Olga Shines as Imperial Valkyries Crash Out of ESL Impact League Season 8 Finals on Day One

Olga Shines as Imperial Valkyries Crash Out of ESL Impact League Season 8 Finals on Day One

The three-time “Women’s Team of the Year,” Imperial Valkyries, has been eliminated — finishing last at the ESL Impact League Season 8 Finals in Stockholm after a dominant showing by Olga Rodrigues of MIBR fe in their Group B elimination clash. 

On 28 November 2025, the Valkyries failed to secure a single win: after losing their opener 11–13 to NIP Impact, they were reverse-swept 1–2 by MIBR fe. This marks the first time the storied roster will not even reach the playoffs — a stark fall from grace for a squad that had dominated the women’s CS2 circuit for years.

The downfall can be largely attributed to Olga’s exceptional performance: she boasted a 23–11 kill–death on Inferno (2.05 rating) and an astonishing 26–6 on Dust2 (2.08 rating), finishing the series with a stellar 1.61 rating overall. 

For Imperial Valkyries — previously perennial favorites to vie for the title — this elimination feels even heavier as this Season 8 ends up being the final season of the women-only league format under ESL Impact. 

Despite the team’s dominance in the first six seasons, including multiple championships, their struggles in 2024 and 2025 — a first-time LAN final loss to FURIA fe and a semi-final exit in Season 7 — have gradually chipped away at their once unshakable position atop the women’s CS2 scene. 

With Valkyries gone, the playoffs will definitely see at least one Brazilian team: MIBR fe advance, and they are set to face Atrix Esports in the Group B decider. Meanwhile, Sakura and NIP Impact have already secured their playoff berths after topping their respective groups. 

The departure of Imperial Valkyries from the finals — underlined by Olga’s standout but ultimately futile efforts — underscores a dramatic shift in the competitive landscape just as the league prepares to pause operations after Season 8.