As esports continues its rapid expansion, the presence of women in esports has grown stronger year after year. Though the industry remains largely male-dominated, female players have been slowly breaking down those barriers, earning widespread recognition and respect on international stages.

Despite making up less than 1% of competitors at the highest levels, their achievements and earnings stand as proof of their unyielding determination and growing influence in esports.

Editor’s Note: This page is accurate as of October 23, 2025.

Top 10 Women Esports Players Ranked By Earnings

Below, we highlight the world’s best female esports players by earnings, showcasing the top femme-identifying competitors and their individual achievements.

#	Name	Current Team	Top Game	Earnings (USD)
1	Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn	Shopify Rebellion	StarCraft II	$472,111
2	Xiaomeng “Liooon” Li	Retired	Hearthstone	$241,510
3	Alexis “alexis” Guarrasi	Shopify Rebellion GC	VALORANT	$131,290
4	Melanie “meL” Capone	Shopify Rebellion GC	VALORANT	$131,290
5	Ksenia “vilga” Klyuenkova	NIP Impact	CS:GO	$127,758
6	Katherine “Mystik” Gunn	Carolina Core	Multigaming	$122,550
7	Michaela “mimi” Lintrup	G2 Gozen	VALORANT	$116,257
8	Petra “Petra” Stoker	G2 Gozen	VALORANT	$115,227
9	Rumay “Hafu” Wang	Retired	Hearthstone	$110,147
10	Julia “juliano” Kiran	Nemesis Impact	CS:GO	$102,895

Note: These statistics are courtesy of Esports Earnings, accurate as of October 23, 2025.

Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn (StarCraft II)

Scarlett is a household name among women in esports, with tournament prize winnings of over $472,000 across 283 tournaments. In StarCraft II, she is a beast on Zerg, having made history by becoming the first woman ever to win IEM PyeongChang 2018.

In 2016, she held the Guinness World Record for “highest career earnings for a female competitive video game player.” Today, Scarlett ranks #623 in global esports player earnings and #20 in Canada, shattering all gender barriers.

Facts:

• Alias: Scarlett
• Country: Canada
• Total Earnings: $472,111.32
• Top Game: StarCraft II (99.21% of total earnings)

Li “Liooon” Xiaomeng (Hearthstone)

Liooon ranks among the top female esports players with earnings of $241,510 across only nine tournaments (2018 – 2020). She became the first woman to win the Hearthstone Global Finals, with her decisive 3-0 victory against Bloodyface being a defining moment for women in esports. 

After her victory, Liooon delivered an inspiring message that resonated with countless aspiring female gamers worldwide. She advised fans to forget their gender and pursue their esports dreams. Currently, she ranks #1436 globally and #285 in China.

Facts: 

• Alias: Liooon
• Country: China
• Total Earnings: $241,510
• Top Game: Hearthstone (99.77%)

Alexis “alexis” Guarrasi (VALORANT)

Alexis is one of NA’s top female esports stars in VALORANT, with total prize winnings of $131,290. She competes exclusively in Riot’s tactical shooter and has had a successful run in the VCT Game Changers circuit, winning 13 tournaments to date.

Playing for Shopify Rebellion, Alexis is known for her precision and clutch plays—traits that help her dominate on the global stage. She ranks #2741 globally and #450 in the U.S.

Facts: 

• Alias: Alexis
• Country: United States
• Total Earnings: $131,289.52
• Top Game: VALORANT (100%)

Melanie “meL” Capone (VALORANT)

Melanie is one of the best female players in VALORANT. As the IGL for Shopify Rebellion, she has led her team to back-to-back Game Changers Championship titles in 2023 and 2024, making them the first Americans to achieve this feat. 

With total earnings of $131,290, meL ranks among the highest-earning women in VALORANT and was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (Games) in 2024. She ranks at #2742 globally and #451 in the U.S. 

Facts: 

• Alias: meL
• Country: United States
• Total Earnings: $131,289.52
• Top Game: VALORANT (100%)

Ksenia “vilga” Klyuenkova (CS:GO)

Vilga is a veteran in Counter-Strike with a career that spans over a decade. Representing NIP Impact, she has raked in over $127,000 across 68 tournaments, making her one of the most successful women in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Counter-Strike 2.

Her biggest victory to date was at WESG 2017, where she took home $100,000 in prize money. Vilga is also known for her longevity and consistency and remains a respected figure in the female esports scene. Currently, she ranks #2822 globally and #124 in Russia.

