NEW ORLEANS (July 25, 2026) – The inaugural MoonPay X Games New Orleans 2026 Championship has reached a fever pitch. With only one day of competition remaining, the landscape of the first-ever MoonPay X Games League (XGL) has been fundamentally altered. Following a masterclass performance on Saturday, XC New York has vaulted into the lead, buoyed by a clutch gold medal performance from the league’s top overall draft pick, Chloe Covell.
As the sun sets on the second day of competition at the iconic New Orleans Superdome, the standings have tightened into a razor-thin margin. XC New York currently commands the leaderboard with 2,280 points, narrowly edging out XC Tokyo, who sits at 2,260. The pursuit of the inaugural XGL title remains a four-club race, with XC São Paulo (2,120) and XC Los Angeles (2,050) remaining well within striking distance heading into the Sunday finale.
The MVP Race: A High-Stakes Tactical Battle
While the club standings provide the narrative backbone of the event, the individual Most Valuable Player (MVP) race has become a strategic chess match. Mizuho Hasegawa of XC Tokyo currently holds the pole position with 600 points, followed closely by XC São Paulo’s Gui Khury with 550.
The mathematical permutations for Sunday are intense. If Khury secures gold in the Men’s Skateboard Vert event, he will finish the season with 650 points, placing the burden of proof squarely on Hasegawa. To claim the MVP honors in that scenario, Hasegawa would be required to secure at least a bronze medal in the Women’s Skateboard Park. Should Khury finish with silver, Hasegawa’s path becomes significantly easier, requiring only a fourth-place finish or better to lock in the MVP title.
Saturday’s Chronicle: A Day of Record-Breaking Feats
Saturday’s program featured a marathon of eight distinct events, spanning the disciplines of Skateboard Vert Best Trick, BMX Park Best Trick, Moto X, and Street skateboarding. Each event served as a microcosm of the XGL’s mission: to elevate the intensity of action sports through a structured, team-based format that encourages both individual brilliance and collective sacrifice.
Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick: The Rise of the Teen Prodigies
The age demographic of the XGL was on full display in the Women’s Vert Best Trick, where the field boasted an average age of just 16. In a field ranging from 11 to 19 years old, 11-year-old Mia Kretzer (XC Los Angeles) proved that age is no barrier to dominance.
Kretzer, already the most decorated tween in X Games history, secured her fourth career gold medal with a never-before-seen (NBD) fakie body varial 720. This triumph marks her fifth medal of the 2026 season alone, accounting for an astonishing 26% of XC Los Angeles’ total team points. As Kretzer noted, the trick was the culmination of weeks of intensive training following the Chiba event. "I was training to get the Fakie 540, but I just kept spinning, and eventually, I got the 720," she explained.
BMX Park Best Trick: R-Willy’s Golden Legacy
Ryan Williams (XC São Paulo) reminded the world why he remains a household name in action sports, securing his 14th X Games gold medal in the Stake Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick. Performing a technical "Oliver Twist"—an alley-oop frontflip 540 flair—Williams paid a poignant tribute to his late friend, Oliver Tree.
With 17 medals in 26 starts, Williams’ impact on the XGL is not merely limited to his athletic performance. As the athlete with the largest social media following in the league (6.5 million), he is a vital pillar of the XGL’s effort to bridge the gap between traditional action sports fans and a new, digitally-native generation.
Men’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick: Gui Khury’s Unrelenting Streak
Gui Khury (XC São Paulo) continued his historic tear through the Vert Best Trick discipline, claiming his eighth consecutive gold medal. His signature kickflip body varial 900 remains the gold standard in the event. With 13 total gold medals, Khury is now the most decorated teenager in X Games history. He currently eyes the all-time record for consecutive golds in a single discipline, a mark co-owned by legends Jamie Bestwick and Tucker Hibbert.
Men’s Skateboard Street: Onodera’s Hat Trick
Ginwoo Onodera (XC New York) made history by completing a three-peat in Men’s Skateboard Street, a feat not seen since the legendary Nyjah Huston. By securing the win in New Orleans, Onodera became the second athlete ever to win three Street golds in a single calendar year. His performance was the primary catalyst for XC New York’s late-day surge in the club standings.
Moto X Best Trick: Canosa’s Last-Ditch Heroics
In one of the most dramatic moments of the weekend, Spain’s Jose Canosa vaulted to the top of the podium with a score of 97.00 on his final jump. His NBD frontflip double seatgrab Indian air cemented his reputation as one of the fastest-rising stars in the sport. The 23-year-old’s triumph provided a much-needed morale boost to the international contingent competing in the league.
Supporting Data: Points and Performance
The XGL’s innovative format is designed to reward depth of talent. The following table summarizes the standings entering the final day of competition:
| Club | Total Points |
|---|---|
| XC New York | 2,280 |
| XC Tokyo | 2,260 |
| XC São Paulo | 2,120 |
| XC Los Angeles | 2,050 |
The data confirms that the league’s goal of parity is working. By distributing top-tier athletes across eight clubs, the XGL has effectively eliminated the "one-star-show" dynamic, forcing teams to rely on the collective performances of their entire roster.
Official Perspectives: The Impact of the XGL
The transition to a team-based league has received praise from both management and the athletes. Steve Rodriguez, General Manager of XC New York, has been instrumental in cultivating a culture of camaraderie that has translated directly into success on the course.
Chloe Covell, after her gold-medal performance, emphasized the shift in mindset. "I don’t even think about individual records until I’m told," she remarked, referencing her milestone of matching Leticia Bufoni’s record of 12 medals. "I’m so stoked to do it for my team. We were so close to getting into the number one spot, and [my teammate] Momiji and I did so good. We’re all a big team together."
This sentiment is echoed by the X Games leadership, who believe the league model is the future of the sport. By providing a structured, year-round narrative, the XGL is creating deeper fan engagement and expanding the financial ecosystem for athletes.
Implications for the Future of Action Sports
As the X Games New Orleans 2026 Championship approaches its conclusion, the implications for the future are clear:
- Professionalization: The XGL is setting a new standard for how action sports are organized, moving away from fragmented events toward a cohesive, season-long championship.
- Athlete Longevity: By providing stable team environments, the league is offering athletes more than just prize money; it is offering a career structure that encourages development and longevity.
- Global Reach: The performance of athletes like Jose Canosa and Egoitz Bijueska signals the continued internationalization of the sport, moving it further away from its U.S.-centric origins.
As the athletes prepare for the final day of competition, the pressure in the Superdome is palpable. Whether it is XC New York holding off a charging XC Tokyo, or Gui Khury navigating the mathematical minefield to win the MVP, the finale promises to be a historic conclusion to a landmark season.
How to Watch
Fans can follow the final day of the MoonPay X Games New Orleans 2026 Championship through multiple platforms. In the United States, coverage is available on ABC and ESPN, with digital simulcasts via the ESPN App and Disney+ for eligible subscribers. Global viewers can catch the live stream on the Roku Sports Channel, the official X Games YouTube channel, Kick, and Amazon FAST.
For the latest schedule and up-to-the-minute results, fans are encouraged to visit xgames.com.
