She Turned Valorant's Meme Team Into Gods

Potter began her Valorant career as one of the most decorated players in Women's Counter-Strike history.
But after some early stumbles, she stepped back from the front lines to take a new role: coaching a squad of young players and her former teammates. Few believed in Evil Geniuses' Valorant lineup, and many were skeptical of Potter's decisions leading them from behind the scenes.
And yet, she turned a team of chokers into titans.
Written by: Niall McCrossan (@NiallMcCrossan)
Edited by: Brendan Fahey (@drillbit_)
Hosted by: Elisabeth Marchini (@ejmarchini)
Produced by: Connor Dunn (@connordunn_) and Alina Sotula (@ASotula)
Footage courtesy of: pastebin.com/8...
Music used under license from Associated Production Music LLC (”APM”).
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[@diegoaragao6618]

"You cant buy a legacy, you need to build it" slaps Sentinels and C9 on their face

[@rosoven3471]

To be fair c9 and sen did build their legacy, c9 as one of the largest and most successful esports orgs in many esports and sen with winning the very first international event in Valorant and dominating NA in 2021, it’s just that these orgs haven’t been able to replicate their previous successes

[@luc_verse]

cough cough 100t cough

[@nilanavesa]

​@@rosoven3471hes talking bout the c9 and sen recent valorant roster changes etc, but ok ig

[@Chickenburger-2]

C9 ?????

[@KurtIsFat]

there's always that one mf on copium kekw

[@lotrdude13]

She and Demon1's ascendance turned this team into one of the best teams in the world - it was insane how this team just appeared in Americas playoffs and just skill diffed their way to top 3

[@nikkoaugustoix]

Don't forget about Ethan, man is stubborn even if they are being beaten he is still resilient.

[@triplebb9809]

@@nikkoaugustoixAnd his utility is near flawless. He always sets up the team so well and almost never team flashes.

[@deathcode1238]

@@triplebb9809 man was one of the best support players in CSGO at the time, now he's one of the best in valorant for the same org. Dude's just goated

[@ashura9877]

Bcj kicking the air rn

[@verchiel_8295]

​@@ashura9877bcj 😂😂😂 bro was a fraud claiming to be a top initiator

[@domokuo6318]

Honestly I love eg leaning into their memey style and villainy. It doesn't feel like too much and it's very light hearted.

[@carti8778]

Tbh its a bit too much for asian community ( they abuse EG players and their family ) since they aren’t used to these types of things unlike USA. People in usa are more open and tolerant as compared to asia.

[@zaucy_]

​​@@carti8778you can't tell me that after years and years of international esport competitions throughout multiple titles, that the Asian gaming community is not aware of how the NA community is with their trash talk. Even if this was the first time NA trash talk was directed specifically at an Asian org, they should still know that's just how NA is and shouldn't take it to heart

[@carti8778]

@@zaucy_ i am from Asia but now live in EU. I had been an open minded individual who don’t get baffled by trash talk in sports/esports but we cant expect that from most of the asians. Moreover the people who are watching valorant are first timers who haven’t watched other esports so its difficult for them to adapt. It will take time since their daily life culture is totally different from EU/NA.

[@zaucy_]

@@carti8778 ya know I know about the part that the people watching Valorant are typically younger and this is their first esport after I had posted that comment. And that definitely does make sense. Idk it's a tough subject to talk about because of the wide variety of cultural backgrounds that make up the Valorant fanbase. I for one think trash talk makes any esport scene more entertaining by creating the whole good guy/bad guy thing which writes storylines making certain matches super entertaining and fun to watch that wouldn't normally be very entertaining for whatever reason (i.e. the two teams aren't the top of the talent pool)

[@Sg190th]

​@@carti8778lmfao they can't handle trash talk yet the racism there is higher than NA? What a joke

[@elvinmacatangay546]

From meme team to champions. What a journey.

