‘Yay’ Stands Alone: The Last Former OpTic VALORANT Player
It’s hard to believe that Yay, who was considered the top VALORANT player on OpTic Gaming in 2022 and was recognized as one of the best in the world, is currently without a team less than a month before the start of the Americas League. This unexpected turn of events has left Yay as the sole former OpTic player still available on the free agency market.
Sentinels recently acquired Yay’s former teammate, Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen, who is expected to take on a sixth-man role for the team following the arrest of Hunter “SicK” Mims in early March. It’s reported that Marvel will use this time to decide whether to pursue content creation or continue playing in the franchised league.
The Challenge of Finding a Spot on a Franchised Team: Yay’s Chances in the VALORANT Scene
If Yay’s intention is to continue living and competing in the United States, finding a spot on a franchised team at this time may prove challenging due to timing constraints. With the exception of Cloud9, who released Yay and in-game leader Anthony “vanity” Malaspina after their elimination in the second round of the VCT LOCK//IN São Paulo in February, the other four English-speaking teams in the Americas League – Sentinels, NRG, 100 Thieves, and Evil Geniuses – have not indicated any plans to make changes to their active VALORANT lineups.
Moreover, building a team around Yay can be a daunting task, especially now that rosters are already settled, and other teams may not have the budget to sign a star of his caliber. It’s important to note that Yay signed his previous contract with Cloud9 in October 2022, when he was widely considered the best VALORANT player in the world, thanks to his exceptional individual performance and achievements with OpTic, including winning the title at VCT Masters One Reykjavík.
As a result, Yay could potentially remain a free agent for several months if he expects to be paid the same amount as his previous contract with Cloud9. If Yay fails to secure a spot on another franchised team, it’s probable that he will transition to streaming temporarily and take a break from the life of a professional player. The Americas, EMEA, and Pacific franchised leagues are set to begin between the end of March and the beginning of April, with all of them ending on May 28.
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