HLTV have revealed the list of finalists for Women’s Team of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year, and for the first time in several years it looks radically different. The list does not include 🇧🇷 Imperial Valkyries or 🇷🇴 ANa — two symbols of sustained dominance on the women’s scene over recent seasons.
This marks the first time since the launch of the HLTV Awards that the core of Imperial Valkyries is not in contention for the team award, while the three-time winner of the Women’s Player of the Year title is not even included in the top three.
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The end of an era of absolute dominance
For several years, Imperial Valkyries served as the benchmark for the entire scene. Their winning streaks, LAN consistency, and control of ESL Impact created the sense of a closed loop, where the question was not who would win, but when they would win again.
The 2025 season broke that narrative. While the team remained competitive, their results were no longer unquestionable. The scene leveled out, and dominance turned into open competition — exactly what the HLTV nominee list reflects.
ANa outside the top three — a signal of shifting balance
Another clear indicator of change is the absence of ANa among the finalists for Women’s Player of the Year. For three consecutive years, she was recognized as the best player in the world, setting the standard for individual consistency.
In 2025, her season remained strong, but no longer decisive against the backdrop of new leaders. For the first time in a long while, the women’s individual race is no longer built around a single name — and this is likely the defining takeaway of the year.
Women’s Team of the Year: new leaders of the scene
HLTV selected three teams that most consistently shaped the course of the season:
- BIG EQUIPA (Europe)
A team that made a major leap in the second half of the year. The rebuilt roster quickly gained momentum and managed to convert progress into key LAN victories. - FURIA fe (Brazil)
A lineup that broke the cycle of rival dominance and became a symbol of generational change in South America. - MIBR fe (Brazil)
The most consistent Brazilian project of the season, with regular finals appearances and strong LAN performances, even without full dominance in Impact.
Women’s Player of the Year: a new trio
The finalists for the individual award also highlight the shift in focus on the scene:
- ASTRA (France) — a leader and IGL who combined individual efficiency with in-game leadership.
- bizinha (Brazil) — the key driving force of FURIA fe and one of the most impactful riflers of the year.
- vicu (Poland) — a consistent AWP player who made a decisive contribution in her team’s most successful series.
Why this matters for women’s CS
The absence of Imperial Valkyries and ANa is more than a roster detail. It is a signal that the women’s scene has finally moved beyond predictability. The 2025 season demonstrated:
- leveling of competition among top teams;
- genuine battles for titles;
- the emergence of multiple centers of power instead of a single dominant force.
This year’s HLTV Awards effectively captured a shift in era — and that is precisely why these nominations carry particular significance.
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HLTV Awards 2025
HLTV Awards 2025 became a turning point for women’s Counter-Strike. Without the usual favorites but with new names stepping forward, the scene enters the next season in a state of open competition. And for the first time in a long while, the question of “who is the best?” no longer has an obvious answer.
