2020 Los Angeles Valiant season

Last updated
2020   Los Angeles Valiant season
Head coachMike Szklanny
Owner Noah Whinston
ConferencePacific
DivisionWest
RegionNorth America
Results
Record11–10 (.524)
Place
May Melee Semifinals
Summer Showdown Knockouts
Countdown Cup Quarterfinals
Season Playoffs NA Lower Round 2
Total Earnings$90,000

The 2020 Los Angeles Valiant season was the third season of Los Angeles Valiant's existence in the Overwatch League and their first full season under head coach Mike "Packing10" Szklanny. The Valiant planned host two homestand events in the 2020 season at The Novo, [1] but all homestand matches were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contents

On August 22, the Valiant clinched a spot in the season playoffs with a win over the Vancouver Titans. [2] In the first round of the North America bracket, Los Angeles defeated the Florida Mayhem by a score of 3–2. [3] The following day, the Valiant were swept by the Philadelphia Fusion in the second round of the upper bracket, sending them to the lower bracket. [4] A 1–3 loss to the Washington Justice in the subsequent round eliminated the Valiant from the playoffs. [5]

Preceding offseason

Organizational changes

After releasing head coach Moon Byung-chul the previous season, assistant coach Mike "Packing10" Szklanny was named the team's interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Packing10 was officially named the team's full-time head coach in early September 2019. [6] The following month, the Valiant added former Boston Uprising assistant coach Jordan "Gunba" Graham as an assistant coach. Gunba was an assistant coach for the Valiant in 2018. [7]

Roster changes

The Valiant enter the new season with no free agents, three players which they have the option to retain for another year, and five players under contract. [8] The OWL's deadline to exercise a team option is November 11, after which any players not retained will become a free agent. Free agency officially began on October 7. [9]

Acquisitions

The Valiant's first acquisitions of the offseason were announced on October 31, with the signings of main tank Song "Dreamer" Sang-lok from the Sydney Drop Bears, flex DPS Damon "Apply" Conti, support Owen "Slur" Warner from Samsung Morning Stars, and support Mun "Lastro" Jung-won from Skyfoxes. [10] On January 7, the Valiant revealed two more additions in main tank Rick "GiG" Salazar and support Park "RaiN" Jae-ho in a skit video for the team's new color scheme. [11] A week later, on January 16, the team announced the signing of damage player Kai "KSP" Collins. [12]

Departures

The Valiant made their first offseason moves on October 23, releasing DPS Brady "Agilities" Girardi, trading off-tank Indy "SPACE" Halpern to the Los Angeles Gladiators, and trading flex support Park "KariV" Young-seo to the Toronto Defiant. [13] In mid-November, Los Angeles announced that they had parted ways with main tank Russell "FCTFCTN" Campbell. [14] On December 12, support player Scott "Custa" Kennedy announced that he was retiring from professional Overwatch play to join the Overwatch League as an analyst. [15] Prior to the start of the season, Owen "Slur" Warner silently departed with the team after it was revealed that he had previously used a racial slur. He later changed his name to Provide to distance himself from his past. [16]

Roster

2020 Los Angeles Valiant roster
PlayersCoaches
RoleNo.HandleNameNationality
Damage 12ShaxNielsen, JohannesDenmark
Damage 23KSPCollins, KaiUnited Kingdom
Damage 27KSFFrandanisa, KyleUnited States
Damage 19ApplyConti, DamonUnited States
Tank 1DreamerSong Sang-lokSouth Korea
Tank 13McGravyMcGarvey, CalebUnited States
Tank 3GiGSalazar, RickUnited States
Support 9LastroMun Jung-wonSouth Korea
Support 77RaiNPark Jae-hoSouth Korea
Head coach
  • Mike "Packing10" Szklanny
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Emojione BW 1F503.svg Substitute
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: January 27, 2020.

