Powers Using Gaming to Keep Her Head in the Game
5/21/2020 2:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Sean Gardner For MSUSpartans.com
Most of the country is stuck at home right now, as orders continue due to COVID-19. But that doesn't mean people aren't finding alternative activities.Â
Former Michigan State All-American Aerial Powers, now part of the 2019 WNBA champion Washington Mystics, has continued her competitive spirit during the pandemic. Powers is an athlete on and off the court, and has utilized this time broadcasting gameplay to thousands of viewers on her Twitch channel "Powerzsurge". Â
Powers, a native of Detroit, has been a gamer since the early 2000s. Her younger brother Juan Powers Jr. got her into gaming at a young age, and she has been hooked since.Â
"Since everyone is at home, people are now looking to Esports in gaming on Twitch," said Powers. "With COVID going on, there have been way more tournaments and more charity events. These events bring in a lot of viewers."
The charity aspect of Esports has been important during the pandemic, with many platforms holding fundraising events. Powers, along with star athletes like Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys), Seth Curry (Dallas Mavericks) and Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) played in the Call of Duty Warzone tournament on April 19, hosted by eFuse to help others.
The winning team won $10,000, with another $10,000 donated to charity.
Powers, said Esports provide a beneficial way to help with COVID relief, and gives her a platform to connect with the public. Her Twitch currently has 1.46K followers that tune in when she is online.
"A lot of people that actually watch me play basketball are actually my followers on Twitch," said Powers.Â
She said she has seen some fans wear shirts to Mystics games that resemble to her Twitch broadcasts.Â
"One reason I like to stream on Twitch is it gives me the opportunity to be more involved and communicate with my fans," said Powers.Â
Though there is no basketball being played right now, Powers is still tearing it up on the virtual hardwood. One of her favorite games is NBA 2K20.
"I love playing in the park in 2K," said Powers. "It is a family atmosphere, and everybody can talk."
Powers a recently competed in a 2K league called, "NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown." It was an online 3V3 tournament, with fans, influencers, athletes, and 2K league players competing in the NBA 2K20 My Park game mode for a $25,000 prize pool. The tournament ran from March 31 through April 3. Powers teamed up with fellow WNBA players Alexis Jones and Chelsea Gray to form team "Watch Us Work."
Powers invites anybody who wants to follow or interact with her on Twitch to go to: https://m.twitch.tv/powerzsurge/profileÂ
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Most of the country is stuck at home right now, as orders continue due to COVID-19. But that doesn't mean people aren't finding alternative activities.Â
Former Michigan State All-American Aerial Powers, now part of the 2019 WNBA champion Washington Mystics, has continued her competitive spirit during the pandemic. Powers is an athlete on and off the court, and has utilized this time broadcasting gameplay to thousands of viewers on her Twitch channel "Powerzsurge". Â
Powers, a native of Detroit, has been a gamer since the early 2000s. Her younger brother Juan Powers Jr. got her into gaming at a young age, and she has been hooked since.Â
"Since everyone is at home, people are now looking to Esports in gaming on Twitch," said Powers. "With COVID going on, there have been way more tournaments and more charity events. These events bring in a lot of viewers."
The charity aspect of Esports has been important during the pandemic, with many platforms holding fundraising events. Powers, along with star athletes like Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys), Seth Curry (Dallas Mavericks) and Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) played in the Call of Duty Warzone tournament on April 19, hosted by eFuse to help others.
The winning team won $10,000, with another $10,000 donated to charity.
Powers, said Esports provide a beneficial way to help with COVID relief, and gives her a platform to connect with the public. Her Twitch currently has 1.46K followers that tune in when she is online.
"A lot of people that actually watch me play basketball are actually my followers on Twitch," said Powers.Â
She said she has seen some fans wear shirts to Mystics games that resemble to her Twitch broadcasts.Â
"One reason I like to stream on Twitch is it gives me the opportunity to be more involved and communicate with my fans," said Powers.Â
Though there is no basketball being played right now, Powers is still tearing it up on the virtual hardwood. One of her favorite games is NBA 2K20.
"I love playing in the park in 2K," said Powers. "It is a family atmosphere, and everybody can talk."
Powers a recently competed in a 2K league called, "NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown." It was an online 3V3 tournament, with fans, influencers, athletes, and 2K league players competing in the NBA 2K20 My Park game mode for a $25,000 prize pool. The tournament ran from March 31 through April 3. Powers teamed up with fellow WNBA players Alexis Jones and Chelsea Gray to form team "Watch Us Work."
Powers invites anybody who wants to follow or interact with her on Twitch to go to: https://m.twitch.tv/powerzsurge/profileÂ
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