“Four Asians and One American”—Import Player Discourse in North American Professional League of Legends

The esport industry often seeks to depict itself as politically neutral, distinct from the discourses regarding race or nationality as found in traditional sports. However, Western esports in particular continue to reinforce racial dynamics that often center on Whiteness and reinforce the exclusion of people of color. The discourse surrounding migrant “import players,” within official broadcasts and online communities, poses important questions about globalized labor mobility and nationalism, paralleled in traditional sports. This project investigates broadcast and community narratives surrounding “import players” in the North American League of Legends ecosystem (also known as the League of Legends Championship Series) by examining Team Liquid’s roster through 2023 and 2024. Using the discourse of language and work ethic, the presence of Korean “imports” in the League of Legends Championship Series is emblematic of already existing techno-Orientalist anxieties of skilled, yet dehumanized Asian labor displacing the rightful positions of Western “native talent.” As seen by the addition of American player APA, Whiteness is positioned as a vital competent to success in Western League of Legends. Meanwhile, the identities of Asian diasporic players as “native talent” remain precarious and dependent on in-game success.