ESL Impact to Shut Down After 2025 Finals, Marking the End of an Era for Women’s Counter-Strike
October 9, 2025 – Esports News Desk
The all-women Counter-Strike 2 professional league, ESL Impact, will officially end operations following its upcoming Season 6 Finals in November 2025, ESL FACEIT Group announced this week.
Launched in 2022, ESL Impact was introduced as part of ESL’s “#GGFORALL” initiative to create more inclusive and equitable opportunities for women in esports. The league quickly became a major platform for female players, featuring global competitions, regional divisions, and live international finals that drew strong community support.
However, ESL cited economic unsustainability as the main factor behind the league’s closure. Despite growing visibility and passionate fan engagement, the organization stated that maintaining the league’s structure was no longer financially viable.
“ESL Impact has been a trailblazer for women in Counter-Strike, but the current economic model cannot support the long-term vision we had hoped for,” an ESL spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re proud of the progress made in representation and community building, and we will continue to explore new ways to support women in esports.”
The decision has sparked widespread discussion within the esports community. Players, analysts, and fans alike have expressed disappointment, emphasizing that ESL Impact provided one of the few dedicated professional pathways for women in competitive Counter-Strike.
Throughout its three-year run, ESL Impact helped elevate teams such as Nigma Galaxy, NAVI Javelins, and HSG fe, giving them international exposure and competitive experience rarely available to women’s rosters before its inception.
Industry experts suggest that while the league’s closure marks a setback for diversity in esports, its legacy could pave the way for new models of mixed-gender or hybrid competition formats, as well as grassroots initiatives to keep momentum going for women in gaming.
The final ESL Impact event is scheduled for November 2025, where the world’s best all-women Counter-Strike 2 teams will compete one last time under the ESL Impact banner — closing a historic chapter in competitive esports.
