eSports

Inaugural Seven-Member USA Basketball E-National Team Unveiled

Published

5 years ago

November 10, 2020

Inaugural Seven-Member USA Basketball E-National Team Unveiled

Following two days of trials featuring some of the top 2K gamers in the nation, USA Basketball has officially named the 2020 USA E-National Team, which will compete in the North and Central America Conference in the 2020 FIBA Esports Open II from Dec. 19-20.

The seven-member USA E-National Team includes: ALittleLady87 (Wendi Fleming/BallHerAlert); Crush (Rafel Davis/Kings Guard Gaming); JBM (John Mascone/Wizards District Gaming); Kenny Got Work (Kenneth Hailey/Raptors Uprising GC); OriginalMalik (Malik Hobson/Knicks Gaming); Ramo (Ramo Radoncic/Pistons GT); and Ria (Spencer Wyman/Jazz Gaming).

Additionally, Arooks (Aaron Rookwood/Bucks Gaming); FEAST (Mihad Feratovic/T-Wolves Gaming); and icygrl (Brianna Novin/BallHerAlert) were named as USA E-National Team alternates.

“It was actually extremely hard to pick this team,” said avid gamer Aerial Powers, a 2015 World University Games gold medalist and a forward with the WNBA Washington Mystics, who is a member of the USA Basketball E-National Team Selection Panel. “ A lot of people played well, and the battles, some of the games came down to the end. You’ve got to think, in the USA Basketball trials, you have to perform in these few days, right? Because, we’ve seen them play in the 2K League, we’ve seen them ball out, but it’s over a whole season. But now, it’s subjected to this time, on this day. So, your performance has to be at its peak. Some games we saw players do well, some games players weren’t doing well, but some were really consistent.

“All-in-all, all 30 players are just so great that during the panel discussions we started arguing about who we wanted to be on the team,” continued Powers. “The competition was so great that it was extremely hard to pick the seven. It wasn’t that the other players weren’t good, it was just that we had so much great competition.”

Team selections were made by the USA Basketball E-National Team Selection Panel, which is comprised of NBA 2K League community ambassador Graham Borden; Wizards District Gaming team manager Patrick Crossan; Jazz Gaming coach Jelani Mitchell; Powers; and USA Basketball Youth & Sport Development assistant director Andrea Travelstead.

“I’ve been into esports my whole life,” Powers added. “So, just to be on the USA Basketball panel and actually not be playing traditional sports is a great accomplishment. Because I’m trying to pivot, I know what I want to do after the WNBA. This is something I want to do; I want to be in esports. And I’m on the Global Esports Federation, we’re working to get esports into the Olympics. So, this is a push in the right direction.”

The USA will tip-off virtually in the FIBA Esports Open II against gaming teams from Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras and Puerto Rico for the right to be crowned North and Central America Conference champions.

While this will be USA Basketball’s first foray into esports, the tournament will mark the second edition of the FIBA Esports Open, the first of which took place in June and included five conferences featuring 114 gamers from 17 national federations. The FIBA Esports Open II field has been expanded to 38 national teams in seven regional conferences.

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Each national team will consist of up to seven players, five on the court and two reserves. Games will be played remotely on NBA 2K21 using the Pro-AM mode and allowing for customization of gamer avatars and uniforms.

The North & Central Americas Conference games will stream live on FIBA’s YouTube, Twitch and Facebook channels.

Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia conferences will be played Nov. 14-15, the Europe Conference is scheduled for Dec. 12-13 and the South America Conference will be held Dec. 19-20.

As was the case for the inaugural FIBA Esports Open, this entire series will be produced from the FIBA Esports Studio in Riga, Latvia, with 54 hours of live content being streamed on FIBA’s Facebook, Twitch and YouTube channels. Each game will be available online with live commentary in English, as well as a daily show featuring up to 12 games.

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Thunderpick Partners with Oddin.gg and Introduces BetPeek, First Fully Interactive Esports Viewing Platform

Published

3 days ago

September 15, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

Thunderpick, the leading esports betting platform, in partnership with Oddin.gg, a provider of end-to-end esports betting solutions, today announced the exclusive launch of BetPeek, a first-of-its-kind interactive esports viewing experience available only on Thunderpick.io.

While most esports streams today limit fans to static broadcast feeds and pre-selected camera angles, BetPeek flips the script. For the first time, viewers can control how they watch the action—transforming every match into a personalized, immersive event.

BetPeek’s key features include:

Follow Any Player – Switch instantly to the POV of any competitor on the server.
Dynamic Camera Control – Place the camera anywhere on the map for a unique vantage point.
X-Ray Vision – Unlock strategic insights by seeing what players can’t.
Play, Pause & Rewind – Revisit every clutch play with DVR-style controls.
Integrated Betting Tools – Access deeper context and analysis to inform smarter wagers.

