Sources: DARKWINGS set to join Sentinels in LCS

Isaac "DARKWINGS" Chou is set to join Sentinels’ first-ever LCS roster in 2026, according to sources close to Sheep Esports. Disguised had considered keeping the midlaner, but like many players this offseason, DARKWINGS prioritized joining a team with a permanent slot in the league.

DARKWINGS joined Disguised for the 2025 Summer Split, replacing Felix "Abbedagge" Braun before Summer, alongside Cho "Rahel" Min-seong, in an attempt to reverse the team’s disappointing results. Despite the late arrival, their impact was immediate, helping stabilize a roster that had struggled throughout the year in the LTA North division. As a guest team, Disguised were forced to defend their place during the end-of-year promotion tournament, where they comfortably secured their spot for the following season.

Beyond his time with Disguised, DARKWINGS has been a mainstay of North America’s Tier 2 ecosystem for several years. Known for his consistency and leadership, he established himself as one of the most prominent midlaners in the NACL scene and notably won the College League of Legends (CLOL) championship in 2024 — the finals of North America’s collegiate circuit.

His move to Sentinels marks not only a personal milestone as he remains in a Tier-1 league for the first time in his career, but also a new chapter for the organization. The team enters the LCS by taking over the franchise slot vacated by 100 Thieves at the end of the 2025 season — a transfer made without a franchise fee, as part of the league’s ongoing structural changes.

Although this is Sentinels’ first appearance in the modern LCS era, the organization’s roots in professional League of Legends run deeper. Operating as Phoenix1 in NA LCS between Summer 2016 and 2017, they made a name for themselves in the early years of North American competition. Their return now signals both an organizational revival and a significant restructuring within the LCS landscape.

Sentinels were among the first organizations to move actively on the offseason market, even before Sheep Esports reported their official acquisition of the LCS slot. The addition of DARKWINGS as midlaner sets the tone for their ambitions in 2026 — aiming to build a competitive foundation from day one in North America’s premier league.

For more roster changes, check out our Transfers Hub and Offseason Live Tracker.