Sports

Honor of Kings

Published

4 months ago

August 26, 2025

Honor of Kings and its esports leagues have much in store for Southeast Asia, Brazil, and the entire world.

Senior Director of Level Infinite Global Esports Center, James Yang, answered some questions from esports.gg regarding Honor of Kings’ global momentum, growth, and reception as an esports title and a competitive mobile game.

James Yang, Senior Director of the Level Infinite Global Esports Center (Photo via Level Infinite)

What can you say about the growth that Honor of Kings has shown?

We’re encouraged by the growth that Honor of Kings has so far, both as a game and as an esports title. The level of engagement we’ve seen from players, tournament participants, and creators has been promising, and it reinforces our belief in the game’s global potential.

That said, we’re still in the early stages of building a long-term, sustainable ecosystem across Southeast Asia. Our vision is to replicate the depth and scale of what we’ve successfully built in other markets—a vibrant community supported by competitive leagues, strong creator networks, and passionate fanbases—while tailoring that experience to fit the unique culture and dynamics of each local market.

At the same time, we remain focused on bringing the excitement of Honor of Kings to new audiences and empowering our players across the globe, not just to play the game, but to grow with it as professionals, creators, and community leaders.

We look forward to more players joining Honor of Kings, playing together, and winning together.

Honor of Kings as a global presence

AG.AL took the 2025 Honor of Kings World Cup win at EWC 2025. (Image via Level Infinite)

For KWC 2025, the biggest region in terms of players, outside of China and SEA, was Brazil. What are your thoughts on HoK’s presence in South America?

We’re excited to see the strong interest and momentum for Honor of Kings in South America, particularly in Brazil. In fact, Honor of Kings became the most downloaded MOBA game in Brazil shortly after its release in 2023, which is a strong validation of its appeal among local players and fans. This kind of traction gives us confidence in the long-term potential of the region. It’s one of the most passionate and competitive gaming markets in the world, and the response to KWC 2025 reflected that Brazil was the largest player base outside of China and Southeast Asia.

The Brazilian team A7 finished in 5th–8th place, proving that Brazil’s esports teams still have a strong presence and competitiveness on the global stage. In esports particularly, South America is part of our regional professional leagues. CHOKBR is the professional league in Brazil, and we are happy to see more and more esports players from Brazil shine and show their talents on Honor of Kings global esports platforms.

We have been actively exploring ways to deepen our presence in South America through localized content, creator partnerships, and competitive opportunities that tap into the region’s unique energy and love for esports.

Ultimately, our goal is to build a global ecosystem where players everywhere—including in Brazil—feel empowered, inspired, and represented at the highest levels of play.

The Philippines will once again host HoK Esports, this time for KIC.
What goes into consideration when choosing venues?

The Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC) is one of the most important global esports tournaments from Honor of Kings. However, this is more than just a tournament; we see it as a “festival” for all Honor of Kings players, which is why we host it in different countries to engage with our players offline. This year, we’ve chosen the Philippines because of the immense energy and passion of Filipino players. We highly value the Philippine market and hope that through KIC’s presence in the country, we can host a huge offline festival that will attract more players to join. This is a significant opportunity for us to demonstrate our appreciation and prioritization of the Filipino community within the esports landscape.

This year’s KIC will have a 1M USD prize pool (Image via Level Infinite)

KIC being held in the Philippines for the first time represents a significant step in our global esports expansion strategy, further reflecting our commitment to making Honor of Kings more accessible and inclusive by lowering barriers to entry and empowering players from all corners of the world to shine on the international stage. KIC is not just about competition—it’s about celebrating diverse gaming cultures and delivering immersive experiences that resonate with local communities. By bringing KIC to new regions, we’re laying the foundation for a truly global esports ecosystem.

How would you describe HoK’s foothold in SEA?