[@dontusethisaccounttowatchp9635]

Great to see women succeeding in esports. Especially in a leading position as a coach

[@sarthakkaushik5291]

Kinda sarcasm

[@SecoOrlov]

It should be something like "great to see women actually know what they're doing in esport" bc usually women pros aren't even trying to win. I would love to have a women team that actually tryhard instead of that one League team that I don't want to even remember their name

[@UrbanOutlawsSk8Co]

It takes a special kind of leadership to recognize things in people they don’t see in themselves

[@axtrznomy]

Being here after their win, this situation and amazing coach just seems so surreal! All the praise to them!

[@Mischala]

Women in eSports, and a redemption arc. This is the shit right here, more of this.

[@Sg190th]

She's an OG gamer so the coaching experience helps a lot.

[@wb201019]

Why can’t Potter just be a good coach? No, keep dividing people by making it a big deal that she is a women.

[@Sg190th]

@@wb201019 good point. I only saw the experience she had, not gender

[@SlushiesDrinker]

@@wb201019 Simple, because Women in gaming need to be recognized as equal before it's accepted entirely. I'm not going to bullshiting it; women, in gaming, are not recognized as equivalent right now. What Potter is doing helps a lot to change that view, but someone like you who demands without having anything to back it up only from other's achievements makes people doesn't want to change it. You are trying to force a change unnaturally. Please stop trying to do so and let her cook.

[@godlxsourav6414]

​@@SlushiesDrinker the only reason why no one has expectations from women is cuz they don't even try and have never performed in a big stage. Even a group of 15yr old boys would demolish women pros. If you want to be respected, then you have to earn it and achieve it. Although Potter is exceptional, she's deserves to be respected

[@lephmiss1376]

Now a part 2 is a must. They grabbed the Champions trophy!

[@emilianorosario5935]

this team deserves the world. i can’t even imagine being the core of EGs roster and having to just take all of the shit everybody was giving you. Potter stuck with this team until the very end because she believed in them. Genuinely warms my heart so much and I’d love to see them win champions

[@yejubrando272]

Guess what? They WONN!

[@jamesrso]

12:50 i LOVE the casting here man... The absolute hype in the voice crack and screaming. Emotions racing and i remember watching this live and rewinding 3 times

[@DefaultDanielS]

That's Pansy, big loss for CS casting

[@Seigfried28]

@@DefaultDanielS she always says she missed CS tho. might come back in the future

[@B4LDF0RM]

@@DefaultDanielSnot realyy tbh, there were a lot better casters than her imo

[@DefaultDanielS]

​@@B4LDF0RM where did I say that she was the best caster ? she was among the best Sadokist is the all time best caster in all of esports

[@B4LDF0RM]

@@DefaultDanielS far from among the best, at most she was average

[@hotpenguin607]

Her leadership skills are so strong Evidence: she's just taller than everyone!

[@godlxsourav6414]

Well... tbh she's just 6'0 ( a great height for a woman tho) and the players are just average heighted boys around like 5'8 and 5'9.... she's great tho

[@Ottoni174]

@@godlxsourav6414 boys...? dudes are all older than 20 lol

[@soham4741]

@@godlxsourav6414 she's like 6'2 atleast acc to kyedae

[@xsomili5501]

@@godlxsourav6414 for an Asian woman at that

[@king_thanos_2116]

​@@godlxsourav6414she's 6'2

[@darkmaster7234]

“You can’t just buy a legacy you have to build it” is the best quote sentinels need to HAVE sentinels has the best team on paper but they just keep selling and buying

[@zeroXmlbb]

Sentinels ? I would say it's Navi .-.

[@juicywawa]

How do they have the best team on paper lmao. Not even close

[@yeboiii5251]

@@juicywawa On paper, yes they do. SEN's roster had 4 international winners. C9 only had yay, 100T and EG had 0. Results after matches went different than they expected tho lol.

