NEW ORLEANS (July 25, 2026) – The inaugural MoonPay X Games New Orleans 2026 Championship has reached a fever pitch. With just one day of competition remaining, the landscape of the world’s first professional, team-based action sports league has been fundamentally altered. Following a high-stakes Saturday, XC New York has surged into the overall lead, propelled by a masterful gold-medal performance from their top draft pick, Chloe Covell.
As the sun set over the Superdome, the standings reflected a tightening race that has kept fans on the edge of their seats. XC New York now sits at the pinnacle of the leaderboard with 2,280 points, narrowly edging out XC Tokyo, who hold 2,260 points. XC São Paulo follows with 2,120 points, while XC Los Angeles rounds out the primary contenders with 2,050 points.
The MVP Race: A High-Stakes Sunday Awaits
The race for the league’s first-ever Most Valuable Player (MVP) title has become a strategic chess match. Mizuho Hasegawa of XC Tokyo currently leads the pack with 600 points, but she is being hunted by Gui Khury of XC São Paulo, who sits at 550 points.
The math for Sunday’s finale is precise: If Khury secures gold in the Men’s Skateboard Vert, he will finish with 650 points. In that scenario, Hasegawa must secure at least a bronze medal in the Women’s Skateboard Park to edge him out for the crown. Should Khury take silver, the pressure on Hasegawa lightens significantly; she would only need a fourth-place finish or better to secure the inaugural MVP honors.
Chronology of a Championship Saturday
Saturday was defined by eight distinct events that pushed the boundaries of what is physically possible in skateboarding, BMX, and Moto X.
The Rise of the Next Generation
The morning session featured the MoonPay Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick, a competition defined by its youth, with an average age of just 16. The field, ranging from 11 to 19 years old, showcased the future of the sport.
Mia Kretzer (XC Los Angeles), the 11-year-old phenom who has already etched her name into the history books, secured her fourth X Games gold. Her Never Been Done (NBD) fakie body varial 720 was the deciding factor. Kretzer, the 39th pick of the 40-player draft, has proven to be the "steal of the century," contributing 420 points to the XC Los Angeles total—nearly 26% of their overall team standing.
BMX Legends and Freestyle Innovation
In the Stake Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick, Ryan Williams (XC São Paulo) reminded the world why he remains the most influential figure in action sports. Williams secured his 14th X Games gold medal with "The Oliver Twist," an alley-oop frontflip 540 flair performed in a custom jacket honoring his late friend, Oliver Tree.
The Moto X Best Trick competition provided one of the most dramatic moments of the weekend. Jose Canosa of Spain, the youngest rider in the field, snatched victory on his final run. His score of 97.00 for a frontflip double seatgrab Indian air cemented his place on the podium, marking a meteoric rise from motocross racing to the pinnacle of freestyle competition.
Technical Dominance: Khury and Onodera
Gui Khury’s dominance in the Vert discipline continued unabated. With his eighth consecutive gold in Vert Best Trick, the Brazilian teen extended his lead as the most decorated young athlete in X Games history. His signature kickflip body varial 900 remains the gold standard in the discipline.
Simultaneously, Ginwoo Onodera (XC New York) achieved a rare "hat trick," winning his third consecutive Men’s Skateboard Street gold. By landing a technical kickflip front blunt fakie down a non-round rail, Onodera demonstrated the poise that has helped propel XC New York to the top of the standings.
Supporting Data: The Statistical Shift
The current standings underscore the success of the new XGL team-based model. By aggregating scores across individual disciplines, the league has created a narrative that transcends individual performance.
| Club | Current Standings | Points |
|---|---|---|
| XC New York | 1st | 2,280 |
| XC Tokyo | 2nd | 2,260 |
| XC São Paulo | 3rd | 2,120 |
| XC Los Angeles | 4th | 2,050 |
The data shows that depth is the deciding factor. XC New York’s late-day push, fueled by the combined efforts of Chloe Covell and Momiji Nishiya, resulted in a 180-point haul during the Women’s Street final, proving that strategic team building is as vital as individual talent.
Official Responses: The Athletes Weigh In
The camaraderie and competitive fire were palpable throughout the post-event press conferences.
"I was training to get the Fakie 540, but I just kept spinning," said Mia Kretzer regarding her NBD 720. "I was super stoked to get that, and I thought it would be really cool to throw down today."
The weight of the team format was clearly felt by Chloe Covell, who not only took gold but also reached a career milestone by matching legend Leticia Bufoni’s record of 12 medals in women’s summer disciplines. "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 and I did so well. I don’t even think about records until I’m told—Leticia means so much to the sport, and I’ve been hanging out with her all weekend."
Tom Schaar, who captured gold in Men’s Skateboard Park, noted the unique pressure of the team environment: "I fell on my first trick on my first run, which wasn’t the greatest feeling. But to make it right after that… it gives you a whole other level. It makes you feel like a fan, cheering on everyone at the LA booth."
Implications: A New Era for Action Sports
The MoonPay X Games League has fundamentally shifted the paradigm of action sports. The transition from a series of isolated events to a structured, year-round, team-based league has successfully fostered deeper engagement from both fans and sponsors.
Global Connectivity
The league’s design, which fuses geographic identity with international talent, is clearly resonating. The diversity of the podiums—with athletes from Spain, Japan, Brazil, the UK, and the USA—highlights the global reach of the brand. Furthermore, the inclusion of electric bike technology in the Moto X discipline and the emphasis on team-based point accumulation suggests that the XGL is positioning itself for long-term growth and technical evolution.
Athlete Compensation and Career Longevity
One of the most significant implications of the XGL model is the expansion of earning potential. By moving beyond prize purses into a team-based contract model, the X Games are providing athletes with a more stable, professional career path. This is evidenced by the "gun for hire" mentality expressed by riders like Mike Varga, and the focus on team strategy that now dictates performance.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
As the curtain prepares to fall on the New Orleans Championship, the focus shifts to the final events. With the leaderboard within a 230-point margin across the top four teams, every run will count. For fans, the accessibility of the event—broadcast on ABC and ESPN, and streamed globally on platforms like YouTube, Kick, and the Roku Sports Channel—ensures that the culmination of this historic season will be watched by millions.
The X Games have long been the epicenter of action sports, but with the introduction of the XGL, they have evolved into something much larger: a league where the team is the true icon, and the pursuit of the championship banner is the ultimate goal. Whether XC New York can hold their narrow lead or if XC Tokyo’s consistency will see them reclaim the top spot remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the future of action sports is team-driven, globally connected, and faster than ever.