Facts: 

• Alias: Vilga
• Country: Russia
• Total Earnings: $127,757.72
• Top Game: CS:GO (87.97%)

Katherine “Mystik” Gunn (Multigaming)

Mystik became a pioneer for women in esports long before it went mainstream. She has earned $122,550 across titles like Dead or Alive 4, Halo, Call of Duty: Warzone, and famously won the reality show WCG Ultimate Gamer Season 2 in 2010. 

She held the Guinness World Record for the highest female esports earnings at the time. Mystik is a trailblazer and her career laid the groundwork for the new generation of women in esports. She ranks #2937 globally and #483 in the U.S.

Facts: 

• Alias: Mystik
• Country: United States
• Total Earnings: $122,550
• Top Game: Multigaming

Michaela “mimi” Lintrup (VALORANT)

Mimi is a Danish titan, known for her sharp aim and leadership in G2 Gozen. With $116,256 in total tournament winnings, she’s one of VALORANT’s most accomplished female players. She has played a pivotal role in her team’s Game Changers Championship 2022 victory. 

Before VALORANT, Mimi had a long career in CS:GO, bringing years of experience to her team. She ranks #3089 globally and #86 in Denmark, making her one of the most respected female esports pros in Europe. 

Facts: 

• Alias: mimi
• Country: Denmark
• Total Earnings: $116,256.51
• Top Game: VALORANT (78.05%)

Petra “Petra” Stoker (VALORANT)

Petra is a seasoned competitor from the Netherlands, with esports earnings of $115,227 in VALORANT and CS:GO. She is a respected member of G2 Gozen and widely recognized for her presence and tactical adaptability, transitioning seamlessly from Counter-Strike to Riot’s tactical shooter. 

She was the first Dutch player to win a Game Changers Championship and also the first woman to claim world titles in two different games. She ranks #3123 globally and #30 in the Netherlands. 

Facts: 

• Alias: Petra
• Country: Netherlands
• Total Earnings: $115,227.42
• Top Game: VALORANT (76.87%)

Rumay “Hafu” Wang (Hearthstone Battlegrounds) 

Hafu is a celebrated streamer and former esports player. Her success spans multiple games, including Hearthstone Battlegrounds and Bloodline Champions. With $110,146 in total winnings, she’s among the few women to find success in both esports and streaming. 

Hafu joined G2 Esports as a content creator in 2019 and was even honored by Forbes 30 Under 30 (Games) in 2020. Now a full-time creator on Twitch, she continues to inspire with her variety streams and advocacy for women in esports. 

Facts: 

• Alias: Hafu
• Country: United States
• Total Earnings: $110,146.67
• Top Game: Hearthstone Battlegrounds (37.45%)

Julia “juliano” Kiran (CS:GO)

Juliano is one of Europe’s most accomplished female esports players, earning $102,894 across 56 tournaments. As Team Secret’s leader, she won the 2022 VALORANT Game Changers Championship in Berlin—one of the few women to claim major LAN titles in several games.

After briefly transitioning to VALORANT (2021-2023), she returned to Counter-Strike in March 2023 and now competes with Nemesis Impact. Her current standings are #3470 globally and #106 in Sweden. 

Facts: 

• Alias: juliano
• Country: Sweden
• Total Earnings: $102,894.47
• Top Game: CS:GO (48.40%)

FAQs

Why are there no women in esports?

Women aren’t absent in esports, but they are grossly underrepresented. Key barriers include gender stereotypes, toxic online culture, fewer sponsorships, and limited access to professional training or mentorship, which reduce women’s chances to play competitively.

Why are men and women separated in esports?

Esports is technically open to all genders, but women-only tournaments were created to offer safer, inclusive spaces for femme-identifying and marginalized individuals. These separate events help women hone their skills without the harassment of mixed-gender competitions.

Who is the top-earning woman in esports?

Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn tops the list with $472,111 in tournament prize winnings (mostly from StarCraft II). She is the highest-earning female esports player of all time.

What percentage of esports players are female?

Nearly half of all gamers today are women, yet only about 5% compete professionally. The gap widens even further at the elite level—among the top 500 tournament earners worldwide, just one is female.

What could be the promising careers for women in esports?

Contrary to popular belief, the primary career in esports is not only being a professional gamer. While passionate gamers aspire to become pros, they can also pursue careers as video game developers, animation artists, marketers, event coordinators, or esports journalists.

References

1. Top 100 Female Players (Esports Earnings)
2. Highest career earnings for a competitive videogame player (female) (Guinness World Records)
3. Melanie Capone (Forbes)
4. Rumay Wang (Forbes)