G2 Hel wins League of Legends Game Changers Stage 5 championship

G2 Hel, the women’s League of Legends roster under G2 Esports, claimed the LoL Game Changers Rising (LGC) Stage 5 title after defeating SK Avarosa in the finals on September 12-13. The victory caps one of the more satisfying comeback arcs in women’s esports this year.

Less than a year ago, G2 Hel didn’t exist. The team disbanded in late 2025 due to funding challenges, leaving its players scattered and its fans wondering if the project was dead for good. Fast forward to Stage 5 of the 2026 LGC circuit, and the reformed squad just hoisted a trophy.

The road through Stage 5

G2 Hel’s path to the championship wasn’t a clean sweep. During the Swiss rounds, the team picked up a win against Blue Otter but actually lost to the same SK Avarosa squad they’d eventually face in the finals.

The playoff bracket is where G2 Hel found their groove. They posted a decisive 2-0 victory over Barcząca Babylon, then followed it up with another 2-0 against Vitality Rising Bees. By the time they reached the finals against SK Avarosa, the earlier Swiss round loss seemed like a distant memory.

The roster powering this run features Wiosna, Shiina, Caltys, Izzeri, and Lumi. For a team that only reformed around April or May of this year, the chemistry looks remarkably polished.

How the LGC circuit works

The 2026 LGC Rising circuit in EMEA represents an expanded format organized by Riot Games in collaboration with N.E.O. The structure revolves around five monthly stages running from May through September, with each stage functioning as its own mini-tournament complete with Swiss rounds and playoffs. Up to 32 teams competed in each stage.

Each stage carries a prize pool of approximately €2,000. The real value lies in the points system: teams accumulate standings across all five stages, with the top performers earning spots in the October playoffs.

The LGC circuit itself launched in 2025 with the explicit goal of fostering inclusivity in esports through dedicated women’s competitive events. The 2026 season expanded the format, giving more teams more opportunities to compete on a regular schedule.

G2 Hel’s resurrection

When G2 Hel disbanded in late 2025, it was a familiar and frustrating pattern in women’s esports. The team reformed with a renewed sponsorship from McDonald’s Germany, giving the roster the financial backing needed to compete in the 2026 LGC circuit.

What this means for women’s esports in EMEA

The October playoffs loom as the next major milestone. G2 Hel’s Stage 5 title should position them well in the overall standings, but the accumulated points from all five stages will determine who makes the cut. For a team that only reformed partway through the season, every point earned in the later stages carries extra weight.

SK Avarosa, the team G2 Hel defeated in the finals, also deserves attention as a consistent competitor. Their Swiss round win over G2 Hel showed they can match up with the eventual champions. Other squads like Vitality Rising Bees and Barcząca Babylon round out a competitive field that, in 2026, included up to 32 teams per stage.