BIG EQUIPA Dominate HLTV Women’s Awards 2025 as ASTRA Named Player of the Year

BIG EQUIPA closed out the season at the top of women’s Counter-Strike, winning HLTV Women’s Team of the Year 2025, while their in-game leader ASTRA claimed the Women’s Player of the Year award. The double victory highlights BIG EQUIPA’s late-season dominance and signals a shift in the women’s CS hierarchy after years of success from rival lineups.

HLTV Women’s Awards 2025 – Full Rankings

🏆 Women’s Team of the Year

1. BIG EQUIPA

2. MIBR fe

3. FURIA fe

🌟 Women’s Player of the Year

1. ASTRA (BIG EQUIPA)

2. vicu (BIG EQUIPA)

3. bizinha (FURIA fe)

These results were announced as part of the annual HLTV Awards, recognizing the best performers in professional Counter-Strike across all categories.

Why BIG EQUIPA Won Team of the Year

BIG EQUIPA’s award was largely driven by their strong second half of the season, capped by winning the ESL Impact League Season 8 Finals. In the grand final, they defeated MIBR fe 2–1, securing the final ESL Impact title before the circuit was placed on indefinite hold.

The victory was especially significant because it came shortly after ASTRA joined the lineup in August. Under her leadership, BIG EQUIPA quickly became the most consistent and tactically disciplined team in women’s CS, outperforming long-time contenders such as Imperial Valkyries.

ASTRA: IGL Impact and Individual Excellence

ASTRA’s Women’s Player of the Year award stands out because she achieved elite individual numbers while serving as in-game leader—a rare combination at the highest level. Her ability to elevate BIG EQUIPA immediately after joining the team was a decisive factor in HLTV’s ranking.

Following the ESL Impact Season 8 victory, ASTRA reflected on the moment and the state of the scene, emphasizing both pride and uncertainty about the future of women’s Counter-Strike. Her comments echoed a broader sentiment shared by many players as ESL Impact came to an end.

The End of ESL Impact and Its Impact on Women’s CS

The awards arrive at a turning point for the women’s scene. After the Season 8 Finals, ESL announced that ESL Impact would be put on indefinite hold, creating uncertainty around long-term tournament opportunities.

Several organizations have already reacted:

NIP Impact exited the scene, citing sustainability concerns and a lack of consistent competition.

Players across multiple teams publicly expressed concern that the absence of ESL Impact leaves a major gap in the women’s competitive ecosystem.

Despite this, teams like BIG EQUIPA, MIBR fe, and FURIA fe continue to compete in newly announced female tournaments, keeping hopes alive for a rebuilt calendar in 2026.