[@rogerbacon7746]

On the other hand fnatic literally bought and assembled the avengers and have the best team of the year (regardless of this champions result)

[@RetroWiki267]

"best team on paper" ? bro what are you smoking ?!

[@SoulsOnly]

you'd be amazed what a coach in the team does for that team

[@gooddreams6155]

At the start of VCT 2023 who would have thought EG was gonna be the last one standing from NA carrying the region in champions, which they already did in masters Tokyo. Glad to witness story like this unfolding

[@Rosadesu]

I saw them live yesterday and was absolutely blown away by the team in a physical sense

[@GarrettDanger_]

EG is absolutely crushing at champs as well. Potter really took a team and showed what a good coach and good atmosphere can do. Excited to watch them play in the rest of Champs in LA

[@Paul-eb1yl]

Potter puts the genius in evil genius

[@cedricl.marquard6273]

This is one of my favourite examples of why in Valo no team is ever washed or trashed. The game is so complex that proper coordination and a great coach can make a team go from getting 13:0'd to winning champs (or Masters I'm not 100 % sure)

[@l_w675]

And they won champs thanks to Potter, rly great team so fun to watch

[@FatedMusic]

I've only gotten into professional Valorant recently, but EG has quickly become the team I cheer for everytime they're on screen. They just look like they're having so much fun! Thanks for the solid background behind the team!!

[@ire624]

And now she won everything... The champions. Potter Supremacy 🛐

[@khaosplayz_yt4401]

eg is such a lucky team to have her as their coach ngl. EG has built a very good team and foundation.

[@haki3422]

potter: "you cant buy a legacy you have to build it" Sentinels: let me introduce myself

[@xKyreLx]

and this is why sentinels are in the verge of bankruptcy kekw

[@alaaye5237]

the funny thing is that all the money that sentinels puts in isn't even why they're popular. That popularity is all credited to a roster that doesn't even exist anymore lmao.

[@xsomili5501]

And that's why sen couldn't even play in champs

[@boomboris1059]

@@xKyreLx ok

[@Boxeru13]

Can't wait to see a V2 of this video now that they are WORLD CHAMPS!

[@UkjACk300]

I am new to Valo, just started this year, including watching pros play. Personally, I love the sentinels buuuut seeing EG playing so incredibly well and knowing that Potter is one of the few female coaches, it's just so cool to see them win and hold the trophy. I mean, it's no secret that women struggle in e-sports, as in almost every sport, hearing all the same lame stereotypes in-game, on social media and so on. It was just such a badass moment and I felt so proud for her!! I hope she keeps going and that a lot of girls and women feel inspired by it because she is right, there could be so many incredible female players who are never discovered. I'm just so happy for them, but especially Potter :)

[@a.w_.]

This feels like a video that should have come out after champs is done, because they could still place higher or potentially win, and that would be a pretty important for a video talking about their 2023 season, it’s literally just a couple of days away lol

[@ksags_]

lol

[@Aninefivesiix]

Been supporting them ever since LOCK//IN and the transformation they had has been amazing, love all the players on the team and it makes me so happy to see them finally get the respect and recognition they deserve. Hoping they can win champs this year but even if they don't im just happy to see them grow so much and place high after being mocked constantly throughout the year.

[@lofvi]

