TL;DR
- TSM leads with dominant tournament performances and exceptional individual players like Wardell
- T1 combines strategic depth with experienced CSGO veterans for consistent performance
- Sentinels innovate with off-meta agent selections and strategic roster moves
- Unsigned teams like Together We Are Terrific demonstrate rising amateur talent
- The NA scene features diverse team-building strategies from established veterans to emerging stars

Valorant’s professional competitive arena has rapidly evolved since its debut, with organizations investing significantly in securing elite talent for their rosters.
Recent industry reports from The Esports Observer indicate that monthly compensation packages for five-player Valorant squads typically span $15,000 to $25,000. This translates to annual earnings exceeding $60,000 for many competitors through base contracts alone, with insider sources suggesting select players command substantially higher figures.
While established esports titles like League of Legends maintain more lucrative salary structures, Valorant’s financial foundation demonstrates remarkable strength for a nascent competitive ecosystem. The scene continues to develop rapidly, with prominent organizations establishing their presence through regional competitions and strategic acquisitions of accomplished players from related FPS titles, including former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch professionals.
TSM
TSM initiated their Valorant competitive program during the game’s open beta phase, methodically constructing a championship-caliber roster. Following the official June launch, the team demonstrated marked improvement, culminating in championship victories at the T1 x Nerd Street Gamers Showdown and multiple online competitions, instantly establishing them as premier contenders.
Matthew “Wardell” Yu emerged as their most impactful performer, achieving an extraordinary +122 kill-to-death differential alongside a 253 average combat score during T1’s tournament. His tournament winnings have surpassed $10,000 due to TSM’s repeated first-place finishes across multiple events.
“After extensive anticipation, I’m thrilled to represent an esteemed organization like TSM. The future looks incredibly promising,” Wardell shared with ESPN in a recent discussion about his competitive journey.
T1
T1 secured their position following a championship match appearance against TSM in the T1 x Nerd Street Gamers Showdown. They initially dominated competitions through innovative Ascent strategies that opponents struggled to counter. Despite their finals defeat against TSM, T1 maintains top-tier status in North America, largely due to their formidable roster composition.
Braxon “Brax” Pierce demonstrated exceptional Omen proficiency, recording a 260 average combat score during the tournament. Previously known as “swag” during his CSGO tenure with iBUYPOWER, his career encountered obstacles following match-fixing violations that resulted in bans from Valve-sponsored events. T1 further strengthened their lineup with additions of Keven “AZK” Lariviere and Tyler “Skadoodle” Latham, both formerly of iBUYPOWER. This concentration of CSGO expertise naturally translates to their current competitive success.
Sentinels
The Sentinels organization captured significant attention after securing Overwatch League MVP Jay “sinatraa” Won. The team distinguishes itself through unconventional agent selections, frequently utilizing Breach in situations where opponents expect more traditional compositions. Hunter “Sick” Mims delivered standout Sage performances during the T1 x Nerd Street Gamers Showdown.
Following inconsistent performances throughout Valorant’s closed beta period, Sentinels strategically withdrew from certain competitions to focus preparation for the Ignition Series event. This approach yielded improved results at T1’s tournament, though they fell short of advancing beyond the bracket stage. Notably, they achieved two victories against Gen.G, a squad that had accumulated numerous impressive results during the closed beta phase.

Gen.G
Despite underwhelming results at the T1 tournament, Gen.G has consistently placed well in other significant competitions over recent months. Their Knights Tournament Series victory featured matches against elite teams including TSM and Together We Are Terrific. Their seventh-place finish at T1 x Nerd Street Gamers Showdown appears particularly surprising considering Gen.G’s $20,000 Invitational championship performance.
Gen.G’s Valorant roster originated as the French Canadians CSGO team, including seasoned competitor Loic “effys” Sauvageau.
Together We are Terrific
This unsigned North American squad has dominated amateur competitions, becoming the only non-affiliated team to advance from group stages at T1’s event, including a victory against Cloud9. Though they lost to 100 Thieves and TSM during playoffs, their achievement of taking a map from TSM deserves recognition, matching an accomplishment only T1 had previously achieved.
Beyond their competitive skill, Together We Are Terrific consistently delivers entertaining matches. Jake “Kaboose” McDonald continues to impress spectators with his precise Reyna execution, an agent that some professional analysts consider suboptimal for competitive play.
Cloud9
Cloud9 maintained consistent focus on Valorant’s competitive potential, rapidly assembling a roster combining professional competitors and content creators. Tyson “TenZ” Ngo ranks among the region’s most skilled players, having been the first competitor to achieve Valorant’s highest closed beta ranking in North America. While TenZ consistently delivered impressive frag totals during T1 x Nerd Street Gamers Showdown, the surrounding team structure struggled to achieve cohesive performance. For sustained competitive advancement, this established organization must prioritize systematic training regimens and communication skill development.
100 Thieves
Spencer “Hiko” Martin serves as both player and coach for 100 Thieves, establishing himself as a respected authority within the emerging competitive ecosystem. His T1 tournament performance featured the third-highest average combat score (255) and KDA ratio. Despite these individual achievements, the team faced elimination by Immortals in overtime. While most matches remained competitive throughout the event, 100 Thieves requires additional refinement to challenge North America’s elite squads.
Immortals
Immortals has sustained losses exclusively against TSM and T1, positioning them as strong candidates for top rankings in the North American competitive landscape. Their roster demonstrates considerable experience despite featuring younger competitors, including 16-year-old Peter “Asuna” Mazuryk, who consistently demonstrates technical proficiency while continuing to develop fundamental skills. Observers monitor Immortals closely due to their substantial growth potential.
While rival North American organizations signed established CSGO veterans, Immortals pursued less prominent talents like Joseph “Bjor” Bjorklund and Yannick “KOLER” Blanchette, generating interest in these emerging players’ capabilities.
Action Checklist
- Follow TSM’s tournament performances for dominant team play examples
- Analyze T1’s Ascent strategies to understand map-specific tactical approaches
- Monitor Sentinels’ agent selections for innovative meta-game developments
- Track emerging teams like Together We Are Terrific for rising talent identification
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » These are the top Valorant esports teams in North America Discover the top Valorant esports teams dominating North America's competitive scene and their standout players
