The landscape of professional action sports underwent a fundamental transformation at Cosm Los Angeles, where the inaugural 2026 MoonPay X Games League (XGL) Draft established a new team-based architecture for skateboarding and BMX. The event, attended by more than 50 athletes and 500 high-level industry stakeholders, marked the official transition of the X Games from a series of independent, invitation-only competitions into a structured, year-round professional league. By selecting 16-year-old Australian skateboarding sensation Chloe Covell as the historic first-ever draft pick, the league signaled a strategic focus on the next generation of global talent, setting the stage for a competitive season that will span continents and culminate in a championship in New Orleans.
A Paradigm Shift in Action Sports Competition
For over three decades, the X Games has served as the premier summit for action sports, operating primarily on an individual achievement model. Since its inception in 1995, the brand has been synonymous with "progression," witnessing the first 900-degree spin in skateboarding and the evolution of freestyle motocross. However, the launch of the MoonPay X Games League (XGL) represents the most significant structural overhaul in the brand’s history. By introducing a "Club" system, the X Games is adopting a model similar to traditional major league sports, fostering city-based loyalties and consistent, year-round narratives.
The shift to a team-based format is designed to address the fragmented nature of the action sports calendar. Under the new XGL framework, four foundational clubs—XC New York, XC Los Angeles, XC Tokyo, and XC São Paulo—will compete in a points-based system. This structure is intended to provide athletes with more stable financial opportunities, including salaries and team-based bonuses, while offering fans a more cohesive way to follow their favorite competitors throughout a full season rather than during isolated weekend events.
The First Round: A Global Talent Selection
The draft proceedings began with XC New York General Manager Steve Rodriguez making the highly anticipated first overall selection. Rodriguez, a legendary figure in the New York skate scene and founder of 5boro Skateboards, chose Chloe Covell, the 16-year-old Australian phenom. Covell has rapidly ascended the world rankings, becoming the youngest-ever X Games street gold medalist in 2023. Her selection as the number one pick underscores the league’s emphasis on technical precision and the rising dominance of Australian skaters on the world stage.
Following Covell, XC Los Angeles General Manager Sharalee “Haze” Hazen utilized the second pick to secure Tom Schaar. A Southern California native and 17-time X Games medalist, Schaar brings both veteran experience and local marketability to the Los Angeles franchise. Schaar’s history as the first skateboarder to land a 1080-degree spin provides XC Los Angeles with a foundational star capable of competing across multiple disciplines.
The third selection, made by XC Tokyo General Manager Harumi Suzuki, saw another Australian record-setter, Arisa Trew, join the Japanese club. Trew, an eight-time X Games gold medalist, has recently made headlines for becoming the first female skater to land a 720 and a 900 in competition. Her addition to XC Tokyo creates an immediate powerhouse in the women’s park and vert disciplines.
Rounding out the first round, XC São Paulo General Manager and 30-time X Games medalist Bob Burnquist selected Brazilian prodigy Gui Khury. At only 15 years old, Khury already holds 15 X Games medals and is the youngest athlete to ever land a 1080 on a vertical ramp. By selecting Khury, Burnquist has anchored the São Paulo roster with a national hero and a Guinness World Record holder, ensuring a massive fan base in the South American market.
Team Rosters and Strategic Composition
The draft continued through five rounds of selections, eventually filling rosters for the four inaugural clubs. Each club is composed of 10 athletes—five men and five women—ensuring gender parity and a diverse range of specializations across skateboarding and BMX disciplines. The general managers selected from a pool of more than 180 athletes who had officially opted into the draft process.
The final rosters represent a cross-section of the sport’s elite, including:
- XC New York: Led by Chloe Covell, the roster focuses on street technicality and East Coast grit.
- XC Los Angeles: Built around Tom Schaar and Nyjah Huston, the team emphasizes high-impact park and street performances.
- XC Tokyo: With Arisa Trew as the centerpiece, the roster highlights the precision and technical innovation characteristic of the Japanese and Australian skate scenes.
- XC São Paulo: Guided by Bob Burnquist’s vision, the team features Gui Khury and a heavy emphasis on vertical and big-air disciplines.
The 40 drafted athletes represent eight different countries, with ages ranging from 11 to 35. This demographic spread illustrates the unique nature of action sports, where pre-teen phenoms often compete directly against established veterans who have shaped the industry for decades.