Southeast Asia continues to be a key region for Honor of Kings. From Indonesia and Malaysia to the Philippines and beyond, we’ve seen impressive growth, passionate player engagement, and a fast-maturing esports ecosystem. It’s one of the most dynamic regions globally, and our continued investment here—through localized tournaments, creator partnerships, and major events like KIC—reflects our belief in the long-term potential of SEA.

With KIC, we’re not only providing a stage for top teams to compete for international glory, but also showcasing the region’s incredible talent and passion to the world. Events like these help us strengthen our presence, inspire the next generation of players, and bring us one step closer to building a truly global esports ecosystem.

Filipina host Mara Aquino was awarded the Fan Favorite Voice award (Image via Level Infinite)

The Honor of Kings Nation Clash (KNC) is designed as a celebration of Southeast Asia’s vibrant and competitive spirit. By bringing together national teams in a unique regional format, it adds new emotional stakes—allowing players to proudly represent their countries and giving fans a rare chance to rally behind national squads.

The new KNC tournament will be in Malaysia later this year. (Image via Level Infinite)

What’s at stake in Nation Clash?

The stakes are both competitive and symbolic. The winning region will receive the exclusive in-game Flowborn design set—a prestigious reward that creates a deeper connection between the players, their achievements, and the in-game universe. This adds an extra layer of pride and recognition that goes beyond trophies or prize money.

What are Level Infinite’s hopes for this competition?

For us at Level Infinite, launching KNC is a strategic step in deepening our commitment to Southeast Asia as a key growth region. We want this tournament to not only showcase top-tier talent, but also ignite excitement at the grassroots and national level. The format is tailored to resonate with local audiences, combining high-level play with a strong community narrative.

Will this be a one-time or a recurring event?

While KNC is new, our vision is for it to grow into a recurring event that players and fans can look forward to year after year. It’s a chance to elevate regional competition, foster rivalries, and celebrate Southeast Asia’s growing impact on the global Honor of Kings esports scene.

A lot of the recent developments in HoK Esports have been to nurture its Asian audience. Are you considering any steps to widen the game’s reach to other regions in the world?

While much of our recent focus has been on building strong foundations across Asia—particularly in Southeast Asia—we absolutely see Honor of Kings as a global title, and expanding into new regions is a key part of our long-term strategy.

The strong response we’ve seen from markets like Brazil, MENA, North America, and Europe has shown us that there’s growing demand and enthusiasm for Honor of Kings far beyond Asia. We’re actively exploring ways to support that momentum, whether through localized content, regional tournaments, or strategic partnerships that help us engage with players in a meaningful, culturally relevant way. With BLOODTHIRSTYKINGS (BTK), we’re excited to expand our presence in the NA market further and deepen our connection with players in this region, tapping into the growing competitive esports scene there.

Our approach has always been to grow responsibly, ensuring that we’re not just launching the game in new markets, but also investing in community building, creator ecosystems, and competitive pathways that can sustain long-term engagement. The recent global expansion of tournaments like KIC and the strong participation from non-Asian teams are just early steps in that direction.

Ultimately, our goal is to build a truly global esports and gaming ecosystem—one where players from every region feel represented, empowered, and excited to be part of the Honor of Kings journey.

Honor of Kings Esports look-ahead: Expansion, leagues, and fan engagement

What is the driving inspiration behind the Open Series? How does it benefit the casual viewers and players who may have little intention of going pro?

The driving inspiration behind the Open Series is inclusivity—we wanted to create a competitive pathway that welcomes players at all levels, especially those who might not yet see themselves as professional esports athletes. Not everyone starts with the goal of going pro, but many still want to test their skills, compete with friends, or simply be part of something bigger within the community.

The Open Series lowers the barrier to entry by offering localized, accessible tournaments that make competitive play feel within reach. For casual players and viewers, it creates a space where they can engage with the game beyond ranked matches—whether by participating, supporting local teams, or watching emerging talents from their region rise through the ranks.

