This past week the League of Legends team Renegades gained a victory against their opponent, Team Coast, which secured them a spot in the League of Legends Championship Series. While this is an awesome accomplishment, it’s making headlines because their team has a woman on it – the first female to make it into the League of Legends Championship Series.
Thresh Goddess Creveling
Her name Maria “Remilia” Creveling, and the character she played in the deciding match against Team Coast was Thresh. Many players in League will admit that Thresh is a hard character to master, and if mastered properly is a great asset for any team. Being part of the support section for the match, Creveling was able to assist her team and was dubbed the “Thresh Goddess” on many social media outlets, as well as Reddit, due to her performance with the character.
One might think that with such an epic performance in the match Creveling would automatically be up for playing in the LCS, but she’s is debating whether or not she will step down. Creveling accomplished what she aimed to, and that was to prove to herself and the League community that a woman can make it to the LCS. While the championship series is close, Creveling is facing challenges along the way that are “heartless”, which is making her participation in the tournament a choice between her privacy or her legacy.
“In the end though the competition doesn’t mean much to me. I don’t care to be the best in the world. I love playing with a team and accomplishing stuff and being recognized for it. When I set out initially, I wanted to be the first girl in LCS. That was what motivated me. That dream I had, I accomplished and yet it is being challenged in such a heartless way. I really honestly truly hate so many people. If you want my honesty, everyone that tries to take away from what I accomplished, well I will always spite them. I’m always extremely salty when dealing with fans on mediums like twitter and reddit, I met some really cool fans in person at the studio for sure.
i just want it to be known that I accomplished my goal for real, and I accomplished it for me, my teammates, and girls in eSports. That’s it. No one else. Don’t fucking put me on some lgbt agenda or some bullshit and bring that up. That’s not me, I don’t believe in that. D don’t want messages acknowledging that part of my life, sorry.”
– RenegadeMaria, Reddit
The dark side of eSports
When people think of eSports, they always dub it the “boy’s” field of gaming, and that mindset has continued to ring true even when a woman is changing the paradigm. Though Creveling has done what was thought to be impossible by many, she’s been receiving different forms of harassment – the most prominent attacks seek to reveal details about her private life.
The antagonists might think harassment doesn’t have such a large effect in the long run, but Creveling has gone through deleting her social media accounts and changing her game handle to avoid the attacks. Based on the harassment accusations, its been assumed by the League community that the harassment problems throughout her eSports career has led her to opt out of the LCS.
Whether or not Creveling makes the choice to participate, what she’s done for women in eSports will remain as a historic marker. Taking what was said to be a “boy’s” game and proving that women can participate and win will change the face of League of Legends.
Opinion-wise, what do you believe Creveling should do; claim her victorious spot among her fellow Renegades, or call it there for her career?
