Assistant general manager of the Washington Justice Kate Mitchell has revealed that she is retiring from the Overwatch League at the end of Stage 2, meaning her last day will be on May 13.
While she celebrates the good experience she has had, she adds that "it's impossible to ignore, though, that I've also been confronted with toxicity and casual cruelty from strangers that outpaced anything I saw in years in gaming and politics, especially from people on Reddit. I've been on Reddit for over ten years, and have seen both its strength as a tool for community building and solidarity and its dark side, empowering false rumors, giving attention and ad revenue to muckrakers and liars, and fostering a culture where fans delight in the pain and 'juice' from voyeuristically watching for negative moments in the professional careers of players and staff."
Another reason for her retirement is being away from her family and home, facing "frequent panic attacks" like others in the league, as well as having to see a therapist for anxiety. "Most mornings before our matches I'd throw up from the stress," she added.
Mitchell adds that she's confident in the system that she's leaving in place at Justice, and thanks the fans for their support.
We wish her all the best.