Carleton University’s CU Esports women’s VALORANT team has emerged victorious against the University of Houston Scarlet with a 2-0 set, securing their spot in the upcoming CECC Texas competition. There, they will compete for the inaugural Paidia Cup. University of Houston Scarlet and PowerPuff Girls will also join the CECC Texas Showmatch.
The Paidia Cup Women’s Finals, held by Xbox, ESPORTSU, and Paidia Gaming, witnessed CU Esports clinching the win against the University of Houston Scarlet with a 2-0 victory. PowerPuff Girls secured the third place spot after defeating the University of Michigan, also with a 2-0 result.
Jill Kenney, CEO of Paidia Gaming, praised the high level of collegiate VALORANT gameplay seen throughout the season. She emphasized the significance of these teams heading to the national stage of CECC, showcasing their competitiveness and the future potential for women in the industry.
At CECC Texas, the top three teams will face off in a winner-take-all VALORANT match to determine the inaugural Paidia Cup Champion. CU Esports Captain Hana ‘HanZ’ Arif expressed gratitude to Xbox, ESPORTSU, and Paidia for providing a platform for collegiate women to showcase their talent in VALORANT.
UH Scarlet Captain Orchid “Orchid” Le also thanked the organizations for offering an opportunity to develop their skills and strengthen their bond as a team.
CU Esports will continue their journey in CECC Texas, taking on the rest of the VALORANT bracket as the first all-women’s team ever to reach the tournament finals. CECC Texas is the largest multi-conference gathering of collegiate esports programs, welcoming 64 teams to compete in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Overwatch 2®, Rocket League, and VALORANT during the “May Madness” of collegiate esports. The event will take place on May 6-7 and can be viewed on the ESPORTSU Twitch channel.
Jim Connelly, Chief Revenue Officer for CSMG/ESPORTSU, expressed pride in witnessing top-tier women in collegiate esports at the Paidia Cup during CECC Texas. He highlighted the inclusive nature of gaming and anticipated that some of these women may soon join professional esports organizations.