Ultimately, the Open Series is about community building. It helps foster a stronger connection between players and the Honor of Kings esports ecosystem, making sure that everyone—not just the top 1%—has a chance to be part of the story.

How do you ensure that fan and player engagement improves throughout the regional professional leagues?

Sustaining and deepening engagement across our regional professional leagues is a top priority for us, both from a player development and fan experience perspective. We believe a strong league isn’t just about high-level competition; it’s about building lasting connections between teams, players, and the communities they represent.

Regional leagues for HoK begin soon. (Image via Level Infinite)

On the player side, we’re focused on providing better support systems, including training programs and more tournaments—from the Open Series, Campus Series, and Regional Professional Leagues to global tournaments—for players to participate in.

Player support and fan experience are important to Yang. (Photo via Level Infinite)

For fans, we’re investing in localized storytelling, interactive content, and more accessible broadcasts, including regional-language commentary and creator collaborations that help bring league narratives to life. We’re also exploring offline activations and community events that give fans the chance to engage with the league beyond the screen.

Our goal is to create a league experience that feels rooted in local pride but connected to the global stage: where fans feel invested, and players feel supported at every step of their journey.

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Spencer McLachlin Named Head Coach at UC San Diego

Published

2 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Third-year USC women’s volleyball associate head coach Spencer McLachlin was hired for his first appointment as a head coach and will lead the UC San Diego women’s volleyball program, UCSD Director of Athletics Andy Fee announced on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

McLachlin becomes the eighth head coach in UCSD program history and will coach the Tritons in their final season as members of the Big West (2026) before the program transitions to the West Coast Conference ahead of the 2027 campaign. He joins JJ Van Niel (Arizona State), Tyler Hildebrand (Saint Mary’s College), and Amy Pauly (Orlando Valkyries) as former USC assistants under Brad Keller who have moved into head coaching positions.

“This opportunity is no surprise and has been a long time coming for Spencer,” said Keller. “UCSD is getting one of the best coaches in the game. Spencer and I have worked together in many different phases of our careers, and I know USC is in a better place with a brighter future for everything he has done here. Spencer is an innovator, a creator, and most importantly, a dreamer. Our game needs more leaders like him. I couldn’t be prouder of what he has done and for this new opportunity for him and his family.”

In his three seasons at USC, McLachlin helped lead the Women of Troy to three straight NCAA tournament appearances. The Trojans advanced to the second round in each of their three postseason berths. Most recently, McLachlin helped USC reach 25 wins and finish in a tie for third place in the Big Ten. Six Trojans received awards on all-conference teams and USC led the league in blocking (2.76 bps). The Trojans also ranked second (12th in the NCAA) in total blocks (322.5) and were second for opponent hitting percentage (.184). OH London Wijay earned AVCA All-America honorable mention.

With McLachlin on staff in 2024, USC advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year and finished 22-10 overall with a 13-7 mark in the Big Ten (tied for sixth). Setter Mia Tuaniga was named to the AVCA All-America third team. In his first season with the Women of Troy, McLachlin helped USC go 19-13 with a 12-8 mark in the Pac-12 for a fifth-place finish. That season, OH Skylar Fields was honored with AVCA All-America first-team recognition.

McLachlin is married to former USC volleyball standout opposite hitter Diane Copenhagen (2004-07), a 2004 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team selection. The McLachlins are parents to two daughters, Leila and Malia, and a son named Koa.

The 14th-ranked Trojans (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten) finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten and were awarded one of 33 at-large berths—and a hosting bid—into the 2025 NCAA tournament. USC made its fourth straight appearance in the tourney under sixth-year head coach Brad Keller (41st all-time) and moved into the second round for the fourth consecutive year with a 3-0 sweep of Princeton. The Women of Troy were eliminated from postseason play in a hard-fought five-set loss to Cal Poly in the second round.

