Shopify Rebellion has made history, becoming the first Game Changers roster to qualify for the VALORANT Challengers circuit.
Securing third place at the NA Challengers Closed Qualifier yesterday, the team has now ascended to Stage 1 of the regional Challengers circuit, which offers qualification for the VCT Americas league through its VCT Ascension tournament.
VCT Game Changers (GC) is a multi-regional VALORANT circuit that provides athletes of marginalised genders with a space to compete and hone their skills. Shopify Rebellion (SR) has been a dominant force within the Game Changers ecosystem for several years, earning consecutive Championship titles in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
“We’re the first Game Changers team to ever make Challengers, 4+ years of grinding has led to this moment. History made, we did it. I love my team,” Shopify Rebellion player Alexis ‘alexis’ Guarrasi shared on her personal X (formerly Twitter) account after the qualification match.
The team is also known for nurturing VCT Game Changers talent, such as Ava ‘florescent’ Eugene. The former SR player recently became the first Game Changers athlete to compete in an international VCT league after joining Apeks for the ongoing VCT EMEA season.
Florescent congratulated her former team for their achievement: “Congrats to my lovely friends at SR, definitely deserved for how hardworking they are but also a little bittersweet that I wasn’t there with them.”
With the qualification of SR Game Changers and the recent merger of Shopify Rebellion and Moist Esports, the brand now has two separate rosters competing in VCT Challengers NA. Previously, the joint VALORANT roster of Moist Esports and SR participated in the Challengers circuit under the moniker ‘Moist x Shopify Rebellion’.
However, earlier today, the organisation revealed updated names and branding for both Challengers squads. The former Moist x Shopify Rebellion was renamed ‘Shopify Rebellion Black’ (SRB), while the GC roster joined as ‘Shopify Rebellion Gold’ (SRG).
NA Challengers Stage 1 will run from January 29th until March 28th, featuring 16 teams. Top teams from the circuit will advance to the regional VCT Ascension tournament, which awards the winning organisation with a one-year slot in Americas’ S-tier VCT league.
