2026 Esports Excellence Nominees

I am a passionate Esports Presenter and Content Creator who grew up in a gaming family, which made it easier to turn my love for video games into a career! I work with major international esports events such as the Esports World Cup and DreamHack, traveling around the world to interview professional players and live audiences. I like to make pro players and audience members feel comfortable during my interviews, and speaking five languages allows me to connect with different cultures. Outside of live events, I love making content about the games I play! It's just too much fun :)

I launched Fayette County Public Schools’ esports journey in 2022 with Girls Who Game, growing from 30 students in 3 schools to EPIC—Engaging Players in Inclusive Competitions—serving 650+ students across 38 elementary and middle schools. Our district earned the 2025 PlayVS Esports School District of the Year, and I’ve secured $35K in sponsorships to keep access free. By removing barriers, I’ve strengthened the pipeline from elementary to secondary, pioneering Kentucky’s first Unified Esports partnership with Special Olympics and introducing the state’s first all-girls elementary team. Through national presentations, diversity-driven curriculum, and innovative formats, I’m redefining esports as inclusive, accessible, and future-focused

I’m Bella Eldridge, the Owner and CEO of Legion of Doom Esports. I lead the organization’s competitive, operational, and strategic vision, with a hands-on focus on player development, event management, and sustainable esports growth. With a background as a professional competitor, coach, and esports executive, I work to build high-performing teams while fostering an inclusive, player-first culture. Through Legion of Doom, I aim to elevate talent, create meaningful competitive opportunities, and help shape the future of esports as both a sport and a business.

I’m a curriculum designer focused on building inclusive, career-connected learning experiences through gaming. My work centers on bringing equity, creativity, and real-world application into the classroom, helping students turn their passion for gaming into leadership and career skills. I've worked with multiple collegiate esports programs, I am a WIGJ Ambassador, a member of Queer Women of Esports, a thegamehers* collegiate ambassador, and previously as a Project Manager at the Aurora Series. I've also done panels regarding diversity in esports and hosted workshops for middle school girls to serve as an early intervention to get more young women into gaming.

I’m a content creator, podcaster, and esports media professional dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices in gaming. Through my work on Behind the Joystick and with organizations like Emphasis and Boss Rush Network, I spotlight indie developers, marginalized gender esports, and the people shaping the industry behind the scenes. My impact comes from consistent storytelling, community-building, and advocacy—bridging the gap between creators, competitors, and the future of esports.

In the decade that Courtalon has worked and competed in both semiprofessional and collegiate esports they have consistently advocated for and spearheaded initiatives to provide more opportunities for others to get involved in esports. This includes putting on a series of tournaments for groups that are traditionally underrepresented in esports, workshops in rural communities for those looking to pursue related interests, and building collegiate esports programs that focus on providing impactful experiences for as many students as possible. They believe the greatest thing they have ever accomplished in esports is the creation of pathways for others to succeed and become leaders in the space.

My name is Eiya, and I’m a World of Warcraft content creator, host, and producer with a deep passion for WoW Esports. You can catch me hosting the Race to World First and Blizzard’s Arena World Championship. I am honored to be accepting this award and representing the amazing MMO community.

I’m an esports educator committed to empowering the next generation of esports professionals. As an Esports Lecturer and Head Esports Coach at SGS College, I’m known for motivational leadership and for creating inclusive, high‑performance environments where students develop teamwork, resilience, and competitive discipline. I specialise in building cohesive teams, inspiring and nurturing talent, and facilitating meaningful opportunities that help players build confidence, refine their skills, and take the next step toward their chosen pathway in esports.

Nomination Introduction: India Alanis Browne India Alanis Browne, known as “Alanis”, is redefining what it means to excel in esports. From building her first computer at 15 to representing Team England and becoming the first Black woman to win Rocket League gold at the Commonwealth Esports Games, her journey is one of resilience, mental strength and breaking barriers in a male‑dominated industry. Alanis is more than a competitor, she is a changemaker. She plays not just to win, but to change the game, proving that every girl belongs at the highest level of esports. Through her platform, she champions diversity, equity and safer spaces, inspiring young players to believe in their dreams even when the world doesn’t yet recognize them. She also serves as an advisory member for Ygam (Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust), a UK‑based charity dedicated to safeguarding young people in gaming and esports by promoting education, harm prevention and digital wellbeing. Her competitive excellence, leadership and advocacy make her a role model and trailblazer. Alanis is building a legacy that goes beyond trophies she is opening doors for the next generation and shaping the future of esports with authenticity, purpose and unstoppable determination.

