diff --git a/scripts/backfill_tournaments.py b/scripts/backfill_tournaments.py
index 107c984..b6afa51 100644
--- a/scripts/backfill_tournaments.py
+++ b/scripts/backfill_tournaments.py
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ ROOT = pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
 sys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT))
 sys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT.parent / "SHARED"))
 
+# Match start_bot.py/tss_ws.py: standalone scripts need to load TSSBOT/.env
+# before importing storage, because storage resolves STORAGE_VOL_PATH at import.
+try:
+    from dotenv import load_dotenv
+    load_dotenv(dotenv_path=ROOT / ".env")
+except Exception:
+    pass
+
 from BOT.storage import TSS_BATTLES_DB_PATH  # noqa: E402
 from BOT.tss_tournaments import init_tss_tournaments_db, scan_and_store  # noqa: E402