Potter received criticism because she didn’t produce results for years, yet Sentinels cut their coach (skyyko) who previously lead XSET to much greater success than Potter ever had w EG, and who was currently producing slightly better results than EG. After such a terrible start to the year and swapping out a previously successful XSET player for an unknown tier 2 player, some questioned if she was fit to coach EG. This wasn’t necessarily an unfair question or criticism if you look at the opportunities she was repeatedly given vs the outcomes she was producing. “Other coaches were cut for less.” She then remarkably did a 180 and became the best coach on the best team in the world. I hate the narrative that she was criticized for no reason or even criticized too harshly due to her gender. While parts of that may have some validity, it takes away from the insane transformation EG went through when people try to minimize just how bad they were before they were good. I also think criticizing her was probably a good thing, because the criticism was rooted in pure performance outcomes. It showed that regardless of gender, if you’re doing bad, you will receive just criticism. I think NOT criticizing Potter because of her gender would actually be the most sexist act. I cant imagine Potter EVER wanting to receive slack for losing because shes a Woman, thats just not like her at all. It’s also extremely anti-intellectual to cast judgement on people who doubted EG and Potter. When looking at the available information/data at the time, giving a take similar to Georges actually made sense. Im not even a fan of him because he’s a EU shill, but retroactively calling him sexiest or stupid when the MAJORITY of the community had similar sentiment doesn’t sit right with me. It minimizes Potters improvement when people say criticism of her work was sexist because it suggests that she was actually always good at the time. It should be ok to criticize bad performance, and it should also be ok for bad performances to become good ones and thus celebrated, without the past criticisms becoming invalid. I think as a community, VCT fans need to think more critically out of respect for the esport.

[@xsomili5501]

THIS comment needs to be one of the top comments!!! Well said!

[@nikkoh15]

yes exactly, why did this video make it seems like the criticism was unjustified. What she did before was simply not working, but now look where EG is !!! W Potter

[@NewLegacy93]

the score got the leaked finals script with this one, talk about a well timed video

[@everythingsucks7559]

its so suprizing that changing just one player was solution for the team,it created the perfect balance , Even others players are playing really well now

[@Balls23912]

no it wasn't changing one player. EG was still ass during the americas league. they started to pop off during playoffs tho

[@penguinerr4511]

@@Balls23912they started looking so much better after bcj left

[@Balls23912]

@@penguinerr4511 yeah but it was a slow climb. they did look better but they didn't immediately pop off. the first map demon1 played they lost 13-5

[@Max-Sama]

Credits to Potter but also credit to the staff and ceo of EG bc they saw something in her to keep her and her roster so they can show what they got, other franchised teams would just change Coach or players and get the famous ones just to try and win something (like nrg or g2) but EG had a vision and tbh they are doing pretty good i don't think they will disband any time soon

[@-rjpple-6171]

Imagine MIBR lost to 100T like everyone thought and EG never made it to Tokyo, and they’d have to go through the LCQ. Crazy the butterfly effect MIBR had

[@martoimara5592]

1st time we see a coach being more famous than the rest of the team

[@24jek]

not really

[@homosapiens...]

@@24jek yes undoubtedly.

[@wildeskompositum9556]

G2 Fabien Siege

[@nico1wnl]

demon1 solos

[@randomsports5247]

Because of simps

[@thesilvanalyst6880]

I think the main reason for EG's success and ability to make deep runs now is that they are the only 10 player roster. In any other sport, you would never just have only the starting lineup show up for practice, you always have more because if you want to effectively practice plays in any sport, you need to practice it against limited opposition first. The way most teams practice, they do dry runs of util combos to get the timing down, and then they try that in scrims against another team with full opposition (if you are lucky and the other team is taking the scrim seriously). EG can add extra steps inbetween. They can test the combo against 1 opponent with a classic, then one with a rifle, then maybe 2, then 3, etc. without ever having to show their ideas to another team. EG can play entire matches inhouse with full control, which also makes counterstrating easier since you can just have the other half play a comp and playstyle of your next opponent. I genuinely think that not having a 10 player roster is trolling by the other orgs and EG is showing it. If EG did not have that practice environment, their individual players (outside of Demon1) could not bring them anywhere close to where they are now.

[@xsomili5501]

Demon1 FR increased their fire power by an insane amount

[@jatescc]

they rly just won champions that’s so fucking wild

[@6vastolorde6]

GG 2023 CHAMPS!! Came back here after they just won!

