SR Lj: "The boos gave us energy to win"

"We’ve found that consistent level that we want to play at"

NA > EU. This Saturday, Shopify Rebellion made quick work of Manchester City Esports in the upper bracket of the Rocket League Paris Major, securing a 4–1 victory. North America’s third seed thereby booked its place in the final four of the tournament while sending the Citizens down to the lower bracket.

A few moments after the series, Logan “Lj” Wilt spoke to Sheep Esports. The American player reflected on the victory, discussed the remainder of the competition — during which SR could potentially face Gentle Mates — and opened up about his relationship with Jason “Firstkiller” Corral.

You seemed fully in control against Man City. How are you feeling after this first playoff win, and what do you think the team needs to improve for tomorrow?

Logan "Lj" Wilt: “Yeah, I’d have to agree—we were in control the entire time. We had a really good game plan. Our play style was executed pretty well, I’d say. Not perfect, but we played well overall. But if we’re going to take it tomorrow, we need to come out with a bit more firepower. Today, we slowed off towards the end. And I think we need to keep what we had in game one going a bit more. If we do that, we’ll be very in very good shape tomorrow.

You could end up facing Gentle Mates, FURIA, or Twisted Minds next. Who do you expect to play, and what are your thoughts on those potential opponents?

Lj: My prediction would be Gentle Mates, for sure. I think they’re the strongest team out of the bunch. They didn’t play great today against KC, but I think tomorrow they’re going to come out swinging. They’re going to be a tough team to beat, for sure.

Do you think Gentle Mates underperformed today because of stress or the pressure of the crowd?

Lj: For sure, yeah. Maybe they got a bit—not scared—but well, the crowd was definitely a factor, for sure. They probably haven’t experienced something that crazy. The crowd was insane, for sure.

Firstkiller mentioned that the boos from the Paris crowd actually gave the team extra energy. How did you feel playing in front of that crowd for the first time?

Lj: Definitely. The boos helped us a little bit—they gave us a bit more energy to win our match. Being the villains isn’t really necessarily a bad thing. It just kind of gives us more strength, almost. Yeah.

Do you feel like you’re taking on an “antagonist” role at this event, especially with the team name and facing French teams in front of a home crowd?

Lj: Yeah, for sure. It definitely feels like we’re the villains. We’re definitely not the home favorites. It’s a unique experience for sure. Yeah.

Is there a sense of wanting to silence the French crowd during these matches?

Lj: I’d say that’s our goal. Yeah.

This event seems especially meaningful for you, with your first regional win in December and a past Major final appearance in 2025. Is there a personal drive to finally win a LAN and establish yourself at the top level?

Lj: It’s always been a goal of mine to win a LAN. So I’d love to do it here, especially with this crowd and at the biggest event I’ve ever been at. So it’d be super cool to win a LAN here.

How did you prepare for an event like this, especially given how different it is from playing at home?

Lj: We had a really long boot camp—about a week long. It was the longest boot camp I’ve ever had. Especially with the crowd, the energy, the amount of people watching—we had to be purposely over-prepared. We just can’t really be under-prepared. If we’re over-prepared, we’re going to be confident for anything that comes at us.

How do you personally handle being in the spotlight and dealing with the pressure that comes with being a pro player at events like this?

Lj: It definitely takes years to have that experience. Even now, everyone gets nervous for matches. It’s something you can’t really get rid of. I mean, it just shows that you care. The mentality you need is just having a strong mental and staying confident. That’s all it is, really.

You and FirstKiller have played together before, and there was some skepticism when you reunited at Shopify Rebellion. Do you feel your duo has improved since then, and are you now at the level you expected?

Lj: Yeah, for sure. Well, last year, we started off great—we did get a second place last season during the first Major—but overall, the season didn’t go as planned. But I definitely feel like now we’ve found that consistent level that we want to play at. It took time, but I think we kind of figured it out, and I think it’s working pretty well right now.

With NRG also losing to Man City and Furia, how do you view the overall balance between regions right now? Do you think that result reflects NA’s level, or was it more of an off event for them?

Lj: I don’t know for sure. Maybe they just didn’t grind as hard or something like that, I don’t really know exactly what happened there. But I mean, they’re still the World Champions.

I think they’ll be back. They just gotta figure out how to play like they were the last couple seasons. It’s their first bad event ever really, so it’s bound to happen.

Do you think North America is currently capable of rivaling Europe and MENA at this level?

Lj: Europe’s still a bit stronger. But for sure I think NA has a great chance, especially with us and Spacestation Gaming still in the tournament. I think we have a great chance against Europe, and we’re just ready to show it.

Why is your in-game name “Lj” instead of “LW,” which would match your initials?

Lj: So the J is my initial for my middle name, Jacob. So yeah, just first and middle name. Nothing too special.

What will the next few hours look like for you, with the remaining matches to watch and preparation for tomorrow?

Lj: We’re just going to watch the next couple matches, just experience those matches with the crowd and everything, and then get back to grinding, scrimming, and preparing for our next match.”