The following was sent to Inven Global as a press release.

PNC Bank is joining forces with the Pittsburgh Knights to launch a Women in Esports initiative. The locally headquartered organizations are partnering in support of gender equity, a topic they care deeply about and actively work to support. This sponsorship marks PNC’s first foray into esports.

The PNC x Knights Women in Esports initiative will be an effort to develop actionable and expert solutions for gender equity disparities in the emerging esports industry. The Knights, with PNC’s support, will facilitate open and honest conversations about how esports industry insiders and affiliates can work together, act as leaders, and take steps towards opening up the playing field to a more diverse group of athletes.

With the understanding that gender equity in gaming is a large and multi-faceted issue that cannot be solved by any one group, the Knights and PNC are putting together a steering committee to lead discussions and spark ideas about how to change the narrative for women in this field.

The committee will be composed of professionals from the gaming community, esports industry, local sports industry experts, and scholars who have studied the history and trajectory of women in traditional sports and society.

The conversations and ideas raised from this committee will be shared and used to help develop initiatives and tactics that various esports and gaming verticals could reference and implement.

“We have so much respect for PNC and strive to follow their lead in the way they support their communities,” says Knights President James O’Connor. “The issue of inclusivity in gaming is something we feel very strongly about and I’m happy that PNC wants to make a positive impact with us in the esports space.” 

Even though women play video games at an almost equal rate to men, and make up approximately 40% of the global esports audience, they are underrepresented in professional leagues and face harassment during casual play.

“The Knights have not only brought the exciting new esports industry to Pittsburgh, but they care about setting the stage for greater inclusion and equal opportunities in the space,” says Lou Cestello, head of regional markets and regional president of Pittsburgh for PNC Bank. “We’re eager to connect with new audiences by supporting an organization like the Knights that shares our values—and competitive spirit.”

The Knights are Pittsburgh’s first professional esports team, which in 2018, partnered with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since their launch, they have worked to bring Pittsburgh to the forefront of the global competitive video gaming industry while also working to support the local gaming community.

PNC also has a longstanding commitment to supporting the communities it serves and prioritizes empowering women within its organization. The company offers a Women’s Leadership Development Program, Women Business Advocates training, and a Women Connect Employee Business Resource Group, which supports female employees with professional development. With both organizations working to champion inclusivity, this partnership is an especially good match.

Initially, PNC x Knights Women in Esports content will be shared as a LinkedIn series on the Knights social channels and other local and national channels this fall. 

Find full schedules, brackets, and more for your favorite esports on Juked.gg!