2019 Houston Outlaws season
Head coachTae-yeong Kim
General managerMatt Rodriguez
OwnerHector Rodriguez (until Jun 12)
Immortals Gaming Club
DivisionAtlantic
Results
Record9–19 (.321)
Place
Stage 1 PlayoffsDid not qualify
Stage 2 PlayoffsDid not qualify
Stage 3 PlayoffsQuarterfinals
Season PlayoffsDid not qualify
Total Earnings$25,000

The 2019 Houston Outlaws season was the second season of the Houston Outlaws's existence in the Overwatch League (OWL) and their second under head coach Tae-yeong Kim. After finishing 22–18 the previous season, the Outlaws were looking to improve on their record and qualify for the season playoffs for the first time.

The Outlaws began the season winning three of their matches in Stage 1. The stage was capped off by a 1–3 loss to the Atlanta Reign that prevented Houston from qualifying for the Stage 1 Playoffs. Houston performed poorly in Stage 2, as the team did not claim a single victory in their seven matches of the stage. After the All-Star break, the Outlaws hit their stride, posting a 5–2 record in Stage 3 and qualifying for the Stage 3 Playoffs. However, lost to the Vancouver Titans 0–3 in the quarterfinals. A 1–3 loss to the London Spitfire in Week 3 of Stage 4 officially eliminated the Outlaws from season playoff contention. Houston ended the season on a 5-game losing streak to finish the season with a disappointing 9–19 record.

Preceding offseason

Player re-signings

From August 1 to September 9, 2018, all Overwatch League teams that competed in the 2018 season could choose to extend their team's players' contracts. Outlaws elected to release three of its players, Russell "FCTFCTN" Campbell, Lucas "Mendokusaii" Håkansson, and Matthew "Clockwork" Dias; Mendokusaii and Clockwork were moved to non-player roles with the team.[1]

Free agency

All non-expansion teams could not enter the free agency period until October 8; they were able to sign members from their respective academy team and make trades until then. On September 18, Outlaws traded GG Esports Academy player Yoo "Smurf" Myeong-hwan to San Francisco Shock in exchange for Dante "Danteh" Cruz.[2]

Regular season

The Outlaws opened their 2019 season with a match against the new expansion franchise Toronto Defiant on February 15; the Outlaws lost 2–3.[3] Houston finished Stage 1 with a 3–4 record and did not qualify for the stage playoffs.[4]

In Stage 2, the Outlaws faced their in-state rivals, the Dallas Fuel. Houston, who had never lost to Dallas, lost the match 1–3.[5] The Outlaws ended the stage with a winless 0–7 record.[6]

In Stage 3, Houston found themselves in an eight-game losing streak; however, a win over the San Francisco Shock snapped both Houston's losing streak and San Francisco's eleven-game winning streak.[7] The Outlaws, who had a winless Stage 2, finished Stage 3 with a 5–2 record and secured a spot in the Stage 3 Playoffs.[8] The Outlaws faced the second-seeded Vancouver Titans in the Stage 3 Quarterfinals on July 11; Houston was unable secure a map win and lost the match 0–3.[9]

The Outlaws were officially eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to the London Spitfire on August 10.[10]

Sale of the franchise

On June 12, Immortals Gaming Club (IGC), the parent company of Immortals and Los Angeles Valiant, acquired Infinite Esports, the parent company of Houston Outlaws and OpTic Gaming, marking the first major sale of any Overwatch League franchise.[11] By OWL rules, one company may not own more than one OWL franchise. Both Riot Games and Activision Blizzard approved the sale, but IGC must operate Valiant and Outlaws as entirely separate entities, with oversight by OWL representatives, until IGC sell the Outlaws.[12]

Final roster

2019 Houston Outlaws roster
PlayersCoaches
Role No. Handle Name Nationality
Damage 6 Danteh Cruz, Dante United States
Damage 49 LiNkzr Masalin, Jiri Finland
Damage 57 ArHaN Jung Won-hyeop South Korea
Damage 76 JAKE Lyon, Jacob United States
Tank 7 SPREE Vanhomwegen, Alexandre Belgium
Tank 17 Muma Wilmot, Austin United States
Tank 69 Coolmatt Iorio, Matt United States
Support 1 Rawkus Flaherty, Shane United States
Support 3 Bani Benell, Christopher Canada
Support 13 Boink Pence, Daniel United States
Head coach
  • Kim Tae-yeong
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: September 18, 2018.

Standings

Record by stage

StagePldWLPctMWMLMTMDPos
1 7 3 4 .429 13 16 1 -3 12
2 7 0 7 .000 4 24 1 -20 20
3 7 5 2 .714 19 10 1 +9 7
4[lower-alpha 1] 7 1 6 .143 11 19 0 -8 16
Overall 28 9 19 .321 47 69 3 -22 16
  Qualified for playoffs •   Qualified for play-in tournament
  1. ↑ No stage playoffs were held for Stage 4.

