⚡LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN⚡
Welcome to our now – fully complete – VCT Game Changers roster!
The Ninjas announced their reentry into the competitive VALORANT Game Changers scene in the EMEA region. With this new venture, we are lighting up our presence in the popular game’s rapidly-growing esports community. NIP has been investing in VALORANT since 2020, but never had a roster that didn’t consist of male players.
VALORANT, developed by Riot Games, is a tactical first-person shooter game that has taken the gaming world by storm since its release in 2020. The VCT Game Changers, a program formed in 2021, creates new opportunities and exposure for women and other marginalized genders within VALORANT esports. To help establish their presence in the diverse and global VALORANT community, NIP has recruited a talented group of players: a mix of proven players from the Rix Lightning team and raw talent superstars of tomorrow.
The team consists of Padge, Raina, OYKU, rezq, Thykuza, their head coach Jaxsen with Wolf continuing the role of team manager. Three of the NIP players, Raina, OYKU and Padge, are former teammates who have their roots on Rix.GG organization’s successful 2020-22 Lightning team.
A formidable roster, the former Rix trio along with two new talents will retain the Lightning team name while playing under the Ninjas in Pyjamas brand umbrella. Both name and team are legends in their own right. Lightning was the first professional female and marginalized gender VALORANT team to be signed in Europe. While playing for Rix.GG, the former Lightning roster remained in the Top 5 European Game Changers teams, took second place in the first Game Changers series, and set a series of world firsts.
The VCT Game Changers EMEA Stage 1 is set to start on April 24.
“Finally, almost six months after signing the first players for NIP Lightning, we can unveil the entire VALORANT roster. We've carefully handpicked players to create a team that not only aims to win the VCT Game Changers, but also aims to climb the leagues and compete against the best in the world,” says Erik Wendel, Director of Esports at NIP
“Right now we're one of the only tier 1 esports organizations to go all in with just one VALORANT roster – and we chose to invest in a female and marginalized gender team. This is what NIP Lightning represents." Wendel concludes.
"Female players need a few years with the same resources and investment as the males have gotten in the past years. Our VCT Game Changers team is the second non-male roster at NIP and we plan to continue to invest in and elevate female players. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the esports community – from the equal representation of the employees at our company to the players that represent the Ninjas in Pyjamas brand in competition.” says Hicham Chahine, CEO of NIP.
Ninjas in Pyjamas roster:
Paige ‘Padge’ Thomas
Nelly ‘Raina’ Sosobrado
Öykü ‘OYKU’ Sezin Büyük
Eda ‘rezq’ Naz Akçocuk
Thy ‘Thykuza’ Truong
Coach:
Jackson ‘Jaxsen’ Popelka
Manager:
Nic ´Wolf´ Sølvmose