[@abrawolf]

Potters knew the power of friendship can beat any bs skill an enemy uses

[@justRedX]

EG went from jokes of the franchised teams to (according to how Champs is going) easily 3rd best in the world by a mile and fighting for the second best title.

[@abhimanyugauba428]

What's the best title??

[@lucifermorningstar8387]

@@abhimanyugauba428Champions

[@emilianorosario5935]

Champions is the title every team seeks to get each year. There are other international tournaments (such as LOCK//IN and Tokyo) but Champions is supposed to be the highest of them all. Winner also gets a million dollars.

[@EmmaAxe]

This video certainly aged well didn't it

[@6vastolorde6]

Nice job theScore esports! Another worth watching vid indeed. I always appreciate learning about an esports figure specially if they made a huge impact to a team or to a game/s. Nice to know Potter's cs background

[@trayvixk4642]

And now she's made the history books to become the first female coach to win a major esport championship.

[@kridak23]

Now they’re world champion.🏆

[@xblazr]

Cant wait for the updated video :)

[@Deaddev1l99]

Here after they won VCT champs. What a team man

[@officialivansal2137]

Man it was amazing in the arena. We went wild

[@slashthedancingwalrus1510]

And now they're world champions. So impressive

[@smoloms]

Coaches need more credit.

[@xsomili5501]

Frs. They're the backbones of teams

[@sunajeon5319]

and now they're the vct champions wow!

[@papichulo8678]

Now EG is the Champs 2023

[@sandipbhattacharya680]

Even though I'm not an American but I have been rooting for EG since Day 1 because I have been a fan of Ethan since his 100T days ... The roads were harsh but EG as an entire org made me the proudest and happiest fan rooting for them since day 1... ❤️🙌🔥

[@josephrivera7436]

Potter is the ultimate trust the process story of all time. Truly one of the greats

[@BoondocksHuey]

This video aged well. Congratulations EG on being World Champs!

[@bobjasperbadiango1358]

And now they're the champs! Great story! Congratulations EG!

[@chaoticpunx21]

it's crazy watching this right after they just won worlds!

[@bikramjeetchowdhury8985]

Now they're the champions who thought they would play so good.

[@ApexShuuya]

"Annd now she is just getting started". Hits different when you are watching after the vct champions.

[@trayvixk4642]

Even though Valo is pretty new in esport, it doesn't surprise me that it's the game to have the first female head coach to win a major championship. It wouldn't surprise me if the first mixed roster team to win a major esport title comes from Valo too.

[@bantxc5616]

It’s a stretch but it would be great for the sport. It’s definitely the game if any. It’s fostered a large community of competitive female players so one can hope stars will be made. It’s also an fps game which aren’t as popular in Asian countries where it’s not as normal for women to compete. And usually when Asian countries put there soul focus on a game they dominate like league and SC||

[@Glaziee]

Started watching EG from day 1 this year due to BcJ and I was going nuts when I saw LOCK//IN. Still had faith thought BcJ benched was bad but man Demon1 proved me wrong they truly are the best team. THE BEST RAZE, THE BEST INITIATORS AND THE BEST JETT AND BOOSTIO 🐐

[@kaizengaming1768]

and now they won the champions !!! what a ride !

[@DogBlessGeesus]

This video came out about a week too early, would have been amazing to see the Champions run in this piece, great work regardless though!

[@AK-bn2vc]

they proboably were ready to make a prx jingg/something story but then eg won champs

[@-NG88-]

From finalists on the international stage, to champions.

[@tansworld2513]

Demon1 deserve stock in the company

[@adityavijayvargiya5680]

watching this after eg won finals ! let's gooo !!

[@sammyjams3976]

and now theyre champions 😩

[@vaibhavseth5290]

They are now valorant champions 🏆

[@kartik_12]

And she won it

[@goblingamez9921]

And from finalists to the 2023 champions

[@hanielheraldo3363]

Everyone hates eg now saying that they're toxic, but this people forget how they mock eg when they are all the way down, trash talk and meme is all part of the game

[@mikadolego446]

Pretty fun to watch this video just a few after EG's win at world champions

[@this_waterbottle]

and now champions.

