Rocket League
Ally Financial Inc. and Rocket League Esports have announced the establishment of the Ally Women's Open, a women's Rocket League tournament.
Ally became an official sponsor of the North American Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) in February 2023, and the relationship includes branding in RLCS broadcasts during the Winter and Spring splits. As part of the sponsorship, Ally will headline the Ally Women's Open, a women's Rocket League tournament in March 2023, with a $20,000 prize pool for North America and $20,000 for Europe.
"Investment in all sports, including Esports, has long been biased towards men's competition. To address this inequity, we've pledged to reach equal media spending across men's and women's sports over the next five years because we believe there should be a level playing field for all athletes – whether on the field, the racetrack or in gaming," said Bridget Sponsky, executive director of brand and partnerships at Ally. "This sponsorship gives us a way to engage with the fans and players of a massively popular industry while providing increased exposure and income opportunities for the incredibly talented female competitors."
The Ally Women's Open will be produced by Raidiant, a gaming and esports media platform, led by an all-women's management team, whose mission is to celebrate and champion opportunities for female gamers along with providing a range of resources. The Head of Raidiant, Heather Garozzo, was the first woman inducted into the Esports Insider Hall of Fame (2019) and was inducted into the Women in Games Hall of Fame in 2021.
Through a new women's tournament featuring Rocket League, Ally will continue to advance its 2022 pledge to reach 50/50 media spending across men's and women's sports, including Esports.