Shopify Rebellion secured their spot in the
Rocket League Esports World Cup Playoffs on Friday after a 4-0 victory over
TSM. The team will therefore be the second North American representative in the next stage alongside
Spacestation Gaming (SSG).
After securing their second consecutive victory, having also eliminated FUT Esports, American player Logan “Lj” Wilt spoke to Sheep Esports about his team’s performances today, which teams he wants and doesn’t want to face in the quarterfinals, his assessment of the 2026 season, and the impact of Jos “ViolentPanda” van Meurs on the team.
What do you think about the team's performances in both matches today?
Logan "Lj" Wilt: “Our second result was really good against TSM. We played confidently; we just came out moving like we were playing really well. The first series against FUT Esports started really flat. We had a little bit of nerves, just a little bit of stress.
But after we went 3-1 down, we kind of just reset. We decided to play a bit more for the vibes, have more fun, and just loosen up the tension. We just started moving after that. We played great, and I'm proud of the team and how we bounced back after that.
What happened within the team to allow you to bounce back during the first series?
LJ: It was just about wanting to bring out the vibes a little bit, you know, force the energy, just have high energy. It really worked really well. So shoutout to the team, we kind of bounced back after that, and we started playing really well.
Which team would you like to face in quarterfinals, and which team would you like to avoid?
LJ: Honestly, it doesn't really matter who we play. But if I had to pick one team, probably Spacestation Gaming. I want to play SSG. As for a team to avoid, I don't really want to avoid any team, but I guess Falcons.
Is there any reason?
LJ: No, I just think they're pretty good. They have a pretty decent matchup against us, but no real specific reason.
Do you prefer facing domestic opponents, like NA teams, who you already know, or international teams that you don't know as well?
LJ: We like playing NA teams just because we know them best. But obviously, it's more fun to play teams that we've never played before, like EU teams and Middle East teams. It's just fun. We never play against them, and they're really good, so it's just a good battle between us. I'm just happy to play anyone.
The season is coming to an end. How would you assess your season so far?
LJ: We've gotten better at each event. We started off a little slow in the first split, but we kind of figured out how we wanted to play after the first split's Major.
We've just been trying to grind out how we want to play right now, polishing the final touches of our playstyle. And we've been right there to winning an event, even at the last Major. We're just right there. So we kind of just need to get over the hump and close it out.
You and Jason "Firstkiller" Corral have been playing together for two years now. How has your relationship developed over the past two years?
LJ: Me and Firstkiller's relationship has gotten a lot closer this season. We've been together for two years now, so we have a very close relationship. We know each other pretty well. We have fun playing together. That's all you can really ask for.
You've faced NRG four times this season and lost all four. Have you managed to identify what went wrong and why it's so tough for you guys?
LJ: Playing NRG is kind of hard for us mentally, maybe. We play against them very well in scrims, so I don't think it's really a playstyle or skill issue. It's just about showing up on the day against them and playing how we practice.
So do you think it's mainly a question of momentum?
LJ: Yeah, when we play them, we've just got to lock in. I don't think it's really a strategy thing or anything like that. If we beat them once, then we keep beating them.
Talking about ViolentPanda, what influence has he had on the team since becoming your coach?
LJ: ViolentPanda has been a great coach. He's really got us locked in on how we want to play, always keeping us grinding. He keeps us positive, and he has a really close relationship with all of us, so it just works out well. He keeps us on our game, keeps us focused in scrims, and yeah, he's a great coach.
What would you say are his biggest strengths as a coach? What does he bring most to the team?
LJ: His biggest strength is that he's been a player and he's won before, so he knows what it takes to win. He knows how players work. He's been a player for a while, so he understands us. That's his biggest strength.
How does his experience help you prepare for an international event like this?
LJ: Having experience on LAN is a huge thing. My first couple of LANs were tough. Having that experience makes it much easier to adjust to these teams on LAN, these international teams. It's not going to be easy, but having experience definitely helps.
Why do you go by LJ?
LJ: I use my initials from my first name and my middle name.”