League

Pos Div Team Pld W L PCT MW ML MT MD Qualification
1 PAC Vancouver Titans 28 25 3 0.893 89 28 0 +61 Advance to season playoffs (division leaders)
2 ATL New York Excelsior 28 22 6 0.786 78 38 3 +40
3 PAC San Francisco Shock 28 23 5 0.821 92 26 0 +66 Advance to season playoffs
4 PAC Hangzhou Spark 28 18 10 0.643 64 52 4 +12
5 PAC Los Angeles Gladiators 28 17 11 0.607 67 48 3 +19
6 ATL Atlanta Reign 28 16 12 0.571 69 50 1 +19
7 ATL London Spitfire 28 16 12 0.571 58 52 6 +6 Advance to play-ins
8 PAC Seoul Dynasty 28 15 13 0.536 64 50 3 +14
9 PAC Guangzhou Charge 28 15 13 0.536 61 57 1 +4
10 ATL Philadelphia Fusion 28 15 13 0.536 57 60 3 −3
11 PAC Shanghai Dragons 28 13 15 0.464 51 61 3 −10
12 PAC Chengdu Hunters 28 13 15 0.464 55 66 1 −11
13 PAC Los Angeles Valiant 28 12 16 0.429 56 61 4 −5
14 ATL Paris Eternal 28 11 17 0.393 46 67 3 −21
15 PAC Dallas Fuel 28 10 18 0.357 43 70 3 −27
16 ATL Houston Outlaws 28 9 19 0.321 47 69 3 −22
17 ATL Toronto Defiant 28 8 20 0.286 39 72 4 −33
18 ATL Washington Justice 28 8 20 0.286 39 72 6 −33
19 ATL Boston Uprising 28 8 20 0.286 41 78 2 −37
20 ATL Florida Mayhem 28 6 22 0.214 36 75 5 −39
Source: The Overwatch League
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) map differential; 3) head-to-head record; 4) head-to-head map differential

Game log

Regular season

2019 game log (Regular season record: 9–19)
Stage 1 (3–4)
1 February 15 Toronto Defiant 3 – 2 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
1 Nepal 2
4 Numbani 5
1 Volskaya Industries 0
2 Route 66 1
2 Busan 1
2 February 17 Houston Outlaws 2 – 3 Boston Uprising Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Nepal 0
2 Hollywood 3
3 Volskaya Industries 4
4 Dorado 3
1 Ilios 2
3 February 23 Houston Outlaws 3 – 1 Hangzhou Spark Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 0
5 King's Row 4
4 Temple of Anubis 3
0 Dorado 1
4 February 24 New York Excelsior 4 – 0 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Nepal 0
3 Hollywood 0
2 Temple of Anubis 0
2 Route 66 1
5 March 02 Florida Mayhem 1 – 3 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
1 Ilios 2
3 King's Row 5
3 Horizon Lunar Colony 4
2 Rialto 1
6 March 09 Los Angeles Valiant 1 – 2 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
1 Busan 2
3 Numbani 2
3 Volskaya Industries 3
0 Route 66 2
7 March 17 Houston Outlaws 1 – 3 Atlanta Reign Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
1 Ilios 2
2 King's Row 1
0 Horizon Lunar Colony 1
2 Rialto 3

Stage 2 (0–7)
8 April 13 Vancouver Titans 3 – 1 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
1:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Busan 2
1 Paris 0
2 Eichenwalde 1
1 Rialto 0
9 April 19 Philadelphia Fusion 4 – 0 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
5:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 1
3 Temple of Anubis 2
2 Eichenwalde 0
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 0
10 April 21 Houston Outlaws 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Burbank, CA
1:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Oasis 2
0 Temple of Anubis 0
0 Blizzard World 1
2 Junkertown 3
11 April 27 Houston Outlaws 0 – 4 Seoul Dynasty Allen, TX
1:10 pm PST    Recap Allen Event Center
1 Oasis 2
3 Paris 4
0 Blizzard World 3
3 Rialto 4
12 April 28 Houston Outlaws 1 – 3 Dallas Fuel Allen, TX
4:15 pm PST    Recap Allen Event Center
0 Lijiang Tower 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
2 King's Row 3
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 4
13 May 02 Guangzhou Charge 3 – 2 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
8:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 1
2 Hanamura 0
1 King's Row 2
2 Rialto 3
2 Busan 0
14 May 04 London Spitfire 4 – 0 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
12:00 noon PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 0
2 Hanamura 0
3 King's Row 2
2 Junkertown 0

