Canadian esports organisation Lazarus has entered a partnership with SheIS, an initiative founded in 2017 that focuses on “the positive attributes of sport to acknowledge and elevate women.”
Now working with Lazarus’ female teams in League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this marks the entrance of SheIS into esports. The players will become athlete ambassadors for the collective.
David Brisson, President of Tiidal Gaming, the parent company of Lazarus, discussed the partnership: “We believe in progressing women in esports and are thrilled to partner with the SheIS Collective to help further that goal. Our Lazarus Esports’ female roster gives us the ability to align with like-minded organizations to build profile within the sports industry and shine a spotlight on female competitors.”
Through this partnership, Lazarus and SheIS aims to create new opportunities to support women in esports.
Brenda Andress, Founder of SheIS also commented: “We are extremely excited to expand our SheIS Collective into the esports world and to welcome our newest leaders to sit among the SheIS Collective, further cross-pollinating our efforts and embracing the power within our leagues and with their amazing athletes. By strengthening this group, we are showing the sports world that we are ready to up our game and showing everyone that we can have a positive impact on women’s sports.”
In sports, a number of recognisable brands are involved with SheIS. This includes the likes of adidas, WWE, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Esports Insider says: There’s some momentum in the esports industry at the moment when it comes to the fair inclusion and treatment of women, and that’s exactly how it should be. It’s saddening that initiatives such as SheIS even have to exist in this day and age to enforce such things but it’s a good job it does exist, and it’s great to see the collective now include esports too.