NEW ORLEANS (July 25, 2026) – The inaugural MoonPay X Games New Orleans 2026 Championship has reached a fever pitch. With only one day remaining before the inaugural MoonPay X Games League (XGL) champions are crowned, the competitive landscape underwent a seismic shift on Saturday. In a display of tactical precision and raw athletic talent, Chloe Covell—the top overall draft pick for XC New York—delivered a gold-medal performance in the final event of the day, vaulting her club into the coveted top spot of the XGL championship standings.
As the dust settles on an electrifying second day at the Superdome, XC New York sits at the summit with 2,280 points, narrowly edging out XC Tokyo (2,260 points). With XC São Paulo (2,120) and XC Los Angeles (2,050) remaining within striking distance, the final day of competition promises a high-stakes showdown that will define the legacy of the league’s first season.
The MVP Race: A Tightened Bottleneck
The individual battle for the XGL MVP title has become a three-way psychological and physical chess match. Mizuho Hasegawa (XC Tokyo) currently leads the pack with 600 points, followed closely by Gui Khury (XC São Paulo) at 550.
The permutations for Sunday are complex. Should Gui Khury secure gold in the Men’s Skateboard Vert, he will conclude his campaign with 650 points. Under that scenario, Hasegawa must secure at least a bronze medal in the Women’s Skateboard Park to fend off the Brazilian phenom and claim the MVP crown. Should Khury settle for silver, Hasegawa’s path becomes significantly easier, requiring only a fourth-place finish or better to secure the title. The pressure on these young athletes is immense, as the outcome of their final runs will not only impact their personal accolades but also potentially sway the team standings.
A Chronology of Saturday’s Triumphs
Saturday’s program was an exhaustive display of versatility, featuring eight distinct disciplines: MoonPay Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick, Stake Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick, MoonPay Men’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick, Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street, Moto X Best Trick, Stake Men’s BMX Dirt, Stake Men’s Skateboard Park, and Monster Energy Women’s Skateboard Street.
The Rise of the Next Generation: Women’s Vert Best Trick
The Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick competition highlighted the youthful vigor of the 2026 Games, with an average age of just 16. Mia Kretzer (XC Los Angeles), the 11-year-old prodigy, proved that age is merely a number by executing a "never been done" (NBD) fakie body varial 720. This victory marked her fourth X Games gold and seventh medal overall, five of which have come in this calendar year alone. As the 39th of 40 draft picks, Kretzer has arguably become the greatest "value" acquisition in XGL history, single-handedly accounting for 26% of XC Los Angeles’s total points.
BMX Legends and New Innovations
In the Stake Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick, Ryan Williams (XC São Paulo) continued his dominance, securing his 14th X Games gold medal. His winning maneuver, "The Oliver Twist"—an alley-oop frontflip 540 flair—served as a poignant tribute to his late friend, Oliver Tree. Williams, who commands the largest social media following of any athlete at the event, remains a critical piece of the puzzle for XC São Paulo’s championship aspirations.
Gui Khury’s Vert Dynasty
Gui Khury extended his unparalleled winning streak in the Men’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick to eight consecutive golds. By utilizing his signature kickflip body varial 900, Khury cemented his status as the most decorated teen in X Games history. With 20 total medals, he is currently closing in on the all-time record for consecutive gold medals in a single discipline, a feat currently shared by legends Jamie Bestwick and Tucker Hibbert.
Onodera’s Street Dominance
In the Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street, 16-year-old Ginwoo Onodera (XC New York) achieved a "hat trick" of golds, winning his third consecutive event. His technical prowess—highlighted by a kickflip front blunt fakie down a non-round rail—not only solidified his individual record but served as a massive point infusion for XC New York, directly contributing to their jump to first place.
Moto X and the Thrill of the Final Run
The Moto X Best Trick final was decided in the dying seconds. Spain’s Jose Canosa, the youngest rider in the field, pulled off an NBD frontflip double seatgrab Indian air to score a 97.00. This victory in just his second X Games appearance highlights the rapid evolution of freestyle motocross, as Canosa continues to master frontflip variations that were considered impossible just seasons ago.
Dirt and Park Mastery
Brady Baker (XC Los Angeles) made history in the Stake Men’s BMX Dirt, becoming the first four-time gold medalist in the discipline. His run, featuring a complex combination of Twister tailwhips and cash rolls, proved why he is regarded as the pinnacle of contest Dirt riding. Meanwhile, in the Stake Men’s Skateboard Park, Tom Schaar secured his third gold in the discipline, becoming only the fourth athlete in the event’s 31-year history to achieve such a milestone.
The Climax: Chloe Covell’s Record-Tying Gold
The final event of the day, the Monster Energy Women’s Skateboard Street, proved to be the turning point for the entire league. Chloe Covell’s gold medal performance, bolstered by teammate Momiji Nishiya’s silver, provided XC New York with 180 points, pushing them past XC Tokyo.
With this victory, Covell tied skate legend Leticia Bufoni’s record of 12 medals in women’s summer disciplines. "I don’t even think about things like that until I’m told," Covell remarked following her win. "Leticia means so much to the sport, and I’ve been hanging out with her all weekend. I have the best team ever."
Supporting Data: The Current Standings
The shift in leadership highlights the effectiveness of the XGL team-based model. The top four clubs are currently separated by only 230 points, a remarkably tight margin for an event of this scale.
| Club | Points |
|---|---|
| XC New York | 2,280 |
| XC Tokyo | 2,260 |
| XC São Paulo | 2,120 |
| XC Los Angeles | 2,050 |
Official Responses and Strategic Implications
The formation of the MoonPay X Games League (XGL) has fundamentally altered the competitive psychology of the athletes. For the first time, individual glory is intrinsically tied to team performance, forcing competitors to balance their personal pursuit of perfection with the tactical requirements of their club.
"It gives you a whole other kind of level," noted Tom Schaar. "It makes you feel like a fan. I’m just cheering on everyone in the booth."
This sentiment is echoed by management. Steve Rodriguez, General Manager of XC New York, has been credited with fostering a team environment that allows individual stars like Covell and Onodera to perform under immense pressure. The league’s structure, which emphasizes geographic identity and long-term team building, appears to be succeeding in its goal of deepening athlete-fan engagement.
Looking Ahead: The Final Day
As New Orleans prepares for the final day of competition, the implications of the XGL are clear: the sport of action sports has officially entered the era of the franchise. The inaugural championship is not just about who lands the biggest trick, but which team can manage the fatigue, the pressure, and the strategic demands of a multi-day, multi-discipline gauntlet.
With the MVP title still in the balance and the team championship separated by a mere 20 points between New York and Tokyo, the world of action sports remains fixed on the Superdome. The transition from individual pursuit to team-based competition has not diminished the individual brilliance of stars like Covell and Khury—it has, instead, provided them with a larger stage and a more profound purpose.
As the sun rises on Sunday, the legacy of the inaugural MoonPay X Games League will be written in the final scores. Whether it is the seasoned consistency of the veterans or the fearless innovation of the teenagers, one thing is certain: the landscape of professional action sports has been permanently changed.