“Traditional esports streams have barely evolved; they’re often one-size-fits-all broadcasts that leave fans wishing for more control,” said Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy at Thunderpick. “BetPeek completely changes that. By putting fans in the driver’s seat, we’re delivering an esports experience that’s not just more engaging, but truly revolutionary for bettors and spectators alike.”

Why It Matters

Until now, esports fans had little choice beyond passively watching standard tournament streams or fragmented co-streams. BetPeek represents the next era: an interactive, on-demand, and bet-integrated platform unlike anything else in the industry. For bettors, this means unprecedented visibility into momentum shifts, rotations, and player form. For fans, it’s a chance to experience the match exactly how they want.

Exclusive to Thunderpick

BetPeek is available only on Thunderpick.io, reinforcing Thunderpick’s position as the most innovative esports betting destination worldwide. In partnership with Oddin.gg, a global leader in esports betting solutions, Thunderpick continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in live, fan-first esports engagement.

eSports

Global Esports Federation confirms program for Los Angeles 2026 Global Esports Games

Published

1 week ago

September 9, 2025

George Miller

Global Esports Federation confirms program for Los Angeles 2026 Global Esports Games

The Global Esports Federation at its 16^th Board Meeting approved the draft program for the Los Angeles 2026 Global Esports Games, to be held in December 2026. This follows the earlier announcement of Los Angeles as host city at a major ceremony hosted by Los Angeles Times Media Group Executive Chairman & CEO Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel—now marking a significant milestone on the road to GEF’s flagship event in the United States.

The GEF Board also unanimously elected Paul J. Foster as President of the Global Esports Federation. Paul, who is GEF Chief Executive Officer, was appointed President ad interim following the resignation of founding President Chris Chan in July, and now assumes the role of President & CEO through December 2027.

“I’m honored to be elected President of the Global Esports Federation at today’s Board Meeting. Together with our Member Federations and partners, we will champion inclusion, innovation, and sustainability—empowering athletes, embracing digital transformation, and strengthening the global credibility and prestige of esports for generations to come.” –Paul J. Foster, GEF President & CEO.

In addition, the GEF Board approved the establishment of frameworks to develop the esports ecosystem in the United States, anchored in Los Angeles. This initiative will strengthen the GEF’s connections with stakeholders worldwide and reinforce its mission to elevate esports for all.

The outcomes of GEF 16^th Board Meeting reaffirm the GEF’s role as a convening platform, uniting athletes, publishers, Member Federations, and partners to power the future of esports globally.

eSports

TEAM VITALITY AND HUMMEL LAUNCH ALTERNATE JERSEY AND EXCLUSIVE APPAREL COLLECTION

Published

2 weeks ago

September 3, 2025

Peter Tolan

Team Vitality launches 2025 Alternate Jersey and an exclusive apparel collection, bringing a new level of energy and excitement for fans.
The jersey, featuring a white base with red and blue accents, pays homage to the French flag and will be worn by all Team Vitality athletes at major esports events taking place in France later this year, including the Rocket League Worlds and EVO Nice.
The Alternate Jersey is available today for €79.99, both online and at Team Vitality’s official Paris store.

Team Vitality is proud to unveil its new Alternate Jersey, accompanied by an exclusive apparel collection. This launch completes the club’s annual merchandise lineup, following the release of the black Pro Jersey earlier this year and the iconic yellow US-style Jersey worn during the Austin Major triumph.

This Alternate edition, featuring the French blue, white and red, honours Team Vitality’s Parisian roots while celebrating the major esports events set to close out the year in France.

The jersey will feature on the global stage with the Rocket League team at the World Championships from September 12 to 14.

PERFORMANCE MEETS LIFESTYLE

The Alternate Collection features a new, stylish jersey and a limited-edition clothing line that blends performance and lifestyle. As with every year, the Alternate Jersey is traditionally white, serving as a complement to the black Pro Jersey released earlier in the year.

Designed in collaboration with hummel, the jersey combines comfort and performance, offering a lightweight fit built to withstand the demands of competitive play. The accompanying exclusive apparel collection follows the same artistic vision, offering clothing and accessories designed for everyday wear. This brand-new lifestyle range, along with exclusive items, reflects the club’s distinctive style.

ALTERNATE JERSEY

Team Vitality’s Alternate 2025 Jersey – €79.99
Team Vitality’s Alternate 2025 Sleeves – €29.99
Exclusive Vitality Alternate 2025 Pack – €79.99 (includes 1 Alternate Jersey and a complimentary pair of exclusive sleeves)