Cloud9 White: New Women's Valorant Team | Cloud9

Cloud9 has welcomed the entirely female MAJKL Valorant team, marking the organization’s inaugural venture into women’s esports.

From now on, Alexis “alexis” Guarrasi, Annie “Annie” Roberts, Jasmine “Jazzyk1ns” Manankil, Katsumi, and Melanie “meL” Capone will represent Cloud9 White as they participate in the Valorant league hosted by Riot Games.

AT&T is serving as the official sponsor for the new team.

Previously known as MAJKL, the squad achieved a first-place victory in the FTW Summer Showdown tournament, which was a component of the Valorant Ignition Series. This success earned them a $25,000 prize, positioning them as the sixth highest-earning team within the competitive scene.

“The dedication of MAJKL to refining their gameplay, building team synergy, and competing collectively truly impressed me,” stated Gaylen Malone, senior general manager of Cloud9. “This is a highly skilled group of women who united with a shared ambition to excel in the game, and their commitment to achieving that goal has been remarkable. Their progress over the recent months has been truly inspiring.”

While ideally competitive esports should offer a level playing field for both women and men, the industry still faces similar challenges seen in other competitive arenas. The number of women on top-tier esports teams remains limited. For instance, FaZe Clan (supported by Verizon, the parent company of TechCrunch’s parent company) currently has only one female player on its Fortnite team.

“We aim to not only enhance the gaming experience with AT&T’s offerings but also to actively promote positive change within the industry by providing this exceptional team and other talented women with the resources they need to thrive,” explained Shiz Suzuki, associate vice president, sponsorships & experiential marketing, AT&T. “We are excited to share their journeys and witness them excel representing both Cloud9 and AT&T on prominent global platforms.”

Female gamers often encounter the same forms of harassment and inequitable treatment experienced by women in traditional sports.

“Many female gamers are discouraged and hesitant to openly identify as gamers,” Madison “Maddiesuun” Mann shared with the online publication ShondaLand. “I recall feeling self-conscious about it during high school and refrained from revealing my gaming hobby until after graduation—it was simply a matter of that underlying insecurity.”