G2 picks up Babybay as sub for Leaf to start VCT Americas Stage 2

The stage hasn’t even started yet, but G2 Esports might be starting off VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Americas Stage 2 with a bit of a step backwards. The defending Americas champions will be without their star player Nathan "leaf" Orf, who has not yet recovered from an undisclosed medical condition that has sidelined him for nearly a month.

G2 Confirms Leaf Will Miss Start of Stage 2

G2 officially announced that Leaf will miss at least the start of Stage 2, and in his place, they’ve signed veteran VALORANT pro Andrej "babybay" Francisty as a temporary substitute. He’ll step into the active roster for the first week of play—and potentially longer—depending on Leaf’s recovery.

For G2 fans, the news comes as a blow. Leaf has been a cornerstone of the roster since joining, known for his explosive playmaking and incredible defensive presence. Still, the rest of the starting lineup remains intact, meaning the team is far from out of contention. With star power and synergy still on their side, G2 will look to stay competitive as they navigate Leaf’s absence.

Leaf’s condition had already forced him to sit out the recent EWC VALORANT - Esports World Cup 2025, where G2 were forced to field their assistant coach Peter "shhhack" Belej in his place. Unfortunately, the results reflected the impact of losing such a key player. G2 were eliminated early—falling first to Karmine Corp, and then to Bilibili Gaming in the lower bracket of Group A.

Babybay Steps In as Emergency Substitute

Meanwhile, Babybay has not competed professionally since 2023, having transitioned to broadcast work in 2024. Back when he was playing for FaZe Clan, he was a duelist player who frequented Jett, Raze, and Neon. The 30-year-old has shown in the past that he can be an aggressive playmaker who can pop off when needed, but his addition does bring immediate tactical concerns, since G2 will be lacking their only sentinel player, and one of their strongest on-site defenders. Not to mention, Babybay will need to shake off plenty of rust after taking a year away from stage play.

Those adjustments will be put to the test right away. G2’s first opponent of the stage is none other than Sentinels, one of the strongest teams in the region and a fierce rival. Sentinels are entering Stage 2 at full strength, making this an especially tough debut for G2’s retooled lineup. Without Leaf, the pressure will be on the rest of the roster to step up, find chemistry with Babybay, and hold their own against one of the most dangerous squads in North America.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see how the new look lineup fares. The team hits the stage against Sentinels on July 20 in one of the most anticipated matchups of the opening week.

Stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG for all your VCT updates, match coverage, and more as Stage Two gets underway.