Maria “Remilia” Creveling passed away on Dec. 28 at the age of 24. She was the first female professional League of Legends player. The news came from her boyfriend, who posted a tweet stating that Creveling had died the night before. The cause of death is as of yet unknown.
My girlfriend Maria died last night, she wouldn't want any lengthy public statement, so all I'll say is the 4 months I knew her were the best of both our lives and although she deserved so much more, it was a privilege to know her for the short time I did. RIP Maria, I love you.
— No Arm Whatley (@WhatleyLeague) December 28, 2019
Creveling was a very brave, but controversial figure in the LCS scene. Not only was she the first woman to play League of Legends professionally, she was also transgender. Creveling left pro play due to mental health issues in 2016, a year after she joined Renegades (formerly Misfits). She cited stress, as well as harassment from the public as a chief reason for her leaving.
Still alive in the hearts of many
In the aftermath of the news, posts across all social networks in her honor flooded League of Legends related threads. There has been an outpouring of support for her friends and family. Tributes to her life have been released in droves.
Many in the professional League of Legends community are visibly shaken by Creveling’s passing. Esports journalist Richard Lewis was among the first to share the news of her death. He was a close personal friend of Creveling. A tweet from Riot associate development manager Jennifer Huls reminded players and fans of Creveling’s legacy as the first woman in the LCS, and honored what she had done as a symbol for women in the pro scene.
Creveling was and will continue to be a prominent figure in the League of Legends community, and will live through the memories of her friends, family, and fans.
