The Trubitastic Impact Of Chiquita Evans

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OPINIONS, GAMING, LIFESTYLE | March 13, 2019

Welcome to the big virtual leagues, Chiquita Evans!! (Image Source: Polygon.com)

One hundred and ninety-eight people from different walks of life and around the globe were gathered together on one Tuesday night (Wednesday morning, Manila time) for one huge and important purpose, and that is to be drafted in one of the participating teams in the new season of the NBA 2K League which is set to begin on April and open a new chapter in their lives as a legitimate professional gamer. In the end, only 74 have made the cut and among them is a rose that would eventually become a new inspiration to women who are willing to enter the challenging world of eSports. 

Her name is Chiquita Evans, a former college and semi-professional basketball player and personal fitness trainer at Planet Fitness in Chicago, Illinois, USA. In the fourth round of the 2019 NBA 2K League draft, she was picked by no less than Warriors Gaming which is operated by NBA's Golden State Warriors. Prior to the draft, she was one of only two female gamers who have qualified through the league's draft combine. She is set to become the first female athlete to compete against the finest and toughest in the NBA 2K League scene earning between US$33,000 and US$37,000 per season plus a bevy of benefits and team housing.

Evans is not new to professional gaming as she has done most of her competitive gaming with her own team where five of its 12 currently active players are women which helped her thrive as a shot-creating small forward. But her journey leading to the beginning of her career as a professional eSports athlete was not without challenges considering that the biggest among them is finding teammates in games that requires teamwork. When she announced on her 30th birthday that she was qualified for the draft, a lot of negativity from social media welcomed it but there are those who are eager and delightful for the news before the recently-concluded draft.

The journey of Chiquita Evans is considered a prime example of the hardwork and perseverance of women who want to do more and make an impact in the professional gaming scene. It also addresses one of the riveting situations in the NBA 2K League where the lack of gender diversity in its inaugural season happened to be its biggest disappointment. Communication will be a very important factor in the team's success when it comes to diversity and it will only be a matter of time before male and female gamers can co-exist with one another and work together in any competition. With this is mind, there will be a possibility that future basketball video games will include female players on their available roster.