The Guard’s VALORANT Team Faces Potential Roster Changes
The Guard’s VALORANT team has had a busy year so far. They recently qualified for the VCT Americas in 2024 and 2025 after battling through the Ascension tournament. However, the team now faces the challenge of retaining two key members on their roster.
According to esports journalist George Geddes, Michael “neT” Bernet and Jacob “valyn” Batio are set to become free agents in October. If these rising stars choose to explore the market for next year, they could easily become sought-after players in the American VALORANT scene.
During The Guard’s run through Ascension, valyn and neT played crucial roles in the team’s success. Whether it was valyn’s shotcalling and fragging potential or neT’s exceptional play on agents like Killjoy and Viper, they were essential pieces of the puzzle.
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According to VLR.gg, Valyn had the highest average combat score (ACS) on the team during the grand finals series against M80, with an impressive record of nine triple kills. On the other hand, neT had the highest headshot percentage on the team and showcased impressive numbers in kills, assists, survivability, and trades (KAST). Both players have proven their potential and readiness for the big stage, raising the question of whether they will continue with The Guard or join another team in 2024.
The Guard is reportedly making efforts to retain the players for next year as they enter VCT Americas. However, if neT and valyn are open to other offers, it could leave a significant gap in the team as they prepare to face off against the region’s top squads. Fortunately, The Guard still has about two months before the reported expiration of their contracts, allowing them time to attempt to re-sign these two stars before the season begins.