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Minnesota Now with Nina Moini
Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

A day in the life of the first all-women pro esports team in MN

Five women stand for a portrait.
Katherine Lee (left), Natalia Jackson, Kiara Blue Kukilakilaokalani Makua, Naomi Sauvola and Rachel Hang make up VersionX, Minnesota’s first all-women’s professional esports team pose for a team portrait in Eagan, Minn. They are playing for the Version1 esports organization based in Eagan, where players will train, receive full-time salaries and housing while competing nationally and internationally in various video game titles and tournaments.
courtesy of Version1

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Version1, an e-sports company owned by the Wilf family and based in Eagan, recently put together their first all-female professional esports team, VersionX.

Natalia Jackson, a member of the Valorant club, walked host Cathy Wurzer through a day in her life as a woman in pro gaming.

  • Jackson said it’s been great being with her teammates in person as they practice and play. They practice eight to nine hours a day, which includes a scrimmage and reviewing videos of the match. They also do personal research to improve their games. Players earn a full-time salary and housing.

  • Jackson said there’s occasional harassment and discrimination but that she and her teammates try to ignore it and focus on the support they’re getting from others.

  • When she is in the heat of battle, it gets really hectic, especially because the four
    teammates are all talking to each other throughout the round. “The energy is really
    high, we’re screaming and laughing at each other, having a lot of fun. Other times
    it’s really serious and we zone in and communicate with each other,” she said.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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