Esports Grandmaster

Six heroes descend onto the battlefield. Their commander, Evee Le BS’20, guides their strategy to outwit opposing college teams. But this isn’t a traditional stadium—it’s virtual. Le has been a coach of the U’s Overwatch varsity esports team since it launched in 2017. The U also has teams for Hearthstone, Rocket League, and League of Legends. It’s the first college-sponsored varsity esports program from any school in a Power Five athletics conference. Le, who is now pursuing her master’s in accountancy, already has a job offer from one of the big five accounting firms. “Parents might worry kids aren’t learning anything by playing video games,” she says. “But esports taught me teamwork, leadership, and how to think critically.”