14 Esports Teams to Watch
With 73% of fans under the age of 35 and the combined value of the top 10 teams exceeding $3 billion, there’s no question that esports is a rising industry. Esports is a unique player in the sports industry, with some tournaments hosted by top game developers like Fortnite and League of Legends and others established by community, grassroot efforts and funded almost entirely by sponsorships.
The esports industry has found a primary fanbase in a demographic that is historically hard-to-reach for advertisers: young men. With a global audience of ~500 million fans and growing (only about 15% of the gaming audience currently follows esports, showcasing massive growth potential), the esports industry demonstrates impressive investment opportunities.
Helping grow the industry and attract loyal fanbases are the esports teams themselves. Established across the globe, from the Netherlands to the US to South Korea and beyond, these 14 rising esports teams are capturing the attention of fans, sponsors, investors, and broadcasters alike. Take a look at their stories below.
1. Evil Geniuses
Primary Games: Dota 2, VALORANT
As the 2024 VALORANT defending world champions, the Canadian esports team Evil Geniuses has been competing since 1999. They’re the first North American team to win the VALORANT Champions Tour, and they also hold wins from The International 2015 Dota 2 Championship and the 2018 Call of Duty World League Championship.
2. FaZe Clan
Primary Games: Call of Duty: Vanguard, VALORANT, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
FaZe Clan differs from other esports teams, as they aim to become a full-fledged media company that produces original content. The Los Angeles-based team is off to a great start because in addition to multiple championship wins & top-3 finishes across Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Call of Duty, and Halo, they’ve also created media that includes:
- A horror movie called Crimson
- A Batman/FaZe Clan comic book crossover
- A weekly livestream series called Road to FaZe1
3. Team Liquid
Primary Games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, VALORANT, League of Legends
With over 75 premier esports events won, Team Liquid boasts 150 players across 15 different esports. Established in the Netherlands in 2000, Team Liquid has grown tremendously over the years, with their VALORANT, Dota 2, League of Legends, and CS:GO teams particularly demonstrating success.
As the most watched team in esports from 2017-2022 and valued at $415 million in 2022, Team Liquid is one for sponsors and investors to watch.
4. OpTic Gaming
Primary Games: Halo, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Born in 2006 in Texas, OpTic Gaming was one of the first collections of gamers to record and share their gameplay content. They seamlessly transitioned into the world of esports and have seen great success in recent years. Particularly, OpTic won two of three Halo Majors and finished second at the Halo World Championship in 2023.
5. G2 Esports
Primary Games: League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, VALORANT
Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, G2 Esports has a particularly strong League of Legends team and women’s VALORANT team. In addition to long winning streaks and champion titles, G2 also boasts apparel deals with Adidas, Ralph Lauren, and New Era, in addition to sponsorship partnerships with prestigious brands, such as:
- Mastercard
- Spotify
- Red Bull
- Pringles
- Logitech
- And more!
6. Team Vitality
Primary Games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rocket League, FIFA
Team Vitality is France’s first esports club. The team was born in 2013 right in the heart of Paris, and they’ve won over 100 championships nationally and internationally. They were awarded “esports organization of the year” at The 2023 Esports Awards— a worthy award after an undefeated run at the 2023 Rocket League World Championship and as the first team to win two Rocket League championships.
7. Ninjas in Pyjamas
Primary Games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rainbow Six Siege, Dota 2
The Swedish esports team Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) was founded in 2000, and from their inception, they’ve been a force in Counter-Strike. The team actually dissolved in 2007 and returned in 2012 with a record-breaking 87-0 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team. In the early 2000’s, NIP secured some of the biggest sponsorship deals in esports at the time, helping pave the way for what’s possible now.
8. Fnatic
Primary Games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, VALORANT, League of Legends
As the first-ever winner of the League of Legends World Championship, Fnatic has been an esports force to be reckoned with ever since their inception in 2004. The London-based club has won more tier 1 game tournaments than any other team in the world. So far, Fnatic has raised over $55 million from investors and is partnered with sponsors like Jack Links, Amazon, and Sony.
9. TSM
Primary Games: League of Legends, VALORANT, Apex Legends
Not only is TSM a successful esports team with a reigning world championship title in Apex Legends, but they also hold the largest sponsorship deal in all of esports. They have a $210 million naming rights partnership with the crypto exchange company FTX. TSM also supports revenue through additional tech businesses:
- Blitz: Video game training app
- Dyno: Moderation bot for Discord servers
10. 100 Thieves
Primary Games: Call of Duty: Vanguard, VALORANT, League of Legends
Los Angeles-based 100 Thieves isn’t just a competitive esports team— they’re also a top premium lifestyle brand for gamers across the world. Although apparel and entertainment are major pillars of the 100 Thieves brand, their foundation is still playing and winning esports championships. On the apparel side, they boast partnerships with top brands like:
- Adidas
- Oakley
- Crocs
11. Cloud9
Primary Games: League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, VALORANT, Rocket League
Founded in 2013, the California-based team Cloud9 holds 178 first-place finishes, including a win at the 2018 Rocket League World Championship. Additionally, they’re the sole North American team to secure a Counter-Strike Major win. Cloud9 also has additional lines of business with their coaching app “Training Grounds” and a subscription service “Stratus.”
12. T1
Primary Games: League of Legends, VALORANT
T1, a South Korean esports team founded in 2002, has made an impressive mark in the League of Legends scene— including championship titles in 2013, 2015, and 2016. T1 is a part of T1 Entertainment & Sports, a joint venture created by Comcast Spectacor and SK Telecom in 2019. T1 Entertainment & Sports has an esports academy, an apparel line, and produces content surrounding gaming.
13. Oxygen Esports
Primary Games: Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, eNASCAR
New England-based Oxygen Esports was founded in 2020. This fresh team strives to use a modern data-driven, results-based approach to both fan engagement and talent acquisition. In 2021, they merged with Kraft Sports & Entertainment— the company managing the New England Patriots venue, Gillette Stadium.
Oxygen Esports holds partnerships with GamerTech and Monster Energy and has had numerous successful collaborations with notable brands, such as:
- Dunkin Donuts
- Coca Cola
- Oakley
- The YMCA
- The Special Olympics
- And more
14. Complexity
Primary Games: Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Call of Duty, Dota 2
Offering an exciting crossover with mainstream sports, Complexity’s CEO Jason Lake made a historic decision by adding Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and top investor John Goff to the esports team’s ownership. The big move was supported by Complexity’s 140+ championship wins across nearly 30 games.
Beyond their well-earned spot as a top esports competitor, they’ve also opened an innovative training center, allowing them to support their player-first mentality.
Top Esports Teams & Organizations Leverage DIGIDECK
As esports continues to rise, these 14 teams and more are front and center for fans, sponsors, and investors alike. With the industry growing at a rapid pace across the globe, sponsors and investors are taking notice of these top teams and brands in order to capitalize on talent, visibility, and engagement.
To secure lucrative partnerships, top esports teams like Oxygen Esports, the Lakers, Hornets, and Timberwolves NBA 2K teams, and esports organizations like ESL FACEIT Group leverage DIGIDECK for their sponsorship pitches. In an industry where sponsorship is the lifeblood, demonstrating value in the first pitch makes all the difference.
Curious to see how the DIGIDECK presentation platform can support your esports team’s sponsorship efforts with backend analytics, interactive multimedia, and time-saving automations? Schedule a demo today!
