Tackling Sexism in Esports: How the Milk Cup Creates Opportunities for Women Fortnite Players

The Milk Cup began as an ambitious idea but has evolved into a groundbreaking platform where women in esports can compete without facing discrimination, while developing the skills and confidence needed to enter mainstream Fortnite competitions.

At TwitchCon San Diego 2025, an exclusive panel brought together women competitors and the founders of Milk Cup to discuss how this tournament has transformed opportunities for this underrepresented group of talented gamers.

Ahead Despite Industry Challenges

The women’s esports scene has weathered significant setbacks recently. ESL FACEIT Group’s indefinite suspension of the ESL Impact circuit sent shockwaves through the Counter-Strike 2 community. Similarly, Riot Games’ Game Changers VALORANT circuit faced criticism after implementing major patches just before championships, raising questions about whether women’s tournaments receive equal consideration.

Despite these industry challenges, the Milk Cup continues to flourish. This year’s event featured an upgraded stage, enhanced production values, and a substantial audience at TwitchCon.

“A lot of water gets doused on the women’s community all the time. Being here puts the spark back into it. Milk Cup is carrying it all the way through,” explained Fortnite streamer and Milk Cup Co-Founder ThePeachCobbler, who described experiencing goosebumps seeing the impressive stage setup.

What began as a seemingly far-fetched concept has grown into the largest women’s Fortnite tournament globally, offering a substantial R5.6 million prize pool. This professional approach gives young women competitors valuable experience in a supportive environment that might otherwise be inaccessible.

The Continued Necessity for Women-Focused Tournaments

Radiant CEO Heather ‘SapphiRe’ Garozzo, herself a former Counter-Strike pro, acknowledged that ideally, competitors of all identities would participate in the same tournaments without separation. However, current gaming culture makes this challenging.

Despite women making up nearly half of casual gamers, professional esports remains predominantly male. This disparity stems not from talent differences but from unequal growth opportunities and persistent harassment.

“It’s difficult to compete,” explained 18-year-old Jaya ‘Fraanticc’. “We get a lot of hate. A lot of backlash. For nothing. We get targeted in tournaments a lot. We get treated differently. The Milk Cup lets us play freely, learn, get better, and gain experience. It’s made a lot of girls more confident.”

Many young female Fortnite players struggle to advance to mainstream tournaments like the Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS) because teammates treat them differently, and opponents specifically target them when they discover their gender. Such behaviour prevents women from showcasing their true abilities and discourages younger players from consistent practice and competition.

“Milk Cup shows off the talent,” noted 18-year-old Vader. “Women don’t have a lot of representation in esports, and people develop a bias that women can’t be as good at competitive. Milk Cup shows that it isn’t true. The competitive level and high skill level are there.”

Building Pathways to Professional Fortnite Competition

The Milk Cup stands out not only for its tournament structure but also for its comprehensive support system. Competitors receive extensive practice opportunities through the Milk Academy and personalised attention that builds their confidence.

“I want women to feel they’re being seen; they’re not just a name tag,” ThePeachCobbler shared. “We made it more of a platform where I’m there for them as their big sister, to get them milk or hand warmers. Some of these girls do not know how to do things like buy plane tickets, and have never had those mentors.”

The tournament’s production quality has also been elevated. “We expanded the talent pool since last year. This is a Tier 1 setup,” Sapphire explained. “We got your desk host, your analysts, the best-of-the-best… Casters, stage host… The stage is tiered now.”

This professional competitive environment has significantly boosted participants’ confidence. Vader described her journey from Minecraft Bed Wars to grinding Fortnite, where she often faced toxic behaviour and prejudice. Women’s events, particularly the Milk Cup, provided her with a supportive community where she could thrive without facing harassment.

Vader and her teammate Nina ‘ilyynina’ Fernandez recently claimed victory at Milk Cup 2025, winning a substantial portion of the R3.9 million prize pool. Both credited the confidence gained during previous Milk Cup seasons as crucial to their success.

For many participants, the Milk Cup serves as a launching pad rather than a final destination. With newfound confidence and valuable experience, several competitors are setting their sights on the FNCS.

As 21-year-old Moxie affirmed: “Milk Cup has helped us a lot in building up our confidence and becoming more competitive. I believe we can play in FNCS against everyone.”