Log in

Shopify Rebellion GC becomes the first Game Changers team to make it to Challengers

Shopify Rebellion GC becomes the first Game Changers team to make it to Challengers

Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Martin Arévalo-Östberg

23 Dec, 2024, 04:37

|

Last updated: 8 Apr, 2025, 21:22

Shopify Rebellion GC have made VALORANT history by qualifying for Challengers in North America. After getting past the Closed Qualifiers, SR GC are the first GC team to ever make it into the Tier-2 scene in VALORANT.

Shopify Rebellion continue to make history

Despite an early loss to Winthrop in the Closed Qualifiers, Shopify Rebellion GC never let the odds defeat them. After powering through the lower bracket, SR GC went on to defeat Funhaver in convincing fashion during the team's very last chance to make it into the 2025 VALORANT Challengers league in North America. And make it they did.

Though the team lost former star player of Ava "florescent" Eugene to Apeks when she became the first ever Game Changers player to make the move over to Tier-1 VALORANT, the rest of the roster simply never stopped believing. Now, SR GC are set to continue their journey through the VALORANT professional scene as they shatter yet another barrier.

One league, two Shopifys

The one detail left to iron out will be whether the team can continue to compete under the Shopify Rebellion banner in the Challengers league. Seeing as Shopify Rebellion already has a team in the league, the addition of the SR GC squad could create a conflict of interest down the line.

While Shopify Rebellion await for ruling to be made on the matter, however, alexis, sarah, Noia, dodonut, and meL can continue to celebrate their historic achievement.

Check out Strafe Esports for all the latest VALORANT news and also our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credits: Adela Sznajder/Riot Games

Read more:

Relegation Protection Coming for Valorant EMEA Game Changers Teams

Rank Shields Come to VALORANT with Patch 10.01: Here’s How They Work

TDM vs Ranked Valorant Progression: Does TDM count towards weekly missions?

Latest news

Esports Nations Cup 2026 VALORANT Rosters: All Rumored and Confirmed National Teams

The Esports Nations Cup 2026 could be the most competitive international VALORANT event of the year. Set for November 8–15 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the tournament will bring together 32 national teams vying for glory on the global stage. With the national rankings cut-off not arriving until June 21, 2026, rosters are still taking shape, but plenty of names have already started surfacing across regions. Here's everything we know about confirmed and rumored lineups heading into the tournament.

Kaustavmani Choudhury

All Teams Qualified for VALORANT Esports Nations Cup 2026

The Esports Nations Cup is a two-tiered competition comprised of regional qualifiers followed by the main body of the tournament: a 32-team event held in November to crown the winning national team. However, the regional qualifiers to decide the teams attending are rounding down as we speak, and the final attendees are being determined as we speak. Let’s look at all the teams attending the 2026 VALORANT Esports Nations Cup.

New Study Finds 400 Million Gen Z Consumers Regularly Engage With Esports

The numbers are in, and they're hard to argue with. A new whitepaper from ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports, and Niko Partners titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend dropped today, and it paints a picture of an audience that is bigger, more engaged, and more commercially valuable than many brands still realize

G2 Esports and One Piece Collaborate to Create New Limited-Edition Drop

Esports giant G2 is making another move into the anime fashion space, this time partnering with one of the most beloved franchises in the world. In collaboration with One Piece, G2 has announced a new limited-edition streetwear drop available as of today (June 25).

Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Challenger Teams Enter the Fray in VCT EMEA Stage 2

As the glow from VCT Masters London begins to fade and the triumph of Leviatán incredible run firmly seats itself in history, we look towards the second half of 2026. The conclusion of the second VALORANT Masters event of the year marks the start of the sharp incline, a final dash for the finish line — Champions Shanghai. Only 16 teams will earn the privilege of basking under the brightest spotlight the VCT has to offer, and there’s very little time left. Let’s have a look at what to expect come VCT EMEA Stage 2.

Riot Games' Vanguard Anti-Cheat Now Launches On-Demand: How to Enable It

VALORANT and League of Legends players can now use the Vanguard anti-cheat on demand. Here's how, along with the pre-check requirements.

Adarsh J. Kumar

"At least give us one opportunity" - Coach Fury on the State of South African Valorant

Six years on from the game’s launch, VALORANT continues to grow and inspire new generations of players with its dizzying heights — selling a dream that one day, just maybe, they could stand at the pinnacle of the game’s competitive scene and do the same for another. But for a country like South Africa (ZA), the VALORANT dream is a pipe dream.

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match