- ← 2020
- Los Angeles Valiant
- 2022 →
The 2021 Los Angeles Valiant season was the fourth season of Los Angeles Valiant's existence in the Overwatch League.
Preceding offseason
Roster changes
The Valiant entered free agency with three free agents, two of which became free agents due to the Valiant not exercising the option to retain the player for another year.[1]
Acquisitions
The Valiant's first acquisition of the offseason was Adam "Adam" Soong, a rookie tank player coming from Overwatch Contenders Australia team Ground Zero Gaming who signed on November 19, 2020.[2] On December 9, they signed Brady "Agilities" Girardi, a veteran damage player who had played for the Valiant in 2018 and 2019 before signing with the Toronto Defiant in 2020.[3]
After releasing the entirety of their roster and staff in preparation for their move to China for the 2021 season, the Valiant announced their new roster on March 18, 2021. For their damage players, they signed Liao "Molanran" Yang, a "highly touted prospect" from Contenders, and Cai "Krystal" Shilong, a controversial player who had been forcibly removed from his prior two Overwatch League teams. Their tank signings consisted of Han "Sliver3" Haibo, Wen "NvM" Yelin, who had been retired for over three years, and Cheng "ShowCheng" Yu. For their support players, the Valiant signed Zhang "Highbee" Zening and Qi "Wya" Haomiao, another "highly touted prospect" at points in his career.[4]
Departures
None of the Spark's three free agents returned, two of which signed with other teams, beginning with damage player Damon "Apply" Conti, who signed with Overwatch Contenders team Revival on December 9, 2020.[5] On February 1, 2021, tank player Rick "Gig" Salazar signed with Contenders team We Want OWL.[6] The team's final free agent damage player Caleb "McGravy" McGarvey announced his retirement in the offseason.[7]
Outside of free agency, the Valiant's first departure was damage player Kyle "KSF" Frandanisa, who was transferred to the Houston Outlaws on December 7.[8] On February 2, 2021, the Valiant released all of its players and staff, citing visa issues, as they prepared compete from China instead of North America for the 2021 season. Players released included damage players Brady "Agilities" Girardi, Kai "Kai" Collins, and Johannes "Shax" Nielsen; tank players Adam "Adam" Soong and Song "Dreamer" Sang-lok; and support players Mun "Lastro" Jung-won and Park "Rain" Jae-ho.[9]
Regular season
May Melee
The Valiant began their 2021 season on April 17 with a loss to the Chengdu Hunters 1–3 in the May Melee qualifiers.[10] They were swept in their following match against the Philadelphia Fusion 0–3.[11]
Final roster
2021 Los Angeles Valiant roster |
Players | Coaches |
Role | No. | Handle | Name | Nationality | Damage | 1 | Molanran | Liao Yang | China | Damage | 7 | Krystal | Cai Shilong | China | Tank | 3 | Silver3 | Han Haibo | China | Tank | 20 | NvM | Wen Yelin | China | Tank | 18 | ShowCheng | Cheng Yu | China | Support | 22 | Highbee | Zhang Zening | China | Support | 11 | Wya | Qi Haomiao | China | | - Head coach
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Legend: - (I) Inactive
- (S) Suspended
- (2W) Two-way player
- Substitute
- Injury / Illness
| Latest roster transaction: 18 March 2021. |
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | PCT | MW | ML | MT | MD | Qualification |
1 | Shanghai Dragons | 16 | 12 | 4 | 20 | 0.750 | 38 | 19 | 2 | +19 | Advance to season playoffs |
2 | Chengdu Hunters | 16 | 11 | 5 | 15 | 0.688 | 38 | 22 | 2 | +16 |
3 | Seoul Dynasty | 16 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 0.750 | 40 | 22 | 0 | +18 | Advance to play-ins |
4 | Philadelphia Fusion | 16 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 0.625 | 37 | 24 | 3 | +13 |
5 | Hangzhou Spark | 16 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 0.438 | 32 | 31 | 0 | +1 |
6 | New York Excelsior | 16 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 0.438 | 29 | 32 | 0 | −3 | |
7 | Guangzhou Charge | 16 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 0.313 | 20 | 38 | 4 | −18 |
8 | Los Angeles Valiant | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0.000 | 2 | 48 | 1 | −46 |
Source: The Overwatch League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) winning percentage (including tournaments); 3) regular season wins; 4) regular season map differential
Game log
Regular season
2021 game log |
Qualifier match 1 | April 17 | Los Angeles Valiant | 1 | – | 3 | Chengdu Hunters | Online | | | 3:30 am PDT | Details | | | | | 0 | Lijiang Tower | 2 | | | | | 3 | King's Row | 2 | | | | | 0 | Havana | 3 | | | | | 1 | Volskaya Industries | 2 | | | Qualifier match 2 | April 18 | Philadelphia Fusion | 3 | – | 0 | Los Angeles Valiant | Online | | | 5:00 am PDT | Details | | | | | 2 | Busan | 1 | | | | | 3 | Eichenwalde | 2 | | | | | 3 | Watchpoint: Gibraltar | 2 | | | Qualifier match 3 | April 30 | Los Angeles Valiant | 0 | – | 3 | Guangzhou Charge | Online | | | 2:00 am PDT | Details | | | | | 1 | Ilios | 2 | | | | | 0 | Hanamura | 1 | | | | | 1 | Eichenwalde | 2 | | | Qualifier match 4 | May 01 | Seoul Dynasty | 3 | – | 0 | Los Angeles Valiant | Online | | | 2:00 am PDT | Details | | | | | 2 | Nepal | 0 | | | | | 2 | Temple of Anubis | 1 | | | | | 3 | Blizzard World | 1 | | | |
