2021 Los Angeles Valiant season

2021 Los Angeles Valiant season
2021 Los Angeles Valiant season
Head coach	Zhang "JpCat" Peng
Owner	Noah Whinston
Region	East
Results
Record	0–16 (.000)
Place	East: 8th; League: 20th;
May Melee	Did not qualify
June Joust	Did not qualify
Summer Showdown	Did not qualify
Countdown Cup	Did not qualify
Season Playoffs	Did not qualify
Total Earnings	$0
	← 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

Zhang "JpCat" Peng

Legend:

(I) Inactive
(S) Suspended
(2W) Two-way player
Substitute
Injury / Illness

Latest roster transaction: 18 March 2021.

Standings

Pos	Team v t e	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	Advance to season playoffs
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

May Melee

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

June Joust

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 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 Hangzhou Spark
		0	Nepal			2
		1	Volskaya Industries			2
		1	Numbani			0
		1	Rialto			2

Summer Showdown

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 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 Shanghai Dragons
		0	Oasis			2
		1	Temple of Anubis			2
		0	Eichenwalde			1

Countdown Cup

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.

[1] "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.

[2] Richardson, Liz (November 19, 2020). "Los Angeles Valiant signs off-tank Adam". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 20, 2021.

[3] Richardson, Liz (December 9, 2020). "Agilities returns to the Los Angeles Valiant". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 26, 2021.

[4] O'Dwyer, Samuel (March 18, 2021). "Los Angeles Valiant announces its roster for the 2021 season". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 18, 2021.

[5] Revival [@TheRevivalGG] (December 9, 2020). "Revival Gauntlet 2020" (Tweet). Retrieved January 20, 2021 – via Twitter.

[6] We Want OWL [@owl_want] (February 1, 2021). "Na Open division team roster!" (Tweet). Retrieved February 2, 2021 – via Twitter.

[7] Michael, Cale (February 3, 2021). "McGravy retires from competitive Overwatch". Dot Esports. Retrieved February 24, 2021.

[8] Czar, Michael (December 7, 2020). "KSF traded, signs to the Houston Outlaws". Daily Esports. Retrieved January 18, 2021.

[9] 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.

[10] Field Level Media (April 17, 2021). "Philadelphia Fusion open strong in Week 1 of Overwatch League". Gwinnett Prep Sports. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[11] O'Dwyer, Jack (April 19, 2021). "Overwatch League Week 1 Round-Up". MSN. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

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v t e Los Angeles Valiant
Founded in 2017 Based in Los Angeles, California
Franchise	Franchise Seasons Players
Arenas	The Novo
Parent group	Immortals Gaming Club
League affiliations	League Overwatch League Division Pacific West
Conference titles (1)	2018
Seasons	2018 2019 2020 2021
Category Commons