oct 19 2025 The Milk Cup was supposed to be a space for women.
The tournament was created,
according to its own mission statement, "to provide women with more opportunities to succeed in esports" and as "a platform for women on a journey toward professional esports."
But after this weekend’s Milk Cup 2025 LAN Championship at TwitchCon San Diego, it’s clear the Milk Cup is no longer just for women. A trans-identifying male streamer known as "Vader" took home the win — and the $78,000 prize — alongside female partner Nina ‘ilyynina’ Fernandez in
Fortnite's largest women-only tournament.
As if traditional sports weren't enough, men are taking over women's esports, too.
After the win, Vader
told Esports Insider, "It felt crazy to lift that trophy… to prove people wrong in a sense, and really show that anybody can participate in esports. Don’t let people stop you. Don’t let comments get to your head. Believe in yourself."
Yes, anybody can participate in esports. Yet Vader chose to enter a tournament designed specifically for women.
There's a reason why the Milk Cup exists. In the gaming world, women make up nearly half of all players but barely a fraction of the professional talent pool. So the Milk Cup was created to give women a real shot in a space historically dominated by men — with elite broadcast quality, serious money on the line, and an environment free from the online harassment they often face elsewhere in the gaming world.
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