UNCW’s Esports Valorant team captured the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) Division II East Conference Championship on Dec. 1 with a  3–2 win over Mizzou Esports in the grand finals.

According to a news release, the victory marks the team’s fourth conference title in two years and advances them to national championship competition in spring 2026.

“Our teams have been playing great, and seeing the Valorant team win another conference championship was a proud moment for all of us,” said Ray Pastore, professor of instructional technology in the Watson College of Education and faculty advisor for UNCW Esports, in the release. “Watching the UNCW Esports Club evolve from a small group of casual gamers into teams that are competitive across the region and even nationally has been extraordinary.”

The championship roster is as follows:

• Nicholas Crane, senior, information technology
• Kavi Miller, senior, computer science (cybersecurity concentration)
• Brandon Mason, sophomore, cybersecurity
• Richard Stroup, junior, political science
• Owen Nelson, senior, business administration (business analytics concentration)

According to the release, UNCW’s Rocket League team also had a standout fall season — winning their Collegiate Conference Series Conference Championship and placing third at the 5th Annual Florence Esports Festival in South Carolina in November.

Founded in 2019, the UNCW Esports Club earned varsity status in 2022 and operates from an on-campus esports lab, the release stated. The club fields 10 competitive teams and supports a Discord community of more than 800 members. It is open to all students. According to the release, the Watson College of Education’s Esports Certificate Program prepares students for careers in gaming, streaming and the broader esports industry.