The American esports organization Sentinels has officially announced the launch of its League of Legends roster, set to compete in the LCS (League Championship Series) starting in 2026. The news was shared on the team’s official website. Sentinels will soon begin recruiting players and coaches, with more details about the team’s structure and long-term plans to be revealed in the coming months.
“This is the next stage in Sentinels’ evolution. We started in 2018 with a focus on the newest games like Fortnite where Sentinels Bugha brought home the inaugural Fortnite World Cup in 2019, VALORANT where we have brought home two international trophies and most recently Marvel Rivals, where we qualified for the first international event but did not manage to bring home a trophy. Now entering the most popular and enduring game in the world, League of Legends, is the natural next step. We value our relationship with Riot, we respect the history of the LCS, and we are committed to bringing the same level of preparation, resources, and fan experience that our community expects from Sentinels”.
Rob Moore, CEO of Sentinels
The last LCS season was held in 2024, after which Riot Games restructured its regional leagues in North and South America, merging them under the LTA banner. The move was intended to breathe new life into the regional scene and reignite fan interest in local competitions. However, the LTA experiment ultimately fell short of expectations. In 2026, Riot plans to return to the traditional format, bringing back the LCS for North America and CBLOL for Brazil.
Sentinels has a long-standing partnership with Riot Games through its involvement in Valorant, where it serves as a partner organization in the North American VCT league. The team has earned major victories at VALORANT Masters Reykjavík 2021 and VALORANT Masters Madrid 2024, along with strong showings at the Valorant Championship and frequent appearances in show matches and promotional events.
Today, Sentinels stands as the most popular American Valorant team by peak viewership. Their grand final against Gen.G Esports at VCT 2024: Masters Madrid drew an impressive 1,687,848 Peak Viewers, current global Valorant esports record.
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