100 Thieves, one of North America’s premier esports organizations, has officially announced it will depart from competitive League of Legends following the conclusion of the 2025 season. The decision comes after Riot Games informed the organization that their league slot will be filled by another partner for the 2026 season.
The organization has competed in League of Legends since 2018, when they joined the then-newly franchised North American league known as the LCS (now rebranded as LTA). During their tenure, 100 Thieves claimed an LCS championship in 2021 and made multiple World Championship appearances, establishing themselves as a competitive force in the region.
Last year, 100 Thieves lost its permanent franchise slot and has been participating as a “guest” team in the league. The temporary arrangement was meant to maintain the league’s structure while Riot Games sought a permanent replacement. According to 100 Thieves leadership, the organization talked with Riot about maybe keeping their spot in the league, but found out the slot had already been promised to another partner.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to compete in League of Legends over the past several years,” the organization stated in their announcement. “We’ve built amazing memories with our fans and achieved competitive milestones we’re incredibly proud of.”
While Riot Games has not officially disclosed which organization will replace 100 Thieves, the community is pretty sure Sentinels—a major esports brand best known for their dominant VALORANT team—is probably next in line. Sentinels has previously shown interest in League of Legends, depending on the right business opportunity.
The departure of 100 Thieves continues a troubling pattern of high-profile organizations leaving the North American League of Legends scene. Recent years have seen the withdrawal of historic teams like TSM and CLG, highlighting ongoing challenges with viewership decline, monetization difficulties, and lack of international success for the region.
Current 100 Thieves players, including talents like Sniper, FBI, and River, are expected to become free agents or get picked up by other organizations after the 2025 season. The team is set to play out their last split with the same energy and drive that they’ve always brought to the league.
Goodbye Summoner’s Rift, hello future ventures
100 Thieves will keep going strong in their other esports divisions, especially their championship-winning VALORANT team and their Call of Duty League franchise. Founded by Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag in 2017, the org has made a name for itself not just through winning, but also with its content creation and lifestyle branding that goes beyond just gaming.
Riot Games said they’re “moving forward with identifying and onboarding a long-term NA partner to fill the slot in 2026,” showing they’re still committed to keeping the North American League of Legends scene steady even with all the changes.