Standings

PosConTeam
PldWBWLPCTMWMLMTMDQualification
1ATL Philadelphia Fusion 2119520.90559190+40Advance to playoffs
2PAC San Francisco Shock 2118730.85756172+39
3ATL Paris Eternal 2115460.71450310+19
4ATL Florida Mayhem 2114370.66748300+18
5PAC Los Angeles Valiant 21111100.524414100
6PAC Los Angeles Gladiators 21110100.52443395+4Advance to play-ins
7ATL Atlanta Reign 21100110.47643350+8
8PAC Dallas Fuel 2190120.42935440−9
9ATL Toronto Defiant 2171140.33332480−16
10ATL Houston Outlaws 2160150.28632503−18
11PAC Vancouver Titans 2160150.28623480−25
12ATL Washington Justice 2140170.19021541−33
13ATL Boston Uprising 2120190.09514614−47
Source: The Overwatch League
Rules for classification: 1) Wins plus bonus wins 2) winning percentage (excluding bonus wins); 3) map differential; 4) head-to-head record; 5) head-to-head map differential

Game log

Regular season

2020 game log (Regular season record: 11–10)
February–April: 2–6
1February 8Los Angeles Valiant3–1 Dallas Fuel Arlington, TX
4:00 pm PST     Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by the Dallas Fuel
1 Lijiang Tower 2
2 Blizzard World 1
4 Horizon Lunar Colony 3
3 Junkertown 2
2February 9Los Angeles Valiant0–3 Vancouver Titans Arlington, TX
2:00 pm PST     Esports Stadium Arlington
Hosted by the Dallas Fuel
0 Lijiang Tower 2
4 Blizzard World 5
2 Temple of Anubis 3
3March 28Los Angeles Valiant0–3 Seoul Dynasty Online
10:00 pm UTC    
4March 30Los Angeles Valiant3–1 San Francisco Shock Online
12:00 midnight UTC    
5April 05Los Angeles Valiant1–3 San Francisco Shock Online
12:00 midnight UTC    
6April 06Los Angeles Valiant2–3 Dallas Fuel Online
12:00 midnight UTC    
7April 17Los Angeles Valiant2–3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
1:00 am UTC    
8April 25Los Angeles Valiant0–3 San Francisco Shock Online
10:00 pm UTC    

May Melee qualifiers: 3–0
9May 02Los Angeles Valiant3–2 Atlanta Reign Online
9:00 pm UTC    
10May 10Los Angeles Valiant3–0 Boston Uprising Online
1:00 am UTC    
11May 17Los Angeles Valiant3–2 Toronto Defiant Online
11:00 pm UTC    

Summer Showdown qualifiers: 2–1
12June 14Los Angeles Valiant3–0 Washington Justice Online
11:00 pm UTC    
13June 21Los Angeles Valiant3–1 Florida Mayhem Online
9:00 pm UTC    
14June 28Los Angeles Valiant1–3 Paris Eternal Online
7:00 pm UTC    

Countdown Cup qualifiers: 2–2
15July 18Los Angeles Valiant0–3 Atlanta Reign Online
11:00 pm UTC    
16July 19Los Angeles Valiant3–0 Boston Uprising Online
10:00 pm UTC    
17July 31Los Angeles Valiant3–2 Houston Outlaws Online
9:00 pm UTC    
18August 02Los Angeles Valiant0–3 Philadelphia Fusion Online
11:00 pm UTC    

August: 2–1
19August 16Los Angeles Valiant3–2 Florida Mayhem Online
9:00 pm UTC    
20August 23Los Angeles Valiant2–3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
11:00 pm UTC    
21August 23Los Angeles Valiant3–0 Vancouver Titans Online
1:00 am UTC    

Midseason tournaments

2020 midseason tournaments game log
May Melee: 1–1
QuarterfinalsMay 24Los Angeles Valiant3–2 Paris Eternal Online
1:00 am UTC    
SemifinalsMay 24Los Angeles Valiant0–3 San Francisco Shock Online
7:00 pm UTC    

Summer Showdown: 0–1
KnockoutsJuly 03Los Angeles Valiant1–3 Toronto Defiant Online
11:00 pm UTC    

