It has been a busy and exciting couple of years for Alaina “DjLayyy” Haney. In 2021, she was selected in the NBA 2K League draft, a professional e-sports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software. She spent a season with the Celtics Crossover Gaming, an affiliate of the Boston Celtics. After an incredible six months focused on gaming, Haney headed back to her position as an air traffic controller in Texas.
“Being an air traffic controller is a really good career, so I didn’t want to give that up. They let me take the six-month leave to go to Boston,” Haney said.
There are three women in the draft pool this year and she wishes them well.
Haney credits her education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and work experience with giving her calm under pressure and visual acuity. Recently, she took on an exciting new challenge when she became esports director for Oklahoma City Charge, a gaming, entertainment and clothing company. Now she helps other individuals who have aspirations of playing in the 2K league realize their dreams.
“We’re about to be on the rise,” said Haney. “We have a Pokémon team going. We also have, of course, a 2K team. We also have a Call of Duty team, and we have content creators. We have partners in different companies. I’m managing every team that we have. Eventually, we’ll have an Apex team. I make sure I get the teams signed up for events. I keep track of the progress of the teams…and keep pushing the organization forward.”
Haney also owns her own brand, HeartCrushers, which competes in various esports tournaments. “I coach and GM the team,” she said. “I have five amazing guys that I put under the brand. They are pursuing [making] the 2K league. I’ve already been in the league. I know the ins and outs …so they can compete and get their names out there.”
Haney gravitated to NBA 2K having played basketball in high school and AAU travel ball, but is taking a break from playing it. She currently plays Apex, as does her fiancée, Lauren, who she met through gaming.
The growth of collegiate esports competition makes Haney very happy. “I’ve been a gamer all my life, so seeing that is exciting,” she said. “There’s an esports course coming this fall at my former high school (in South Carolina), which I think is extremely cool. I’ll fly home and speak to the students about that.”
