‟ [The game's head designer] Mark Rosewater shared a few years ago that the player base of Magic: The Gathering is 38% women. And when we go to a Magic event, we see just so few women. So we really had this question in our head: OK, so many people, so many women play Magic, but where are they? Where are the women? We talked with each other, and we discovered, also talking with many other women, that we often just don't feel safe, and don't feel comfortable, in our local game stores, at events. And then you can accept that—or try to change it. And that's why we started Women+ in Magic. To create a safe space, online and offline, for women and gender-nonconforming people who are interested in Magic or already playing Magic."
This is what Myrna, co-founder of Women+ in Magic, told us about the genesis of the project she launched in 2024 along with Stéphanie and Lize, all three of whom have been playing Magic for a few years. We met at the first international WIM event that took place in Berlin, on July 5. It was an opportunity that Cardmarket didn't want to miss. We brought a few of our own people plus goodies for everyone as support, to complement the decks sponsored by Wizards of the Coast and further accessories provided by Ultimate Guard.
After all, with millions of users across 30 countries, Cardmarket knows a bit about the demographics of who is interested in trading card games too. We know that representation at events does not reflect it. We also know a lot about games. In particular, we know that this issue is not a game where one side wins and another loses. Making sure everyone has access to events where they feel welcome is better for everyone. And if you want to learn why members of the community don't feel comfortable somewhere, it's only logical to listen to them:
"Spaces that are filled with men can be very intimidating. Or can be a totally different atmosphere, they can be all about winning, or they can get very uncomfortable if a woman steps up and starts playing the game. Or maybe say something sexist, that can happen. And to me that's a reason to be, like, you know what, I'll just stay at home with my own friends and I'll just play with them, and I won't have the uncomfortable experience," Lize, another one of the founders of Women+ in Magic, explained.
It's a story that many who attended the event in Berlin know all too well. For example Anna shared, "I was usually in my local game store, in my supportive group, which was always very nice, taught me everything, very welcoming and open. But then I started competing and went out into the world, played Grand Prixes, and discovered that it wasn't just like that [everywhere]. And it was a tough time to get over it, but I learned to find my safe space, with the safe people that I traveled with, and these days it's definitely getting better."
A Space to Make Connections
An important aspect of organizing events in a public place, rather than in private, is of course that it allows people to find new friends. "That's why I thought, we need to create a space where we can gather, because it's Magic: The Gathering," said Lize, "a fun, inviting, nice space."
And it helps to meet people who share not just an interest, but who have some background and life experiences in common too. For example, when Iris first got into Magic, she recalled, "The challenge was that I didn't really find other women playing it as well. That was really what I was looking for, also to find some friends who're playing it. Women+ in Magic really helped me to gather those friends together."
The public place this time was kindly provided by LVL, who run a beautiful gaming center right in the middle of Berlin. They were so happy with what Women+ in Magic brought to their venue that they're now hosting another Magic event on August 9 that also includes a FLINTA-only area.
One of the most important connections made this time was with Sadie Braun. She was the one who originally reached out to Cardmarket, co-organized the event with WIM, and brought in all the amazing people from her local network to help out. She and her crew plan to organize more FLINTA-friendly Magic events in Berlin, like the upcoming Saturday at LVL, and we stayed in touch after the weekend. Said Sadie, "Women+ in Magic has gone back to the Netherlands, but we are still here and already have a couple new events we're spearheading. It's great to show that the community is growing here, and it's an opportunity for Cardmarket, and the women of Cardmarket, to be involved in future events too!"
A Space to Learn
Another good reason to make people comfortable: Magic already is quite a challenging game all by itself, as Iris pointed out. "The other challenge was probably the way it can feel so overwhelming, the amount of information. But now I also know, like I also said to the beginners today: After a while you get more comfortable, into it, and you will understand it."
"We're here at LVL, at the beginner event, with, I don't know, 32 people? It's insane, it's sold out. It's very fun and very lovely to see all these women and gender-nonconforming people just learning how to play Magic in such a calm and friendly space," said Lize. "Apparently, there is a big need for this."
Myrna was impressed with the turnout as well. "Downstairs, there are so many people joining us today. We have an English class, a German class, all beginners, new to Magic, excited to play with each other."
A Space to Grow (and Outgrow)
Although the success of the event proved there is demand, the ultimate success of the project lies elsewhere, Lize noted. "WIM isn't just about creating an online and offline safe space, because that doesn't solve anything. For us it's really important to also build community, build confidence, and go out into the world, because that's the only way stuff is going to change."
Such change would be beneficial to everyone, she added: "For example, in Amsterdam, we have Monday Night Draft, and now we go there with a big WIM group, and everyone is, like, oh, that's so fun, there's more diversity, and it makes it more normal to have a woman across the table from you, and thus normalizing it instead of it being an uncomfortable thing. We just have to get used to it."
Myrna summed it up: "Our whole goal is to create a safe space for everyone, make them feel comfortable, give them reassurance, and then enter mixed spaces together. Hopefully, in a few years, when you go to a MagicCon, you'll actually see the 38% there."
Write Your Own Story
If you can relate to the topic and want to share experiences you've made in the TCG world yourself, please do so with a comment below! You can also get involved:
- Follow Women+ in Magic on Instagram or Bluesky
- Join their exclusive women+ Discord
- Support Women+ in Magic on Patreon
- Join the next event with Sadie at LVL on August 9