For more information on the USC women’s volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Defending Big West Regular Season And National Champion Long Beach State Chosen As 2026 Preseason Coaches’ Poll Favorite

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2 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West released its 2026 Men’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Team, and defending Big West regular season and National Champion Long Beach State was selected as the preseason favorite. The Beach garnered 24 total points and four first-place votes from league head coaches, signaling strong expectations for another elite season.

Long Beach State’s status as a national powerhouse was further reinforced in the 2026 AVCA National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Preseason Poll (Dec. 23), where the Beach were ranked No. 3 nationally behind UCLA and Hawai’i.

The Beach also placed multiple student-athletes on the 2026 Big West Preseason Coaches’ Team, as Skyler Varga and Alex Kandev earned preseason recognition following standout performances during Long Beach State’s championship 2025 season.

Varga returns as one of the nation’s premier attackers. During the 2025 season he played a central role in Long Beach State’s run to the NCAA National Championship, earning NCAA All-Tournament Team honors for his performance in the title match. He finished the year with 270 kills (2.73 per set) on a .368 attack percentage, while adding 33 service aces, 70 total blocks, and 341 points across 99 sets. In addition to his on-court excellence, Varga also received CSC Academic All-America recognition, underscoring his impact as a scholar-athlete.

Kandev, now a sophomore outside hitter, made his mark on the national stage during the 2025 NCAA Championship match. In the title match victory over UCLA, Kandev helped the Beach secure their fourth national title and earned NCAA All-Tournament Team honors in the process. He concluded his freshman season with 210 kills (3.23 per set) while hitting .458, ranking among the team leaders in efficiency, and added 21 aces, 36 blocks, and 250 points in 65 sets.

Following Long Beach State atop the Big West preseason poll, Hawai’i was chosen second with 22 points and two first-place votes, and UC Irvine was tabbed third with 17 points. CSUN, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara rounded out the poll, each earning nine points.

With proven postseason performers and returning national contenders, Long Beach State enters 2026 as both the team to beat in the Big West and one of the top programs in the nation.

2026 Big West Men’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Long Beach State – 24 points (4)

Hawai’i – 22 points (2)

UC Irvine – 17 points

T-4. CSUN – 9 points

T-4. UC San Diego – 9 points

T-4. UC Santa Barbara – 9 points

First-place votes in parentheses

2026 Big West Men’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Team
George Bruening, UC Santa Barbara
Alex Kandev, Long Beach State
Jalen Phillips, CSUN
Tread Rosenthal, Hawai’i
Adrien Roure, Hawai’i
Kristian Titriyski, Hawai’i
Skyler Varga, Long Beach State

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NSU adds goalkeeper transfer – Northwestern State University Athletics

Published

3 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By: Jonathon Zenk, Assistant Director of Communications

NATCHITOCHES—After dipping into the transfer portal for a midfielder and defender, Northwestern State soccer head coach Ian Brophy now picks up a goalkeeper in the form of transfer Saki Tsuchiya.

Tsuchiya, a native of Takasaki, Japan, comes to NSU following a season at Valparaiso.

“We are very excited to add an experienced goalkeeper who really fits our style of play,” Brophy said. “Her ability with the ball at her feet is something that definitely suits us and should help us as a team. She will instantly provide competition in an already very competitive group and certainly makes us better.”

She played in three games for the Crusaders, sporting a save percentage of .708 and goals against average of 3.36 in just under 134 minutes. She recorded 12 saves this past season, seven coming against Drake and then posting five saves against Illinois.

Prior to her season at Valpo, Tsuchiya started her collegiate career at Tyler JC, where she competed for two seasons.

For Tyler JC, she appeared in 30 matches during the two years, where she posted a 1.18 GAA and a .780 save percentage.

She recorded three solo shutouts and five combined shutouts among her 13 wins as a sophomore in 2024. That season also earned her a Second Team All-Region selection, as her team captured the Region XIV championship and played in the NJCAA National Tournament 2023 and 2024.

