The landscape of action sports underwent a fundamental transformation at Cosm Los Angeles as the inaugural 2026 MoonPay X Games League (XGL) Draft officially launched a new era of team-based competition. Moving away from the traditional model of individual performance that has defined the brand for three decades, the X Games has introduced a structured league format designed to foster long-term rivalries and year-round fan engagement. The event, held within a state-of-the-art immersive venue, saw 40 of the world’s premier skateboard and BMX athletes distributed across four global franchises, signaling a professionalization of the sport akin to the established frameworks of the NBA or Formula 1.
A Landmark Evening for Action Sports
The draft took place against the backdrop of Cosm Los Angeles’s massive LED dome, a venue specifically selected to highlight the intersection of high-technology and high-performance athletics. More than 500 industry stakeholders, including sponsors, partners, and fans, gathered to witness the selection process. The atmosphere was charged with the anticipation of a formal league structure—a concept long discussed in action sports circles but never executed on this scale.
The evening’s primary headline was the selection of 16-year-old Australian skateboarding sensation Chloe Covell as the first-ever overall pick. Selected by XC New York General Manager Steve Rodriguez, Covell’s top-tier placement underscores the rising dominance of teenage athletes in the global skating scene. Covell, who has already established herself as a consistent podium threat on the international circuit, expressed a mixture of shock and gratitude upon her selection. Her move to XC New York sets the stage for the franchise to build its identity around youthful agility and technical precision.
Following Covell, XC Los Angeles General Manager Sharalee “Haze” Hazen utilized the second pick to secure Tom Schaar. A 17-time X Games medalist and a native of Southern California, Schaar brings a veteran presence and a deep connection to the Los Angeles action sports community. The third pick, made by XC Tokyo General Manager Harumi Suzuki, was Arisa Trew, an eight-time X Games gold medalist from Australia known for her record-setting performances. The first round concluded with XC São Paulo General Manager Bob Burnquist—himself a legend in the sport—selecting Brazilian phenom Gui Khury. At just 15 years old, Khury is already the most medaled teenager in X Games history, making him a cornerstone for the South American franchise.
The Structural Evolution of the X Games League
The MoonPay X Games League represents a strategic pivot for the X Games brand. For 30 years, the organization has operated primarily as a series of standalone "major" events. The new XGL format introduces a year-round, global, team-based structure. Each of the four inaugural clubs—XC New York, XC Los Angeles, XC Tokyo, and XC São Paulo—consists of ten athletes. In a significant move toward gender parity, the league mandates that each roster feature five men and five women, ensuring equal representation and competitive weight across the board.
The draft pool was comprised of more than 180 athletes who opted into the league’s new system. From this pool, the four general managers selected 40 athletes representing eight different countries. The age range of the drafted athletes—spanning from 11 to 35 years old—highlights the unique multi-generational appeal of action sports, where young prodigies frequently compete against established icons.
The four clubs are anchored in global hubs of action sports culture:
- XC New York: Managed by Steve Rodriguez, a pioneer in the East Coast skating scene.
- XC Los Angeles: Managed by Sharalee “Haze” Hazen, focusing on the historical heart of skateboarding.
- XC Tokyo: Managed by Harumi Suzuki, tapping into the explosive growth of action sports in Asia following the Tokyo Olympics.
- XC São Paulo: Managed by Bob Burnquist, leveraging the immense popularity and talent pool within Brazil.
Technological Integration and Financial Innovation
The partnership with MoonPay as the league’s title sponsor, along with founding partner Monster Energy, indicates a shift toward integrating digital finance and immersive technology into the fan experience. One of the most notable developments of the night was the introduction of crypto signing bonuses for drafted athletes. Facilitated by the self-custody crypto wallet platform Exodus, these bonuses represent one of the first instances of digital asset compensation being integrated directly into a professional sports draft.