Technological Innovation: Crypto Bonuses and Digital Assets
A standout feature of the MoonPay X Games League Draft was the integration of blockchain technology into the athlete compensation model. In partnership with Exodus, a self-custody crypto wallet platform, the league introduced first-of-its-kind crypto signing bonuses. Drafted athletes received these bonuses directly into their Exodus wallets during the event, marking one of the first times a professional sports league has utilized digital assets as a primary component of a draft-day incentive package.
This move aligns with the league’s title sponsorship by MoonPay and reflects a broader trend of "Web3" integration within sports entertainment. For international athletes, crypto compensation can offer advantages in terms of liquidity and cross-border transfers, while for the league, it establishes a brand identity rooted in modern technology and financial innovation. Jeremy Bloom, a key figure in the X Games leadership, noted that the integration of technology is central to the league’s mission of connecting with a digitally native audience.
The Venue: Immersive Spectacle at Cosm Los Angeles
The choice of Cosm Los Angeles as the venue for the draft was a deliberate move to emphasize the "immersive" future of the X Games. Cosm’s state-of-the-art facility features a massive wraparound LED dome that allows spectators to feel as though they are standing on the deck of a halfpipe or at the bottom of a mega-ramp. During the draft, the cinematic production capabilities of the venue were used to showcase athlete highlights in a high-definition, 360-degree environment.
This "Shared Reality" experience is intended to be a hallmark of the XGL’s broadcast strategy. By blending physical attendance with high-tech visual storytelling, the league aims to differentiate its product from traditional sports broadcasts. The event was streamed globally via the ESPN App, Roku Sports Channel, YouTube, Kick, and the X Games TV FAST Channel on Amazon, reaching a worldwide audience and providing a blueprint for how future league events will be consumed.
Athlete Reactions and the Multi-Generational Roster
The emotional weight of the evening was palpable among the athletes. Chloe Covell, speaking after her selection as the first overall pick, expressed a mix of shock and gratitude. "I’m at a loss for words," Covell said. "I definitely didn’t think this was going to happen, but it’s amazing. It shows all the hard work I put in. I’m looking forward to having fun with my team and doing my best."
The sentiment was echoed by veterans like Nyjah Huston and Kevin Peraza, who noted that the league format provides a sense of camaraderie and collective purpose that is often missing in individual-focused competitions. The inclusion of BMX stars like Hannah Roberts further solidified the league’s multi-disciplinary appeal. Roberts, a multi-time world champion and Olympic medalist, represents the pinnacle of BMX freestyle and brings significant competitive gravity to the league’s inaugural season.
Chronology of the 2026 Inaugural Summer Season
The draft serves as the official launchpad for the 2026 MoonPay X Games League Summer Season. The league has established a rigorous timeline that will take the four clubs across the globe to compete for the inaugural championship title.
- June 26, 2026: The season officially kicks off in Sacramento, California. This opening event will serve as the first opportunity for the newly formed clubs to compete as cohesive units, with points being awarded based on individual and team placements.
- July 4–5, 2026: The league moves to Japan for X Games Japan. This international leg highlights the global nature of the XGL and provides XC Tokyo with a "home field" advantage in one of the world’s most vibrant action sports markets.
- July 24–26, 2026: The season culminates in the MoonPay X Games League Championship. The finale will be held inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. This iconic venue will host the final showdown, where the team with the highest cumulative score across the season will be crowned the first-ever XGL Champion.
Economic and Industrial Implications for the Action Sports Sector
The creation of the XGL is poised to have long-term implications for the action sports economy. By moving to a league model, the X Games is better positioned to secure long-term corporate partnerships and media rights deals. The involvement of brands like MoonPay, Monster Energy, Stake, Exodus, 805 Beer, High Noon, and Kraken Rum indicates a strong commercial interest in the team-based format.
For the athletes, the league provides a more sustainable career path. Historically, many action sports athletes have relied heavily on individual sponsorships, which can be volatile. The XGL structure introduces a layer of institutional support, potentially leading to better insurance, travel logistics, and consistent earnings. Furthermore, the city-based model opens the door for local sponsorships and fan engagement initiatives, similar to those seen in the NBA or MLS.
As the inaugural season approaches, the focus shifts from the boardroom and the draft stage to the concrete and the ramps. The MoonPay X Games League has successfully laid the foundation for a new era, one where the individual brilliance of skaters and BMX riders is channeled into a collective pursuit of team glory. With a roster of generational talents and a schedule of high-stakes global events, the XGL is set to redefine the limits of what a professional action sports league can achieve.
