Sentinels

Origins as Phoenix1 and the Rebrand

The organization's story began in May 2016 with its establishment as Phoenix1, a team built to compete in the North American League of Legends Championship Series. Its inaugural roster featured players like top laner Derek zig Shao and mid laner Sang-ook Ryu Yoo. When the NA LCS transitioned to a franchised league, Phoenix1 sold its competition spot. The company then formed a partnership with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, playing a central role in launching the Los Angeles Gladiators franchise for the Overwatch League.

After the Gladiators' successful debut, the company underwent a complete transformation in June 2018, changing its name from Phoenix1 to Sentinels. This rebrand signaled a new era of expansion beyond its League of Legends origins. Immediately, Sentinels opened a Hearthstone division, and the following month, in July 2018, it began its Fortnite division by signing the players from the North American team TT, including Owen Animal Wright.

Building a Valorant Powerhouse

Sentinels entered the Valorant competitive scene in April 2020, shortly after the game's release. The organization moved quickly, signing former Overwatch player Jay sinatraa Won and former Counter-Strike professionals Shahzeb ShahZaM Khan and Hunter SicK Mims. It also brought Jared zombs Gitlin over from its Apex Legends division. The roster was completed in June 2020 with Michael dapr Gulino. This group would form the core of the team that achieved early dominance.

In 2021, after sinatraa was suspended, Sentinels acquired Tyson TenZ Ngo on a loan from Cloud9. With TenZ, the team made history by winning the first international Valorant event, the VALORANT Champions Tour 2021 Stage 2 Masters in Reykjavík, without conceding a single map. This victory instantly established Sentinels as the team to beat. In June 2021, the organization bought out TenZ's contract from Cloud9 to secure him permanently. However, the year ended with setbacks, including a 5th–8th place finish at Masters Berlin and a shocking group stage elimination from the 2021 Valorant Champions by KRÜ Esports, an upset that resonated throughout the esports world.

Partnership Era and the 2024 Resurgence

A major shift occurred in September 2022 when Riot Games selected Sentinels as a partner team for the new Valorant Champions Tour Americas League, securing its place in the top tier of competition from 2023 onward. This led to a full roster overhaul. Sentinels released its longtime captain ShahZaM and others, building a new team around former XSET players Zachary zekken Patrone and Rory dephh Jackson, plus the 2022 Valorant Champions winners from LOUD, Gustavo Sacy Rossi and Bryan pANcada Luna. Coaching staff was also replaced, with Don SyykoNT Muir becoming head coach.

The 2023 season was a struggle, as the new lineup failed to qualify for the Americas League playoffs and was eliminated in the Last Chance Qualifier. Further adjustments were made, including the signing of in-game leader Mohamed johnqt Ouarid and the return of Jordan Zellsis Montemurro. These changes set the stage for a dramatic comeback in 2024. Sentinels won the Americas Kickoff, qualifying for Masters Madrid. There, they defeated Gen.G 3–2 in the grand final to claim their second Masters trophy, making them the only organization to win two. TenZ became the second player to win two Masters, and Sacy became the first to win both a Champions and a Masters title.

The rest of 2024 saw mixed results. The team missed Masters Shanghai but qualified for the 2024 Valorant Champions via championship points. At Champions, they eliminated tournament favorites Gen.G in the group stage but their run ended in the top four after a loss to Team Heretics. Following the season, longtime players TenZ and Sacy announced their retirements from professional play.

A Multi-Game Organization

While Valorant is its most successful division, Sentinels maintains a broad portfolio of competitive teams. Its Halo division, started in February 2020, initially signed a roster of veterans including Paul SnakeBite Duarte and Tony LethuL Campbell Jr. That roster was completely rebuilt in 2023 with new players like Tyler Spartan Ganza. The organization also fields a team in Apex Legends.

Sentinels has also ventured into newer titles. It entered the Marvel Rivals scene in March 2025 by signing a roster from another organization, but paused those operations and released the players by November 2025. Its Fortnite division, started in 2018, became home to superstar Kyle Bugha Giersdorf, who won the 2019 Fortnite World Cup and several FNCS championships under the Sentinels banner before the organization exited the scene in December 2022.

The Return to League of Legends

Sentinels has come full circle with its original game. After failing to secure a spot in the franchised NA LCS in 2018, the organization was absent from the top level of League of Legends for years. In a significant move in October 2025, Sentinels announced it would return to the League Championship Series by taking over the competition slot previously held by 100 Thieves. By December 5, 2025, the organization had announced its full starting roster for the 2026 LCS season, marking a major re-entry into the game where it was born as Phoenix1.

Organizational Structure and Legal Challenges

The early partnership with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment was foundational but ultimately fractured. In August 2019, Sentinels co-founder and CEO Rob Moore filed a lawsuit against KSE. Moore alleged that KSE had purchased the esports organization Echo Fox without his knowledge. Following this legal action, Sentinels and KSE parted ways, with KSE retaining sole ownership of the Los Angeles Gladiators Overwatch League team. This split allowed Sentinels to continue as an independent entity, focusing on building its own brand across multiple games.

The organization's management style is active and often decisive, as seen in its frequent roster changes in games like Halo and Valorant. It makes significant mid-season adjustments, such as the departure of head coach Adam kaplan Kaplan and players in 2026, followed by the appointment of a new coach and signings to address performance. This hands-on approach has defined its journey through various competitive landscapes.