Ava ‘florescent’ Eugene, who made history as the first woman to compete in the VALORANT Champions Tour, has announced she will be taking a break for the remainder of the 2025 VCT season. In her announcement on X, florescent explained she needs time to rest and recharge, stating that while she may return to competing in the future, it’s not something she’s currently focusing on.
Personal Challenges Lead to Difficult Decision
The young pro revealed that relocating to EMEA for bootcamp immediately following the Game Changers Championship had taken a toll, expressing a need to rest and reconnect with home. Florescent also shared that she’s been dealing with personal and family emergencies since the beginning of the season, making her stay in Germany particularly challenging.
She emphasized that her teammates have been very supportive throughout this difficult period, but she wanted them to be able to focus on Split 2 without distractions. Florescent clarified that this decision was entirely her own and not initiated by Apeks, their coaching staff, or management.
Teams Expressed Interest Despite Departure Plans
According to the announcement, several VCT teams had offered to purchase florescent’s contract, with Apeks supporting potential transfers for Split 2 in hopes this would enable her to continue competing happily. However, the pro player appears committed to stepping away from competitive VALORANT entirely for now.
Rising Through Game Changers to Make VALORANT History
Florescent began her VALORANT journey at just 14 years old and signed with her first esports team by 15. Now 18, she competed with multiple organizations including Misfits Black, Version1, and Shopify Rebellion in Game Changers, Riot’s female-focused VALORANT circuit. In 2024, she helped lead Shopify Rebellion to first place at the Game Changers Championship, showcasing her exceptional mechanical skills and strategic thinking.
Her outstanding talent eventually caught Apeks’ attention, leading to her groundbreaking signing to compete in the VCT International League as the first woman to make that transition. She continued making history as the first female competitor in the VCT EMEA during the 2025 season, where she consistently performed at a high level against top competition.
Community Support Despite Initial Skepticism
Apeks acknowledged that florescent faced some backlash from a small segment of the VALORANT community when she joined their roster. However, she quickly proved herself more than capable of competing at the highest level, effectively silencing doubters with her performance.
In their statement on X, Apeks expressed sadness at florescent’s departure while fully supporting her decision. The organization explained that despite working closely with her and her agent to find solutions over recent months, they mutually concluded it wasn’t right for her to continue playing at this time. They noted that sometimes life interferes with competitive goals, and they hope she benefits from this break before eventually returning to competitive VALORANT.
The broader VALORANT esports community has responded with supportive messages, wishing her well and hoping to see florescent return to competition after she’s had time to recharge.
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