Countdown Cup: 1–1
KnockoutsAugust 07Los Angeles Valiant3–0 Houston Outlaws Online
9:00 pm UTC    
QuarterfinalsAugust 09Los Angeles Valiant1–3 Paris Eternal Online
1:00 am UTC    

Bonus wins awarded: 1

Postseason

2020 playoff game log
North America Bracket: 1–2
Upper Round 1September 05Los Angeles Valiant3–2 Florida Mayhem Online
9:00 pm UTC    
Upper Round 2September 06Los Angeles Valiant0–3 Philadelphia Fusion Online
11:00 pm UTC    
Lower Round 2September 11Los Angeles Valiant1–3 Washington Justice Online
9:00 pm UTC    

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Fuel</span> American professional esports team

Dallas Fuel is an American professional Overwatch team based in Dallas, Texas. The Fuel compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's East region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Valiant</span> American professional esports team

Los Angeles Valiant is an American professional Overwatch esports team representing the city of Los Angeles, California. Valiant compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2017, Los Angeles Valiant is one of twelve founding members of the OWL and one of two professional Overwatch teams based in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Spitfire</span> British professional esports team

London Spitfire is a professional Overwatch team representing the city of London, United Kingdom. The Spitfire compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2017, London Spitfire is one of the league's twelve founding members and is the only professional Overwatch team representing a European city. The team is owned by Jack Etienne and the esports organization Cloud9, who also own British Hurricane, an academy team for the Spitfire that competed in Overwatch Contenders (OWC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Reign</span> American professional esports team

Atlanta Reign was an American professional Overwatch esports team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The team competed in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2018 by Atlanta Esports Ventures, a joint venture between Cox Enterprises and Province, Inc., Atlanta Reign was established as one of the expansion teams for the OWL's 2019 season. They became the first esports team to officially represent the city of Atlanta. The team's ownership also extended to ATL Academy, a former academy team that competed in Overwatch Contenders, the developmental league for the Overwatch League.

The 2019 Dallas Fuel season was the second season of the Dallas Fuel's existence in the Overwatch League and was their first full season under head coach Aaron "Aero" Atkins. The team looked to improve on their disappointing 12–28 record from 2018, where they did not qualify for the season playoffs.

The 2019 Los Angeles Valiant season was the second season of Los Angeles Valiant's existence in the Overwatch League. The Valiant entered the season under head coach Moon Byung-chul as the defending Pacific Division champions and looked to improve from their 2018 season, when the team qualified for the playoffs but fell in the semifinals to the London Spitfire.

The 2019 Seoul Dynasty season was the second season of the Seoul Dynasty's existence in the Overwatch League and is the team's first under head coach Kim "KDG" Dong-gun. The team looked to improve on their 2018 season, when they posted a 22–18 record and missed out on the season playoffs.

The 2020 Atlanta Reign season was the second season of the Atlanta Reign's existence in the Overwatch League and the team's second under head coach Brad "Sephy" Rajani. Atlanta planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season, with the first at the Coca-Cola Roxy in late March and the second at a different, undetermined location in mid-June, but all homestand matches were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Boston Uprising season was the third season of Boston Uprising's existence in the Overwatch League and their first under head coach Vytis "Mineral" Lasaitis. Boston planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season at Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston, but all homestand matches were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Dallas Fuel season was the third season of the Dallas Fuel's existence in the Overwatch League. The Fuel planned to host a league-high five homestand weekends in the 2020 season at Esports Stadium Arlington, Toyota Music Factory, the Allen Event Center, and two more undetermined locations. While the first homestand at Esports Stadium Arlington took place, all other homestands were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Florida Mayhem season was the third season of the Florida Mayhem's existence in the Overwatch League and the team's first season under head coach Kim "KuKi" Dae-kuk. The Mayhem planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season at the Watsco Center at the University of Miami and the Full Sail Live Venue at Full Sail University, but all homestand matches were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Guangzhou Charge season was the second season of Guangzhou Charge's existence in the Overwatch League. The Charge planned to hold a league-high five homestands in the 2020 season; the firth three homestands were to be held at be held at the Foshan International Sports and Cultural Center, with the final two at Tianhe Gymnasium. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all homestand events were cancelled.