This financial model aims to expand earning opportunities for athletes beyond traditional prize money and individual endorsement deals. By creating a league structure, the X Games provides a platform for more consistent athlete visibility, which in turn attracts a broader range of corporate partners. Other league partners present at the event included Stake, 805 Beer, High Noon, and Kraken Rum, showcasing a diverse portfolio of commercial interest in the new format.
The choice of Cosm Los Angeles as the venue further emphasized the league’s "future-forward" approach. The venue’s cinematic production and wraparound LED screens allowed guests to experience the draft with a level of immersion usually reserved for live event broadcasts. The event was streamed globally across the ESPN App, Roku Sports Channel, YouTube, Kick, and Amazon’s X Games TV FAST Channel, reaching an international audience and reinforcing the league’s global ambitions.
Chronology of the 2026 Summer Season
The draft serves as the prelude to a condensed and high-intensity summer season. The MoonPay X Games League has outlined a clear path toward its first championship, with events scheduled across three major locations:
- Season Opener (June 26): The inaugural season officially begins in Sacramento, California. This event will serve as the first test of the team-based scoring system, where individual performances contribute to a collective club total.
- International Leg (July 4–5): The league moves to Japan for X Games Japan. This stop is expected to be a high-point for XC Tokyo and will highlight the international reach of the league.
- The Championship (July 24–26): The season will culminate inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The team with the highest cumulative score from the Sacramento and Japan events, combined with the final performances in New Orleans, will be crowned the first MoonPay X Games League champion.
Perspectives from Leadership and Athletes
Jeremy Bloom, a key figure in the league’s development, characterized the draft as a "defining moment" for the industry. Bloom noted that while the X Games has historically celebrated individual greatness, the league format is designed to build lasting rivalries and a narrative arc that persists throughout the year. The goal is to move away from the "once-a-year" excitement and toward a persistent engagement model that benefits both the athletes and the fans.
Athletes have expressed cautious optimism and excitement regarding the shift. For many, the team format offers a support system that has been largely absent in the individualistic world of BMX and skateboarding. Chloe Covell’s reaction—highlighting the "hard work" and the desire to "have fun with the team"—reflects a sentiment shared by many of the younger draftees who have grown up in an era where action sports are increasingly viewed through a professional, organized lens.
Veteran athletes like Nyjah Huston and Hannah Roberts, who were also drafted, bring a level of gravitas to the league. Their participation ensures that the XGL is not merely an experimental side-project but a legitimate evolution of the highest level of competition.
Broader Implications and Industry Analysis
The launch of the MoonPay X Games League comes at a time when action sports are seeking to solidify their place in the mainstream sporting hierarchy. Following the successful inclusion of skateboarding and BMX in the Olympic Games, there has been a push to create professional structures that can sustain athlete careers outside of the four-year Olympic cycle.
By adopting a franchise model, the X Games is betting on the "city-vs-city" dynamic that drives engagement in traditional sports. A fan in Tokyo now has a specific team to root for, complete with a roster of international stars. This geographic anchoring is expected to drive local sponsorships, regional broadcasting deals, and a more dedicated fan base.
Furthermore, the inclusion of a 50/50 gender split on rosters is a progressive move that sets a new standard for professional sports leagues. While many sports struggle to balance gender representation, the XGL has built it into the foundational DNA of the league, ensuring that female athletes receive the same platform, pay opportunities, and competitive stakes as their male counterparts.
The integration of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology through MoonPay and Exodus also suggests that the X Games is targeting a younger, tech-savvy demographic. This "Web3" integration is more than just a branding exercise; it represents a test case for how digital assets can be used to modernize sports contracts and fan rewards.
As the league prepares for its June opener in Sacramento, the focus will shift from the boardroom and the draft stage to the ramps and rails. The success of the MoonPay X Games League will ultimately be measured by the quality of the competition and the willingness of the core action sports audience to embrace a team-centric identity. However, based on the energy and the caliber of talent assembled at Cosm Los Angeles, the foundation for a new chapter in sports history has been firmly established.
