League of Legends Game Changers Women’s League Arrives in EMEA After 15 Years

It’s been a long time coming, but Riot Games is finally launching a professional women's league for League of Legends. Following over 15 years of developing one of the largest competitive communities in esports, Riot is now launching Game Changers for LoL, with the EMEA region leading the charge in 2025.

This move follows on the back of VALORANT Game Changers, which provided women with a platform to compete, develop, and shine at the top Valorant esports circuit, which was missing prior. That program has been particularly for the EMEA region, where it transitioned from a pilot into a full competitive league in only a couple of years. It’s clear Riot wants to bring that same energy and structure to League of Legends, and honestly, it’s about time.

Esports has traditionally been dominated by men players and male-driven events. Though the talent pool among women has increased gradually, opportunities never quite kept pace. For years, League of Legends esports was constructed around men's teams and didn't leave much room for women to develop a niche. So this news is more than just exhilarating.

League's esports scene has expanded exponentially since its inception. From local leagues to international events such as Worlds and MSI, it's become one of the cornerstones of competitive gaming. That's why Riot's hesitation in releasing a women's initiative is all the more perplexing. VALORANT just came out in 2020 and has already established a highly respected Game Changers scene. Why did it take so long for League to get the same treatment? Whatever the reasons, it’s great to see things finally moving forward.

League of Legends Game Changers 2025 – Format & Schedule

The new LGC Rising will kick off in August 2025 with online qualifiers. Eight teams will take part in the main event, which runs from September to October, ending with a live Grand Final at Paris Games Week on October 30th. Here is the tournament Schedule Overview:

Open Qualifiers: Slated for August (exact dates to be confirmed)

Group Stage Matches:

• Weekend 1: September 13–14
• Weekend 2: September 20–21
• Weekend 3: September 27–29

Playoffs:

• First phase: October 10–12
• Second phase: October 14–15

Grand Final:

• Set to take place live in Paris on October 30

Three teams will be invited directly, likely those already supporting women’s rosters, especially LEC-linked orgs. Three more will qualify through the Equal Esports Cup, and two final spots will be secured via open qualifiers.