The Guard’s VALORANT Team Faces Uncertainty with Key Players Becoming Free Agents
The Guard’s VALORANT team has had a busy year so far. They recently qualified for VCT Americas in 2024 and 2025 after battling through the Ascension tournament. However, their focus will now shift to 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, they could easily become two of the most sought-after players in the American VALORANT scene.
During The Guard’s run through Ascension, valyn and neT were essential to the team’s success. Valyn showcased expert shotcalling and fragging potential, while neT delivered premier performances with agents like Killjoy and Viper.
Related: Live VALORANT 2023 offseason tracker: Free agents, roster moves, and rumors for 2024 season
Valyn had the highest average combat score (ACS) on his team during their grand finals series against M80, with nine triple kills to his name. Meanwhile, neT had the highest headshot percentage on the team, with impressive kills, assists, survived, and traded (KAST) numbers, as reported by VLR.gg. Both players have immense potential and are ready for the big stage. The question now is whether they will remain with The Guard or join another team in 2024.
As expected, The Guard is trying 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 compete against the region’s best squads. Fortunately, The Guard has approximately two months until the contracts reportedly expire, giving them time to negotiate with the two stars before the season begins.
The Guard, VALORANT team, free agents, Ascension tournament, VCT Americas, American VALORANT scene, Michael neT Bernet, Jacob valyn Batio, esports, contracts, negotiations