Counter-Strike 2
ESL Impact Season 7 set to start with notable omissions
Imperial Valkyries and FURIA fe are among the teams that will return for ESL Impact Season 7 starting February 26.
The two teams, the first and third best in 2024, are now part of a minority of funded rosters as several organizations dropped their women's teams after the conclusion of Season 6.
Spirit fe, ENCE Athena, Astralis W, TSM Impact, VP.Angels, and NAVI Javelins are all absent from this season after releasing their players.
NAVI Javelins, who placed second in the Women's Team of the Year at the HLTV Awards last year, cited an "unsustainable business model" as the reason for their decision.
HSG fe are also absent, suffering from ESL's decision to remove the Asia-Pacific part of the league. There was no Asian spot in Season 6 either, where HSG fe qualified for the European portion, but Olga "Olga" Rodrigues and company did not compete in the Season 7 qualifiers. The team has not played together in a FACEIT-ran tournament since they won an EU Cash Cup on October 5.
The collapse of support has, however, led to an intriguing rostermania, with NAVI Javelins splitting into four teams: Eco Warriors, where Wiktoria "vicu" Janicka joins Julia "juliano" Kiran; Akuma, where Martyna "LETi" Owsik and Angelika "Angelka" Kozłowska re-unite; a full-french lineup for Mayline-Joy "ASTRA" Champliaud in Prototype Blaze; and a spot in BIG EQUIPA for talented rifler Hania "Hanka" Pudlis.
In Brazil, the core of Fluxo Demons has moved to MIBR fe as they look to turn a promising 2024 into a serious challenge in 2025.
Further North, FlyQuest RED also made changes, adding Marie "marie" Ellen Toft Sørensen from Astralis W and linking up with North American veteran in-game leader Alan "Shakezullah" Hardeman as their new coach.
All of these teams will have one goal for the upcoming season: to knock Imperial Valkyries off their perch.
The team around Ana "ANa" Dumbravă have won all eight ESL Impact LAN titles, although they did lose offline to FURIA fe in Brazil late last year.
Judging from the Tradeit Masters cup that provides our sole sample size for 2025, vicu's Eco Warriors may provide the sternest test within Europe after taking the Valkyries to overtime on the decider of a BO5 grand final.
All three regional seasons start on February 26 and end on April 13, with eight teams qualifying for the LAN finals that will be held concurrently with IEM Dallas on May 23-25.
Europe
Europe - Imperial Valkyries
Europe - Eco Warriors
Finland - AKA HERO KAJO
Russia - CS2News Ladies
Russia - nomercy fe
France - Prototype Blaze
Europe - Spray and Slay
Poland - Akuma
Europe - BIG EQUIPA
Europe - NIP Impact
Europe - Let Her Cook
Russia - DMS
North America
United States - Supernova Comets
United States - Black Mold
United States - Ghost
United States - Nouns fe
North America - FlyQuest RED
United States - MEGA JUNERS
North America - Nyx Empyre
Europe - Lumen fe
South America
Brazil - Atrix
Brazil - MIBR fe
Brazil - FURIA fe
Brazil - Bounty Hunters fe
Brazil - thekillaz fe
Argentina - Messitas
Brazil - Quem Sao Elas
Brazil - Brave Bears
The two teams, the first and third best in 2024, are now part of a minority of funded rosters as several organizations dropped their women's teams after the conclusion of Season 6.
Spirit fe, ENCE Athena, Astralis W, TSM Impact, VP.Angels, and NAVI Javelins are all absent from this season after releasing their players.
NAVI Javelins, who placed second in the Women's Team of the Year at the HLTV Awards last year, cited an "unsustainable business model" as the reason for their decision.
HSG fe are also absent, suffering from ESL's decision to remove the Asia-Pacific part of the league. There was no Asian spot in Season 6 either, where HSG fe qualified for the European portion, but Olga "Olga" Rodrigues and company did not compete in the Season 7 qualifiers. The team has not played together in a FACEIT-ran tournament since they won an EU Cash Cup on October 5.
The collapse of support has, however, led to an intriguing rostermania, with NAVI Javelins splitting into four teams: Eco Warriors, where Wiktoria "vicu" Janicka joins Julia "juliano" Kiran; Akuma, where Martyna "LETi" Owsik and Angelika "Angelka" Kozłowska re-unite; a full-french lineup for Mayline-Joy "ASTRA" Champliaud in Prototype Blaze; and a spot in BIG EQUIPA for talented rifler Hania "Hanka" Pudlis.
In Brazil, the core of Fluxo Demons has moved to MIBR fe as they look to turn a promising 2024 into a serious challenge in 2025.
Further North, FlyQuest RED also made changes, adding Marie "marie" Ellen Toft Sørensen from Astralis W and linking up with North American veteran in-game leader Alan "Shakezullah" Hardeman as their new coach.
All of these teams will have one goal for the upcoming season: to knock Imperial Valkyries off their perch.
The team around Ana "ANa" Dumbravă have won all eight ESL Impact LAN titles, although they did lose offline to FURIA fe in Brazil late last year.
Judging from the Tradeit Masters cup that provides our sole sample size for 2025, vicu's Eco Warriors may provide the sternest test within Europe after taking the Valkyries to overtime on the decider of a BO5 grand final.
All three regional seasons start on February 26 and end on April 13, with eight teams qualifying for the LAN finals that will be held concurrently with IEM Dallas on May 23-25.
Europe
Europe - Imperial Valkyries
Europe - Eco Warriors
Finland - AKA HERO KAJO
Russia - CS2News Ladies
Russia - nomercy fe
France - Prototype Blaze
Europe - Spray and Slay
Poland - Akuma
Europe - BIG EQUIPA
Europe - NIP Impact
Europe - Let Her Cook
Russia - DMS
North America
United States - Supernova Comets
United States - Black Mold
United States - Ghost
United States - Nouns fe
North America - FlyQuest RED
United States - MEGA JUNERS
North America - Nyx Empyre
Europe - Lumen fe
South America
Brazil - Atrix
Brazil - MIBR fe
Brazil - FURIA fe
Brazil - Bounty Hunters fe
Brazil - thekillaz fe
Argentina - Messitas
Brazil - Quem Sao Elas
Brazil - Brave Bears
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