After Brazil and Europe's top-flights have already kicked off, fans are now looking forward to the start of the North America League.
Following a whirlwind transfer market, where multiple teams recreated their rosters from scratch, new faces are ready to represent the North America League.
For more information about the teams, the players, and the format of the competition, keep on reading!
Teams
The North America League 2023 will be formed by eight rosters. Compared to last year's North American League, the region's top-flight has seen two teams leaving in Astralis and TSM.
Here's the complete list of teams heading into Stage 1:
#flag@20:br M80
Lineup: DiasLucas, GMZ, Kyno, Yoggah, Iconic, Spoit, Vivas (Coach), PFernandes (Analyst)
M80 possibly have the most exciting roster for the North America League 2023. Under XSET, the core roster reached the quarter-finals of the Charlotte Major and the semi-finals of the Berlin Major. The team peaked with a top-eight finish at the Six Invitational 2023.
Now, with David "Iconic" Ifidon and William "Spoit" Löfstedt on the roster, the team plans to elevate its play style and reach international glory for the first time.
#flag@20:us Soniqs
Lineup: Gryxr, Rexen, Gunnar, Geometrics, CTZN, Goddess (Head Coach), Jobro (Head Analyst)
One month before the Six Invitational 2023, Soniqs announced the signing of Ben "CTZN" McMillan. With him, the team was sent home after the first lower-bracket match.
Despite not reaching the top 12, the Soniqs left a good impression during the group stage as they defeated Wolves Esports, Team Liquid, and Dire Wolves. Surely, it can only get better for the Six Jönköping Major semi-finalists.
#flag@20:us Spacestation Gaming
Lineup: Fultz, Hotancold, Forrest, J9O, Merc, Callout (Coach), Mango (Analyst)
Following the conclusion of the Six Invitational 2023, Spacesation Gaming decided to embark on changes in its roster. As they parted ways with everyone on the team except for Alec "Fultz" Fultz and Matthew "Hotancold" Stevens, the astronauts welcomed four members of the former Astralis roster -- two players and two coaches -- and Bryan "Merc" Wrzek.
#flag@20:us Mirage
Lineup: Dpfire, Kanzen, Rampy, Surf, Yeti, Slothi (Substitute), Tiseis (Coach), Drip (Coach), Justin (Analyst), DnA (Analyst)
Mirage have put together an insane lineup full of players from different North American League rosters.
Nathanial "Rampy" Duvail and Alexander "Yeti" Lawson have signed from Spacestation Gaming after parting ways with the astronauts. Matthew "Dpfire" Macway from Astralis, Evan "Kanzen" Bushore from Soniqs, and Damian "Surf" Medina, from beastcoast, complete the roster.
Moreover, the roster has its backs covered with four staff members. With this new team, Mirage intends to qualify for another international tournament after making it to the Jönköping Major.
#flag@20:us Oxygen Esports
Lineup: FoxA, VertcL, Nuers, Dream, Sweater, HOP3Z (Coach), Redeemer (Coach)
After reaching the top three of the Six Invitational 2023, the team decided to make a change to its roster. The roster parted ways with the only remaining player from Team Reciprocity, Franklyn "VertcL" Cordero, to welcome Evan "Yoggah" Nelson.
This marks the return of Yoggah to Oxygen after he joined XSET following the conclusion of the Six Invitational 2022.
#flag@20:us beastcoast
Lineup: Doq, Hat, Hyper, MrB, VertcL
To compete in the North America League 2023, beastcoast have decided to pick up the core of Reality TV. The roster has been completed with the additions of Paul "Hyper" Kontopanagiotis and Franklyn "VertcL" Cordero, who last represented DarkZero Esports and Oxygen Esports, respectively.
#flag@20:us DarkZero Esports
Lineup: Panbazou, njr, Canadian, Gaveni, Achieved, Mint (Coach), Krux (Analyst)
After winning the Charlotte Major in May 2022, DarkZero Esports went very quiet for the remainder of the season. As the team missed out on the Berlin Major and the Jönköping Major, the roster decided to make changes.
First, Gaven "Gaveni" Black signed for the purple squad to replace Tyler "Ecl9pse" McMullin. With him in the team, DarkZero Esports finished in the top 12 at the Six Invitational 2023. Now, heading to the North America League 2023, the team has signed the former world champion Matthew "Achieved" Solomon.
#flag@20:us Parabellum Esports
Lineup: Skys, LaXInG, Phish, Spiff, Spiker, Vivid (Coach)
After dropping their entire roster, Parabellum Esports picked up the historic duo of Gabriel "LaXInG" Mirélez and Alexander "Skys" Magor. Brady "Spiker" Lukens and Phish will make their top-flight debuts, while the former Astralis player Chris "Spiff" Park completes the roster.
Format
The North America League will be divided into two phases. First, the league's eight rosters will compete in a round robin competition with BO1 matches. While the six best teams advance to the next phase, the two bottom teams will drop to the NA Open Phase 3.
Next is the NA League Deciders, the second phase. From here onwards, all of the games will be BO3. While the first and the second-seeded teams move to the semi-finals of the NA League Deciders, the remaining four will start from the quarter-finals.
Teams will be ordered in the bracket as follows:
- First match: Third vs. Sixth
- Second match: Fourth vs. Fifth
While the winners will advance to the semi-finals, the losers will face off in a match for seeding at the Major NA LCQ.
Meanwhile, the winners of the semi-finals will advance to the North America League grand-final, which automatically garantees both participants qualification for the Phase 2 of the Six Major. The teams will only play for seeding and prize pool.
At the same time, the losers of the semi-finals will face off in a separate game, where the winner will automatically qualify for the Phase 1 of the Six Major. The loser will drop to the Major NA LCQ.
Schedule
The North America League will last for less than a month.
The group stage matches will kick off on Mar. 15 and will conclude on Mar. 23. A week later, on Mar. 29, the NA League Deciders will begin and will end on Apr. 5. Then, it will be time for the Major North America LCQ, where teams will face off from Apr. 10 to 12.