Sentinels has officially signed former Cloud9 star Francis “OXY” Hoang to its VALORANT roster ahead of the 2027 VCT season. The 21-year-old American duelist joins the organization after spending three years with Cloud9, bringing his aggressive playstyle and impressive individual performances to a team looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2026 season.
The announcement confirms weeks of transfer rumors surrounding OXY’s future and marks another major step in Sentinels’ ongoing roster rebuild.
In Brief:
- Sentinels has officially announced the signing of former Cloud9 duelist OXY for its VALORANT roster.
- OXY previously competed for Dark Ratio and G2 Esports before joining Cloud9 in September 2023.
- The 21-year-old established himself as one of VCT Americas’ standout duelists despite Cloud9’s struggles.
- Sentinels is rebuilding its roster after a difficult 2026 season, with hopes of returning to international competition in 2027.
Sentinels Officially Welcomes OXY to Its VALORANT Roster
On November 2, 2026, Sentinels officially welcomed OXY through its social media channels, confirming one of the most anticipated roster moves of the VCT offseason.
The organization kept its announcement short, writing:
A new star for a new era
@Lft_Oxy is officially a Sentinel
The announcement comes after multiple reports linked OXY to Sentinels throughout October.
OXY’s arrival is especially important for Sentinels following a disappointing competitive year. After appearing at all three major international events in 2025, the organization failed to qualify for any of them in 2026.
Sentinels has since begun making significant roster changes, including parting ways with JonahP and Jerrwin. The organization previously revealed that it had identified high-level replacements as part of its plans for the upcoming season.
OXY’s VALORANT Career: From G2 Esports to Cloud9 Star
Before joining Sentinels, Francis “OXY” Hoang had already built a reputation as one of North America’s most talented young VALORANT players.
His competitive career began in 2022, when he played for smaller teams, including Vireo.pro and Dark Ratio. He quickly attracted attention with his mechanical skills, aggressive duelist gameplay, and ability to consistently secure opening kills.
His performances eventually earned him a spot on G2 Esports in December 2022, where he competed in the North American VALORANT Challengers circuit throughout the first half of 2023.
During his time with G2, OXY helped the organization finish second at the VALORANT Challengers North America Mid-Season Face Off in March 2023. Although his time with the team ended in July, he had already demonstrated his potential against some of the region’s best players.
OXY’s biggest career breakthrough came in September 2023 when he officially joined Cloud9.
Over the next three years, he became one of Cloud9’s most recognizable players and a consistent threat in VCT Americas. His aggressive playstyle, explosive aim, and confidence in taking fights made him a fan favorite.
Some of his notable career achievements include:
- Winning the TEN VALORANT Global Invitational 2023 with Cloud9.
- Finishing second at Red Bull Home Ground #4 in 2023.
- Reaching the final of Red Bull Home Ground #5 in 2024.
- Helping Cloud9 secure fourth place at VCT Americas Stage 2 in 2025.
- Becoming one of the top-performing duelists in VCT Americas during the 2025 season.
OXY particularly stood out during VCT Americas Stage 2 in 2025, where he led the regional player leaderboard. At one point in August, he also topped the global Stage 2 average combat score rankings with 287.5 ACS.
Unfortunately, Cloud9 struggled to translate those individual performances into major international success. The team failed to qualify for Masters or Champions throughout OXY’s tenure, including all three major international events in 2026.
Cloud9’s situation became even more complicated after Riot Games excluded the organization from the VCT Americas partnership program for 2027 and 2028, prompting a significant roster rebuild.
The Future of Sentinels in VALORANT
The organization has retained key players such as johnqt, Reduxx, and cortezia while making changes elsewhere in the lineup. OXY is expected to take over the primary duelist role previously occupied by Jerrwin.
His ability to create space, take aggressive fights, and deliver high-impact performances could give Sentinels the attacking presence it lacked during parts of the 2026 season.
There is also plenty of pressure on the organization to deliver results. Sentinels has secured its place in the VCT Americas partnership program for 2027 and 2028, giving the team an opportunity to rebuild around a promising core.
With OXY now officially signed, attention will turn to Sentinels’ remaining roster decisions and how the new lineup performs together.
