Sentinels joins the LCS for 2026 season as the new partnered team

North American esports organization Sentinels has officially announced it will enter the League Championship Series (LCS) in the upcoming year, replacing the departing 100 Thieves.

Sentinels rejoin League through the LCS and establish their presence across both Riot Games titles

This marks a return of the organization to the scene since 2017, when Sentinels still competed as Phoenix1 in the LCS. With the LCS confirmed to return next year as an independent competition, Sentinels ended up becoming the eighth partnered team, expanding its portfolio of game titles following the success of Riot Games’ other flagship game, VALORANT.

Rob Moore, CEO of Sentinels, commented on the expansion: “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.

Doublelift makes a cheeky appearance on the Sentinels announcement video

The former pro player and now turned content creator was shown in the video wearing a Sentinels uniform to share the news. Despite the initial hints of Doublelift returning to pro play with the organization, he later confirmed in the video that he wouldn’t be joining the team or working with SEN’s players, joking that he did it to meet one of Sentinels’ greatest VALORANT players, TenZ.

“Riot has been a great partner to our organization,” added Moore. “We have seen first-hand how a clear competitive framework and strong live events can grow a scene and energize fans. Our goal is to help elevate the LCS while building a roster and style of play that our supporters can rally behind.”

The team will be investing in the new game title with a multi-year infrastructure, focusing on a mix of veterans and rising talents. The roster and staff, alongside the community initiatives, will be revealed in the coming months.