Kaohom Boonyalai is the Head of Marketing & Communications at Affinity Esports, where she leads community engagement through strategic event coordination and brand storytelling. She develops meaningful experiences, such as College Esports Day and Community Nights, that bring players, families, and partners together to celebrate the positive impact of gaming. Passionate about building safe, inclusive spaces, Kaohom’s work strengthens connections across the esports community and empowers young gamers to grow, belong, and confidently explore opportunities within the industry.

I've been working in the esports industry for 7 years, doing anything and everything from directing world championships and stages, doing onsite media and photography, press interviews, pipelining creative shoots from start to finish, creating content at events (I love League of Legends), streaming, working with major brands, building communities, and even hosting industry mixers. Gaming and esports has been a core part of who I am, and I always look forward to taking on new roles and challenges I can learn from! I hope to continue to do more work in the industry to make fan experiences, in-person or online, unforgettable.

I'm Raine and I've been managing Overwatch teams since 2021! You may know me from Ragnarok Gaming, Dalhousie University, or Xzile Esports. Managing teams introduced me to the competitive esports community in a way being a player never did and I'm super thankful for that!

Samantha is the founder of Zoufflé Esports, a grassroots esports organization focused on building inclusive, community-first competitive spaces. Since launching Zoufflé in 2023, she has led tournaments and events across multiple states within the U.S., supported new and underrepresented players, and helped grow local scenes in a positive, non-toxic way. Known for blending creativity, leadership, and passion for gaming, Samantha continues to create opportunities for players to connect and grow.

Sam “Tech Girl” Wright is a globally recognised Esports Broadcaster. She has been the host for some of the biggest esports events in the world including the Perfect World CS2 Shanghai Major, the BLAST.TV Paris CSGO Major, The FIFAe Nations Cup and PUBG’s Global Championship. She is the only South African woman featuring on these international stages. Over and above her broadcast work, Sam has established herself as a leading content creator in the Counter-Strike 2 space, with a series of popular podcasts and short form content. She also utilises her social media to create content around broader gaming, technology and lifestyle topics.

Overwatch has always been more than a game of objectives and cooldowns; it is a canvas for human connection. As a Puerto Rican woman in this space, my journey is fueled by the same "pa’lante" spirit I was raised with—an unrelenting drive to move forward, no matter the odds. My excellence isn't found in a trophy case, but in the growth of my players. There is a profound responsibility in being the person who believes in them before they believe in themselves. Whether I’m guiding them through a grueling map five or helping them navigate the pressures of the spotlight, my goal is to create a "home" within the team—a space where their identity is respected and their talent is nurtured. In every strategy I draft and every roster I build, I carry the vibrant energy of my culture and the quiet strength of every woman who fought for a seat at the table. I don’t just want to win championships; I want to leave the Overwatch scene kinder, stronger, and more inclusive than I found it. My impact is the legacy of my players—knowing that because I was here, they felt seen, supported, and ready to take on the world.

From gamer to now FPS Analyst, I’m very traversed in different aspects of many shooters. Not only as a woman of color, also a mentor of all women who wish to play shooters in peace and with other females.

I am the founder of College Esports News which I founded to shine a spotlight on all of the cool storylines happening in collegiate and to give students opportunities to build their portfolios through hands-on creative work.

Jana "AKA" xLegendaryDollx, is literally a Doll. The sweetheart & community mom of her Legendary Fam. Known for her infectious laugh, high energy, bubbly personality, her streams are like a boost of seratonin where its feels like you're being hugged through the screen. (She also has an insane Pokemon & Sanrio plushie collection). Doll is a full-time content creator & partnered streamer on Twitch. She is a tourney organizer & caster for her "Legendary Series" where she hosts Apex Duos, Scrims, Random Royales & Marvel Rivals events. In a span of 3 years, Doll has spread positivity & recognition by bringing all parts of the casual & competitive community together, allowing them to network over the 400 events shes organized & held.