North American esports organization Sentinels are reportedly joining the LCS for the 2026 season.
Enter Sentinels League of Legends
Around three months ago, former LCS Champions 100 Thieves announced their intention to exit the North American League of Legends scene. Since then, many have wondered who would take the open spot, especially after Riot Games confirmed the return of the LCS brand.
According to a report from Sheep Esports, Riot Games has chosen Sentinels to fill the vacant slot. With this decision, the NA org will field a team in the LCS without a franchising fee.
Neither Riot Games nor the org have officially confirmed the move, but it doesn’t come as a surprise given their amicable relationship.
Who Are Sentinels?
If you aren’t familiar with VALORANT esports, Sentinels are North America’s darlings, boasting millions of fans worldwide. They previously played in the NA LCS as Phoenix1 until 2017.
The organization gained massive popularity after signing TenZ and winning the first international VALORANT tournament in 2021. Since then, their fanbase has skyrocketed.
With LCS viewership declining, Riot Games hopes Sentinels’ entry will help reinvigorate the brand and attract more fans to North American League of Legends.
Whether the strategy works long-term remains to be seen, but it will undoubtedly draw attention to the first split of the 2026 LCS season when they debut their League of Legends roster.
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Featured image credit: Sentinels
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