Image
Credit: Valiance (Twitter)

Caltys joins EBL’s Valiance, becomes third woman to ever play in ERL




Swedish-Korean Challenger player Maya “Caltys” Henckel has joined Croatian team Valiance in the Esports Balkan League, becoming the third woman in League of Legends history to play at an ERL level or higher in Europe. The team announced the news on Twitter on Jan. 17.

The move is a testament to Caltys’ progression, as she competed in Division 2 tournaments and regional tournaments in the Nordics as an AD carry; and female-only League of Legends tournaments in various roles from 2019 to 2021.

In signing her, Valiance inches closer to its EU Masters qualification dream. If the team qualifies, Caltys would be the first to make the event at any given stage.

Caltys is the third-ever woman to compete at European Regional League level following on the footsteps of former pro player Adina “Shafu” Himer, who also competed in the EBL in 2019. Similarly to Shafu’s signing at the time, Caltys is set to bring firepower to a team that would need it, at a crucial position at that.

The other player, Komil&Friends’ general manager Julia “PIRANHA” Starorta, temporarily joined the 2021 Ultraliga Season 5 lineup in inconsequential games.

Caltys’ signing to the lineup carries significance on the same level as that of Maria “Remilia” Creveling in the North American Challenger scene in 2015. Remilia eventually qualified to the LCS with Renegades in 2016, becoming the first woman to play League of Legends professionally at a high level.

Adel primarily covers League of Legends, with a particular emphasis on League of Legends esports competitions. He has over 10 year of experience covering the LEC and other LoL competitive events across Europe.