Stage 3 (5–2)
15 June 07 Houston Outlaws 2 – 3 New York Excelsior Burbank, CA
7:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Ilios 1
0 Horizon Lunar Colony 1
4 Numbani 3
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 4
0 Oasis 2
16 June 13 Houston Outlaws 3 – 2 San Francisco Shock Burbank, CA
4:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Nepal 1
0 Horizon Lunar Colony 1
0 Eichenwalde 3
1 Havana 0
2 Ilios 0
17 June 14 Boston Uprising 0 – 4 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
7:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Nepal 2
1 Volskaya Industries 2
1 Numbani 2
0 Havana 1
18 June 20 Paris Eternal 1 – 3 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
5:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Oasis 2
2 Paris 4
2 Hollywood 1
1 Dorado 2
19 June 23 Houston Outlaws 1 – 3 Florida Mayhem Burbank, CA
3:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Ilios 0
2 Paris 3
2 Hollywood 3
2 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
20 June 28 Houston Outlaws 3 – 0 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
9:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Oasis 0
4 Volskaya Industries 4
3 Eichenwalde 2
1 Dorado 0
21 June 30 Houston Outlaws 3 – 1 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
3:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Oasis 2
3 Horizon Lunar Colony 2
2 Eichenwalde 1
3 Dorado 1

Stage 3 Playoffs
Quarterfinals July 11 Houston Outlaws 0 – 3 Vancouver Titans Burbank, CA
6:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Ilios 2
2 Eichenwalde 3
2 Volskaya Industries 3

Stage 4 (1–6)
22 July 25 Houston Outlaws 1 – 3 Paris Eternal Burbank, CA
4:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 0
0 Volskaya Industries 1
0 Blizzard World 3
2 Junkertown 3
23 July 27 Los Angeles Gladiators 1 – 3 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
3:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Busan 2
2 Hanamura 3
2 Hollywood 1
2 Havana 3
24 August 02 Houston Outlaws 1 – 3 Philadelphia Fusion Burbank, CA
5:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Ilios 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
1 Hollywood 2
3 Havana 6
25 August 04 Atlanta Reign 3 – 1 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
12:00 noon PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 0
2 Hanamura 3
1 Blizzard World 0
3 Route 66 2
26 August 10 Houston Outlaws 1 – 3 London Spitfire Burbank, CA
12:00 noon PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Lijiang Tower 2
3 Volskaya Industries 4
2 King's Row 3
1 Route 66 0
27 August 11 Washington Justice 3 – 2 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
1:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Lijiang Tower 2
2 Hanamura 1
1 King's Row 2
3 Route 66 2
2 Busan 1
28 August 17 Chengdu Hunters 3 – 2 Houston Outlaws Burbank, CA
5:15 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Ilios 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
2 Hollywood 1
2 Junkertown 3
2 Lijiang Tower 1

Awards

On May 8, Dante "Danteh" Cruz was named as a reserve for the 2019 Overwatch League All-Star Game.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Hangen, Christopher (September 14, 2018). "ESPN Stats & Info: OWL signing window analysis". ESPN. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  2. ↑ Esguerra, Lawrence (September 18, 2018). "Houston Outlaws acquire DPS player Danteh". Daily Esports. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  3. ↑ Custodio, Yuri (February 16, 2019). "Overwatch League's Toronto Defiant Debut in "Stellar" Fashion". ESTNN. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  4. ↑ Golden, Garrett (March 17, 2019). "Overwatch League Recap: Atlanta Reign vs Houston Outlaws". The Game Haus. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  5. ↑ Geracie, Nick (April 29, 2019). "HOU JAKE: "Dallas Fuel has finally become our rival now that they've managed to take a match off of us."". Inven Global. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  6. ↑ Joyce, Darby (May 4, 2019). "Overwatch League Recap: Houston Outlaws vs. London Spitfire". The Game Haus. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ Richardson, Liz (June 15, 2019). "How the Houston Outlaws beat the San Francisco Shock". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  8. ↑ Richardson, Liz (July 8, 2019). "Overwatch League stage 3 playoff bracket revealed". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  9. ↑ Linscott, Gillian (July 12, 2019). "Shanghai Dragons Break Through to the Semifinals". Hotspawn. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  10. ↑ Richardson, Liz (August 12, 2019). "Overwatch League season playoffs update: Stage 4, week 3". Dot Esports. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  11. ↑ Goslin, Austen (June 12, 2019). "Immortals Gaming acquires Infinite Esports parent company of OpTic Gaming and Houston Outlaws". Polygon. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  12. ↑ Hayward, Andrew (June 12, 2019). "Immortals GC Acquires OpTic Gaming and Houston Outlaws Parent, Infinite Esports & Entertainment". The Esports Observer. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  13. ↑ Chillerón, Lucas (May 8, 2019). "OWL All-Star event lineup finally complete with reserve players announced". Daily Esports. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
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