As a freshman, she was named to the NJCAA Second Team All-Academic Team for 2023-24.

She played summer soccer in 2024 for TLH Reckoning of the USLW and in 2025 for Peoria City of the WPSL.

In high school at Kaishigakuen JAPAN Soccer College koutoubu, she was a three-year starter in net.

She joins an already impressive goalkeeper room that includes Second Team All-Southland Conference selection Kennedy Rist and rising sophomore Audrey Marfia, who recorded a goals against average of 0.39, surrendering just one goal in 230:32.

Tsuchiya will be the first Japan native to play for the Demons and joins Hosane Soukou, Ravina Sandhu and Anika Sproxton as players on the team not from the United States.

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Lauren Watson Becomes First Player in USD Beach Volleyball History

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3 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SAN DIEGO — Defender Lauren Watson became the first player in USD beach volleyball history on Monday afternoon when she signed a grant-in-aid agreement to play for the Toreros.

Watson, who hails from Phoenix, Arizona, attends Notre Dame Preparatory High School, where she was twice named the Arizona Beach Volleyball Player of the Year by the Arizona Republic. She will join San Diego for its inaugural beach volleyball season in the spring of 2027.

“Lauren is a really good all-around talent,” said USD beach volleyball head coach Derek Olson. “As a defender that can sit in the pocket and run shots down, she has good defensive instincts and covers a lot of sand.”

Her high school career thus far has seen her earn two Arizona Beach Volleyball Pairs State Championships, three All-League First-Team honors, and her league’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

“She also knows how to win and that’s very apparent by her results in tournaments,” Olson added. “But what I appreciate most about Lauren is her ability to play with anyone and make them better. She adds value to the environment that she is in.”

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Spencer McLachlin named new women’s volleyball head coach – The UCSD Guardian

Published

3 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

On Tuesday, Dec. 23, UC San Diego Athletics announced that USC associate head coach Spencer McLachlin will be the next head coach of Triton women’s volleyball. He replaces Melanie Greene, who stepped down on Dec. 6 after two seasons as head coach.

The coaching change comes after a tumultuous 6-24 season where a promising Triton team never found its rhythm. The Tritons were eliminated from postseason contention with three games left in the season following a loss to UC Riverside on Nov. 17. Assistant coach Kara Barkdoll Coy was named interim head coach for the final six games of the season after Greene’s departure.

“Spencer brings exactly what we need at this moment,” athletic director Andy Fee said in a press release. “He’s helped build winning programs, developed All-Americans, and knows how to compete at the highest level.”

McLachlin played collegiately at Stanford, winning a national championship with the Cardinal in 2010 and ending his four years in Palo Alto ranked third in career kills. McLachlin then served as an assistant coach at Hawai’i, California, UCLA, and Indiana before joining USC as associate head coach in 2023. This past season, the Trojans went 25-7 but fell in the second round of the NCAA Championship in a five-set upset loss against Cal Poly. McLachlin’s new position at UCSD will be his first head coaching role.

“I am thrilled to join UC San Diego as the Head Coach of the women’s volleyball program,” McLachlin said. “This is an incredible opportunity for my family and me to be part of an historic and beautiful university and build a program with great potential.”

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Volleyball Inks Four Highly Touted Transfers to 2026 Roster

Published

3 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU Volleyball team announced the signings of outside hitter Suli Davis, libero Victoria Harris, opposite hitter Gabi Placide and setter Ava Sarafa to the 2026 roster on Monday.

Arriving for the spring 2026 semester, Placide brings in three years of collegiate playing experience; Harris and Sarafa come to the Hilltop with two and Davis comes to SMU with one year playing at the college level.

Details of the four transfers are below.

