North American esports organisation Gamers First (G1) has wholly acquired women’s Rocket League circuit Women’s Car Ball, ending a tumultuous month for the tournament series and its community.
G1 said it would immediately inject the capital required to pay past debts and relaunch the season, which will start March 18th. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Women’s Car Ball league was purchased by KC Pioneers (KCP) in 2021 but the league was suspended in January, with KCP citing a lack of sponsors. Esports Insider reported earlier in February that Women’s Car Ball was forced to halt operations mid-season because KCP had not paid staff since hiring them, nor paid out any prize pool money. That report stated that several esports organisations were in negotiations to acquire the league.
Following the suspension of the league, teams and players were left in limbo, with no communication nor indication of what would happen to Rocket League’s only consistent women’s tournament series. Gen.G, Misfits, Endpoint, Williams Resolve and Luminosity all signed teams in order to compete in the league.
G1’s acquisition of Women’s Car Ball (WCB) will see all debts paid to staff, as well as teams and players owed prize money. A company representative told Esports Insider that the organisation’s intention is to retain WCB’s staff team going forward. Women’s Car Ball CEO Rebecca Longawa resigned on February 20th due to a complete lack of communication from then-owners KCP.
G1 told Esports Insider that it was in contact with ‘various interested partners’ for sponsorship opportunities, and that it expects Rocket League developer Psyonix to be a partner in developing WCB in the future.
The organisation’s long-term plans include providing the funding, resources and vision required to elevate production, develop players and prove female Rocket League is a viable, independent market segment, a company representative told Esports Insider. Plans include building a dedicated sales team, launching a talent incubator, producing live ticketed LAN events and launching a ‘player profile’ content series.
G1 is an esports organisation launched in 2021 by former NFL star Kenny Vaccarro, alongside entrepreneurs Hunter Swensson and Cody Hendrix. In a release, the company said the acquisition of the league seeks to extend its commitment to providing opportunities to underrepresented adults to hundreds of female players across the globe.
League play is set to resume on March 18th and 19th with a North American ‘Closed Qualifier’ and ‘WCB Main Event,’ then progresses through an additional 23 NA and EU events until the WCB Championship in the fall.
“G1 remains committed to supporting gaming’s most underrepresented communities,” said Kenny Vaccaro, CEO of Gamers First. “By partnering with the Women’s Car Ball League, we’re repurposing the meaningful impact we make on a single team’s roster, and applying that philosophy to hundreds of skilled and competitive women. It’s been time for women in esports to find their spotlight, and we’re going to give it to them.”