Qualifier match 1 | May 29 | Shanghai Dragons | 3 | – | 0 | Los Angeles Valiant | Online | | | 2:00 am PDT | Details | | | | | 2 | Busan | 0 | | | | | 3 | Rialto | 1 | | | | | 1 | Volskaya Industries | 1 | | | | | 1 | Numbani | 0 | | | Qualifier match 2 | May 30 | New York Excelsior | 3 | – | 0 | Los Angeles Valiant | Online | | | 2:00 am PDT | Details | | | | | 2 | Ilios | 0 | | | | | 1 | Dorado | 0 | | | | | 1 | Temple of Anubis | 0 | | | Qualifier match 3 | June 04 | Los Angeles Valiant | 0 | – | 3 | Hangzhou Spark | Hangzhou, CN | | | 5:00 am PDT | Details | Future Sci-Tech City | | Hosted by the Hangzhou Spark | | | 0 | Oasis | 2 | | | | | 0 | Hanamura | 2 | | | | | 1 | Hollywood | 2 | | | Qualifier match 4 | June 05 | Los Angeles Valiant | 1 | – | 3 | Philadelphia Fusion | Hangzhou, CN | | | 2:00 am PDT | Details | Future Sci-Tech City | | Hosted by the Hangzhou Spark | | | 0 | Nepal | 2 | | | | | 1 | Volskaya Industries | 2 | | | | | 1 | Numbani | 0 | | | | | 1 | Rialto | 2 | | | |
Qualifier match 1 | June 26 | Hangzhou Spark | 3 | – | 0 | Los Angeles Valiant | Online | | | 2:00 am PDT | Details | | | | | 2 | Lijiang Tower | 1 | | | | | 2 | Eichenwalde | 1 | | | | | 1 | Route 66 | 0 | | | Qualifier match 2 | June 27 | New York Excelsior | 3 | – | 0 | Los Angeles Valiant | Online | | | 5:00 am PDT | Details | | | | | 2 | Ilios | 0 | | | | | 3 | Hollywood | 0 | | | | | 3 | Watchpoint: Gibraltar | 1 | | | Qualifier match 3 | July 09 | Los Angeles Valiant | 0 | – | 3 | Shanghai Dragons | Shanghai, CN | | | 5:00 am PDT | Details | Jing'An Sports Center | | Hosted by the Shanghai Dragons | | | 1 | Nepal | 2 | | | | | 0 | Volskaya Industries | 1 | | | | | 2 | King's Row | 3 | | | Qualifier match 4 | July 10 | Los Angeles Valiant | 0 | – | 3 | Chengdu Hunters | Shanghai, CN | | | 3:30 am PDT | Details | Jing'An Sports Center | | Hosted by the Shanghai Dragons | | | 0 | Oasis | 2 | | | | | 1 | Temple of Anubis | 2 | | | | | 0 | Eichenwalde | 1 | | | |
Qualifier match 1 | July 31 | New York Excelsior | 3 | – | 0 | Los Angeles Valiant | Online | | | 3:30 am PDT | Details | | | | | 2 | Oasis | 1 | | | | | 3 | Blizzard World | 2 | | | | | 3 | Rialto | 1 | | | Qualifier match 2 | August 01 | Seoul Dynasty | 3 | – | 0 | Los Angeles Valiant | Online | | | 2:00 am PDT | Details | | | | | 2 | Ilios | 0 | | | | | 1 | Numbani | 0 | | | | | 3 | Havana | 2 | | | Qualifier match 3 | August 13 | Los Angeles Valiant | 0 | – | 3 | Guangzhou Charge | Online | | | 3:30 am PDT | Details | | | | | 1 | Nepal | 2 | | | | | 1 | Hanamura | 2 | | | | | 1 | King's Row | 2 | | | Qualifier match 4 | August 14 | Los Angeles Valiant | 0 | – | 3 | Chengdu Hunters | Online | | | 3:30 am PDT | Details | | | | | 0 | Lijiang Tower | 2 | | | | | 1 | Volskaya Industries | 2 | | | | | 0 | Numbani | 3 | | | |
2021 season schedule |
References
- ^ "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (November 19, 2020). "Los Angeles Valiant signs off-tank Adam". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (December 9, 2020). "Agilities returns to the Los Angeles Valiant". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ O'Dwyer, Samuel (March 18, 2021). "Los Angeles Valiant announces its roster for the 2021 season". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Revival [@TheRevivalGG] (December 9, 2020). "Revival Gauntlet 2020" (Tweet). Retrieved January 20, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ We Want OWL [@owl_want] (February 1, 2021). "Na Open division team roster!" (Tweet). Retrieved February 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Michael, Cale (February 3, 2021). "McGravy retires from competitive Overwatch". Dot Esports. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ Czar, Michael (December 7, 2020). "KSF traded, signs to the Houston Outlaws". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ Amenabar, Teddy (January 29, 2021). "OWL's L.A. Valiant releases entire roster, citing visa issues in relocation to China". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ Field Level Media (April 17, 2021). "Philadelphia Fusion open strong in Week 1 of Overwatch League". Gwinnett Prep Sports. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ O'Dwyer, Jack (April 19, 2021). "Overwatch League Week 1 Round-Up". MSN. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
Los Angeles Valiant |
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- Founded in 2017
- Based in Los Angeles, California
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