Suli Davis, So., 6-2, Outside Hitter, Euless, Texas – BYU

AVCA Second Team All-American (2025)

AVCA West Region Freshman of the Year (2025)

AVCA All-West Region First Team (2025)

Big 12 Freshman of the Year (2025)

All-Big 12 First Team (2025)

Big 12 All-Rookie Team (2025)

6x Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Oct. 21, Nov. 4, Nov. 25, Dec. 2, 2025)

2025 (Freshman at BYU)

–Broke BYU’s all-time freshman kills record during the Cougars’ five-set win over Utah on Nov. 26

–Broke BYU’s rally-scoring era freshman kills record against Arizona on Nov. 19

–27th player in Big 12 history with 500+ kills in a single season

–30 double-digit kill matches, third-most in the rally-scoring era at BYU

–Team-leading 10 double-doubles

–Led the team in kills in 22 matches, including 13 of the Cougars’ final 14

–Played in all 31 of the Cougars’ matches and 119 sets, starting 29 matches

–Recorded 541 kills, third-most in a rally-scoring era season at BYU, 252 digs, 43 total blocks, including 10 solo stuffs, 31 assists and 25 service aces

–Finished No. 1 in total kills (541), kills per set (4.55) and points per set (4.97) in the Cougars’ all-time freshman record book

–Finished No. 1 in sets played (119), total kills (541), kills per set (4.55), total points (591.5) and points per set (4.97) in the freshman rally-scoring era at BYU

–Is also second in double-doubles (10) and third in solo blocks (10) in the Cougars’ freshman rally-era record book

–Career-high 28 kills in back-to-back matches (at Utah on Nov. 14 and vs. Arizona Nov. 19), the second-most kills by a freshman in the rally-scoring era at BYU

Victoria Harris, Jr., 5-4, DS/Libero, Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina

SEC Community Service Team (2025)

SEC All-Freshman Team (2024)

SEC Freshman of the Week (Nov. 18, 2024)

2025 (Sophomore at South Carolina)

-Appeared in all 26 matches for the Gamecocks in her second season with the program

-Finished fourth in the SEC with 4.11 digs per set, totaling 399 digs

-Added 120 assists and 16 aces in her sophomore campaign

-Had seven matches with 20+ digs and 21 matches with double-digit digs

-Logged a season-best 27 digs at Missouri on Oct. 24

-Second in the SEC during conference play, averaging 4.31 digs per set for South Carolina

-Finished with 795 digs, 223 assists and 35 aces as a Gamecock in two seasons

Gabi Placide, Sr., 6-0, Opposite Hitter, Centennial, Colo. – Ole Miss

AVCA South Region Honorable Mention (2025)

SEC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 22, 2025)

AVCA West Region Honorable Mention (2024)

Big Sky All-Conference First Team (2024)

2x Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 21, Oct. 28, 2024)

Big Sky Conference Fall All-Academic Team (2024)

Big Sky Outstanding Freshman Award (2023)

Big Sky All-Academic Team (2023)

2025 (Junior at Ole Miss)

-Started and played in all 29 matches for the Rebels

-Led the team with 558.5 total points, 5.12 points per set, ranking third in the SEC and 15th in the NCAA

-Registered 488 kills (31st in the NCAA) on a .213 hitting percentage in her lone season with Ole Miss

-Logged 34 aces (sixth in the SEC) to lead Ole Miss and added 182 digs, 1.67 digs per set.

-Had 10 matches with 20+ kills and logged double-digit kills in 25 of 29 matches

-Registered five double-doubles, including a 19-kill and 14-dig outing against LSU on Nov. 2

-Had a career-high 28 kills against Alabama on Oct. 31

-Notched 22 kills, 10 digs and five aces against Texas on Oct. 24

Ava Sarafa, R-Jr., 6-0, Setter, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. – Kentucky

Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll (2024)

First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll (2023-24)

2025 (Redshirt Sophomore at Kentucky)
–Played in 27 matches and 80 sets for a Kentucky program that reached the final four in 2025
–Finished the season with 136 assists, 57 digs and 10 aces
–Logged 43 assists, 10 digs and six blocks against Nebraska on Aug. 31

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