[@maniacninja0000]

FEELING SO GOOD LOOKING AT THAT OPENING CLIP NOW! BYE BYE LOUD HELLO GRAND FINALS!

[@mkkruger]

ERRMMM then they go and win the next international event... if only this video released 2 weeks later to include their W

[@jacquesblack3080]

no way you don't talk about demon1 not having a passport and almost not making it to tokyo

[@gianroque968]

They went from getting 13-0'd in the regular season to VCT World Champions!!

[@diegomiranda8905]

Release this video days later and oof, they are champions now

[@DJ-ce8yh]

now , she's a valorant champion

[@Botix330]

The moment i saw that she played pro cs 1.6 i was like yup she is her.

[@AlejandroMendoza-ep1yh]

They just won Champions, this is just incredible

[@akhilpinni]

And just like that they've WON the VALORANT CHAMPIONS 2023🏆🏆🏆

[@xsomili5501]

This video aged like wine

[@bpwrz]

Loved this video! Potter and the whole EG team deserve a ton of praise and many of the people who said horrible things about Potter should apologize (though they never will). I love seeing women in esports succeed because it’s one of the few playing fields that is completely even, women just need a pathway and a fair shot.

[@lu8whatever]

watching this after they won Champions 2023 we see how much potter was NOT OVER AT ALL!!!

[@Mankind5490]

Man must be a heartbreak for BCJ. He must be thinking he was the reason

[@xsomili5501]

The way absolutely NOBODY would have even dare think that EG would win 2023 CHAMPS.

[@hemaera8504]

i love potter's fashion sense so muchh

[@AZLarlar]

and now here they are, top 4 at champs

[@buboyasilo2992]

Top 3*

[@emilianorosario5935]

top 2*

[@xsomili5501]

Top 1

[@dxxp4914]

man rewatching some of these clips stirred up some emotions

[@bencassity9403]

and now they're world champs..

[@itsSAM_18]

and BOOM EG won the VCT 2023 today

[@Itachi_Uchiha_ANBU1]

Demon1 is the "Evil" and Potter is the "Genius" in EG.

[@dewmeister]

Her career would be over if Demon1 didn't step in 😂

[@prasantagrahari288]

And today they become the champions of vct 2023🎉

[@Chardrizzard]

This aged so well

[@belenvalenzuela2281]

Man, i love mommy Potter. An absolute goddess

[@TheServerOfficial]

bro are you good?

[@NyangisKhan]

@@TheServerOfficial Dude... OP's name is "Belen Valenzuela" and has a cutesy black cat as a profile pic. Pretty sure OP's not a bro.

[@bit_ronic]

@@NyangisKhan just the fact that there's a solid chance she's not a bro *does not* make the sentence any less weird

[@NyangisKhan]

@@bit_ronic It actually *does* if you know how girls act. Albeit there's a high chance that you don't so... I'm sorry mate.

[@belenvalenzuela2281]

@@bit_ronic I'm in fact a girl. I like to talk about her with the nickname "mommy" bc she kind is a mother to all the girls that play videogames, her entire career as a professional player, until now as coach of a team that is in the final of the champions league is clearly a figure to look up to. Sorry if it sound kinda sexual, it was not my intention,

[@DigittalFent]

AND NOW THEY'RE CHAMPS!!!!!!! ABSOUTELY INSANE!

[@gauravraman6510]

Now they're WORLD CHAMPIONS

[@gppy]

This aged like wine

[@jaden9135]

Potter has great fashion

[@xsomili5501]

Indeed

[@hadeerkhalil80]

who's here after EG just won champions

[@Echoing_]

I just realized how yay looks like hide the pain harold

[@thatonecow546]

and now they are THE CHAMIONS 2023 WINNERS!!!