Rebecca Longawa, the CEO of women’s Rocket League tournament circuit Women’s Car Ball, has resigned, citing a lack of communication from the league’s owner KC Pioneers (KCP).
In a statement, Longawa stated she hadn’t heard from KC Pioneers since February 1st, despite KC Pioneers touting a partnership which was supposed to resume the league.
Esports Insider reported earlier in February that Women’s Car Ball was forced to halt operations mid-season because KCP had not paid any staff since hiring them, or paid out any prize pool money.
In her resignation statement, Longawa said she hadn’t been in contact with KC Pioneers in almost three weeks, and that she felt her “only option is to walk away.”
The news comes just one week after an announcement by KC Pioneers on February 12th that it had found an unnamed partner to resume the rest of the season and ‘support the future’ of WCB.
KCP also said staff, teams and players — who have still not been paid thus far — would start receiving back pay ‘within the next several weeks’. The organisation did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Esports Insider.
In the February 12th announcement, KCP also claimed teams would be introduced to the new partner ‘in the days that follow’. However, Williams Resolve COO Jeff Simpkins told Esports Insider that his organisation, which competes in the league, had still not heard anything from the organisers.
“The announcement of the new partner went in the discord on the 12th of February, but we’ve heard nothing since,” Simpkins said.
Despite her position as CEO, Longawa revealed in her statement that she too had not been compensated for her work in helping rebuild the Women’s Car Ball circuit.
Longawa, who also consults on esports sponsorships and is a strategist for the*gameHERS, was appointed CEO by KC Pioneers to head up Season 5. Staff and league sources have expressed praise for Longawa for her work in trying to ensure they get paid.
“I am heartbroken to announce my resignation as CEO of Women’s Carball,” Longawa said. “It has been one week since an announcement by KCP on a new partner — in which I was not a part of any conversations or negotiations.”
