options.”
GuhRL encourages aspiring players with the required skills to embrace constructive criticism and analyze their gameplay: “Recording your gameplay is crucial. Reviewing helps spot mistakes, and with consistent improvement, you can become significantly better over time. Embrace the learning process.”
Avuhlie stresses the need to put oneself out there and seize opportunities: “Try it, mingle with teams and players, see if you fit in. If you do, great—work with that team and aim for success. If not, keep trying; you have all the time in the world. There’s no deadline.”
Janey echoes Avuhlie’s sentiment, urging new players to enter the competitive scene without fear: “Women shouldn’t be deterred by what they see on Twitter. While it can get ‘toxic,’ that’s part of the competitive environment. Don’t run away, support your teammates, but also understand that it won’t be perfect all the time.”