The 2020 Los Angeles Gladiators season was the third season of Los Angeles Gladiators's existence in the Overwatch League and their third season under head coach David "dpei" Pei. The Gladiators planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season, but all homestand matches were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Philadelphia Fusion season was the third season of the Philadelphia Fusion's existence in the Overwatch League and their first under head coach Kim "KDG" Dong-gun. The Fusion planned to host three homestand weekends in the 2020 season, with the first two taking place at The Met in Philadelphia and the third at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. While their first homestand weekend took place, all following homestand events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 San Francisco Shock season was the third season of the San Francisco Shock's existence in the Overwatch League and their second under head coach Park "Crusty" Dae-hee. The team entered the season as the defending Overwatch League champions, after winning the 2019 Grand Finals. The Shock planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley and the San Jose Civic in downtown San Jose, but both were cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Shanghai Dragons season was the third season of the Shanghai Dragons's existence in the Overwatch League and their first under head coach Moon Byung-chul. The Dragons planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season at XinYeFang Studio in Shanghai's Jing'an District. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the all homestand events were cancelled by the league.

The 2020 Toronto Defiant season was the second season of Toronto Defiant's existence in the Overwatch League. The Defiant were scheduled to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season at Roy Thomson Hall in the Toronto Entertainment District, but both were cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic as the league transitioned to online play. The team ended the season with a 7 wins, 1 bonus win, and 14 losses. The Defiant and were knocked out of postseason contention by the Los Angeles Gladiators in the North American Play-ins bracket.

The 2020 Washington Justice season was the second season of Washington Justice's existence in the Overwatch League. The Justice planned to host a league-high five homestand weekends in the 2020 season; the first three would take place at The Anthem, while the second two would be at the Entertainment and Sports Arena. While the first two homestands at took place, all other homestand events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ↑ Hurych, Amanda (August 27, 2019). "Dates and tickets announced for 2020 Los Angeles Valiant homestand at The Novo". AXS. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ Alford, Aaron (August 24, 2020). "Gladiators Take Battle for L.A. While Valiant Take Fifth Seed". Hotspawn. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ Field Level Media (September 6, 2020). "Trio of 5-map thrillers highlight wild day at OWL playoffs". Reuters. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  4. ↑ Richardson, Liz (September 6, 2020). "Paris Eternal, Los Angeles Gladiators eliminated from Overwatch League playoffs". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ Richardson, Liz (September 11, 2020). "Atlanta Reign, Los Angeles Valiant eliminated in latest Overwatch League playoff matches". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ Richardson, Liz (September 4, 2019). "Los Angeles Valiant promote Packing10 to head coach". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  7. ↑ Scrubasaurus (October 24, 2019). "Gunba returns to the Valiant's coaching staff". Over.gg. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  8. ↑ Morello, Matt (July 30, 2019). "2020 Team Needs and Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  9. ↑ Richardson, Liz (October 4, 2019). "Overwatch League reveals player contract status for entire league". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Valiant, Defiant, Justice make moves in Overwatch League". ESPN. Reuters. October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  11. ↑ Samples, Rachel (January 7, 2020). "Los Angeles Valiant confirm color change, officially welcome RaiN and GiG ahead of 2020 Overwatch League season". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  12. ↑ Richardson, Liz (January 15, 2020). "Los Angeles Valiant officially adds KSP to roster". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  13. ↑ Esguerra, Tyler (October 23, 2019). "Los Angeles Valiant release SPACE, Agilities, and KariV". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  14. ↑ Peres, Pedro (November 12, 2019). "Los Angeles Valiant release FCTFCTN". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Custa retires, will join Jake on OWL talent team". ESPN. Reuters. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Slur apologises for his past actions, confirms in his Twitter header that he is no longer with the LA Valiant and is now a free agent". Owen 'Slur' Warner. January 23, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.