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 newly minted MoonPay X Games League (XGL) has been fundamentally altered. In a stunning display of precision and composure, XC New York’s top draft pick, Chloe Covell, delivered a gold-medal performance in the final event of the day, vaulting her club into the driver’s seat of the overall championship race.
As the sun set over the Superdome, the standings reflected a razor-thin margin that promises an electric finale. XC New York now leads the pack with 2,280 points, narrowly edging out XC Tokyo, who sits at 2,260. With XC São Paulo (2,120) and XC Los Angeles (2,050) still within striking distance, the inaugural XGL title remains anyone’s to lose.
The State of the League: A Tight Race to the Finish
The XGL’s innovative team-based format has injected a new level of narrative intensity into the action sports world. For the first time, individual brilliance is directly tethered to the collective success of a club, creating a high-stakes environment that has captivated fans and athletes alike.
The race for the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is equally dramatic. Mizuho Hasegawa of XC Tokyo currently leads the individual standings with 600 points, followed closely by XC São Paulo’s Gui Khury at 550. The math heading into the final day is straightforward but daunting: if Khury secures gold in Men’s Skateboard Vert, he will climb to 650 points. In that scenario, Hasegawa must secure at least a bronze in Women’s Skateboard Park to hold off the Brazilian phenom. Should Khury settle for silver, Hasegawa’s path to the crown becomes significantly easier, requiring only a fourth-place finish or better.
A Day of High-Flying Innovation
Saturday’s itinerary was a grueling, eight-event gauntlet that tested the limits of skateboarding, BMX, and Moto X. The day featured the 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 the Monster Energy Women’s Skateboard Street.
Women’s Skateboard Vert: The Rise of the Tweens
The future of action sports is undeniably young. With an average age of just 16, the Women’s Vert Best Trick competition showcased a field ranging from 11 to 19 years old. Mia Kretzer (XC Los Angeles), the 11-year-old prodigy, proved once again why she was the steal of the 2026 XGL draft. As the 39th of 40 picks, Kretzer has become the backbone of the LA squad, contributing 420 points—roughly 26% of their total output.
Kretzer secured her fourth career X Games gold with a never-before-seen (NBD) fakie body varial 720. "I was training to get the Fakie 540, but I just kept spinning," Kretzer said after the win. "Eventually, I got the 720, and I thought it would be really cool to throw down today."
The R-Willy Phenomenon in BMX
In the Stake Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick, Ryan Williams (XC São Paulo) reminded the world why he is the most followed athlete in the sport. Executing "The Oliver Twist"—an alley-oop frontflip 540 flair dedicated to his late friend Oliver Tree—Williams captured his 14th X Games gold medal. His performance was not just a tribute but a masterclass in technical precision, keeping his personal MVP hopes alive.
Khury’s Unstoppable Vert Dominance
Gui Khury’s hold on the Men’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick event is nothing short of historic. With his eighth consecutive gold in the discipline, Khury extended his winning streak and pushed his career total to 20 medals, the most for any teenager in X Games history. His signature kickflip body varial 900 remains the gold standard, providing the necessary points to keep XC São Paulo in the hunt for the team championship.
The Turning Point: Covell’s Clutch Performance
The headline of the day belonged to Chloe Covell. Entering the Monster Energy Women’s Skateboard Street final, the pressure on the XC New York star was immense. With her club trailing XC Tokyo, Covell needed a flawless run to reclaim the top spot.
She delivered in spectacular fashion. Not only did her gold medal put New York in the driver’s seat, but it also moved her into a tie with skate legend Leticia Bufoni for the most medals by a woman in summer disciplines (12). "I’m so stoked to do it for my team," Covell remarked. "We were so close to getting into the number one spot, and Momiji [Nishiya] and I did so good. It’s so crazy—I don’t even think about records like that until I’m told. Leticia means so much to the sport."
Supporting Data: By the Numbers
The 2026 season has proven that the XGL team model is working. The points distribution across the clubs shows a balanced competitive field:
- XC New York: 2,280 points (Led by Covell and Onodera)
- XC Tokyo: 2,260 points (Led by Hasegawa)
- XC São Paulo: 2,120 points (Led by Khury and Williams)
- XC Los Angeles: 2,050 points (Led by Kretzer and Schaar)
The statistics from the New Orleans event underscore the rising talent pool. For instance, Ginwoo Onodera’s hat trick of three consecutive Street golds—a feat not seen since Nyjah Huston’s 2013 dominance—highlights the rapid evolution of street skating. Meanwhile, the Moto X Best Trick podium featured Jose Canosa, whose 97.00 score on a frontflip double seatgrab Indian air signals a shift toward more complex, aerial-heavy freestyle riding.
Official Responses and Strategic Implications
The formation of the MoonPay X Games League has been hailed by industry insiders as a "fundamental shift" in the action sports ecosystem. By allowing for season-long storylines, the XGL has effectively moved away from the "one-off" event model of the past toward a professionalized league structure.
"It gives you a whole other kind of level to just perform," said Tom Schaar, who captured his third gold in Men’s Skateboard Park. "I come over to the LA booth and they’re all cheering me on. It makes you feel like a fan, honestly."
This sentiment is echoed by the team general managers, who are currently managing the delicate balance of individual athlete performance and team strategy. For XC New York’s Steve Rodriguez, the success of his riders is a validation of the draft strategy implemented earlier this year. The ability for athletes to earn compensation beyond standard prize purses, driven by the team model, has increased the incentive to compete in multiple disciplines, a trend clearly visible in the versatile performances of riders like Ryan Williams and Tom Schaar.
Looking Toward Sunday
As the final day of the New Orleans Championship approaches, the atmosphere in the city is electric. With the XGL standings separated by mere margins, every trick, every landing, and every minor error will have outsized consequences.
The implications for the league are profound. A win for XC New York would solidify their reputation as the inaugural powerhouse, while a late surge from XC Tokyo or São Paulo could define the first chapter of XGL history. Beyond the points, the focus remains on the athletes who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible on a board, a bike, or a bike frame.
Fans across the globe will be watching as the first-ever XGL champion is crowned. The competition will be available via live stream on the Roku Sports Channel, X Games YouTube, Kick, and Amazon FAST, with U.S. fans able to catch the action on ABC and ESPN. As the dust settles in the Superdome, one thing is certain: the world of action sports has been permanently transformed by the intensity and camaraderie of this new, team-driven era.
