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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 |
Players | Coaches |
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
|
|
Legend: - (I) Inactive
- (S) Suspended
- (2W) Two-way player
Substitute Injury / Illness | Latest roster transaction: September 18, 2018. |
Standings
Record by stage
Stage | Pld | W | L | Pct | MW | ML | MT | MD | Pos |
|
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[a] | 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 |
- ^ No stage playoffs were held for Stage 4.
League
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) |
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 | | | |
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 | | | 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 | | | |
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 | | | |
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 | | | |
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
- ^ Hangen, Christopher (September 14, 2018). "ESPN Stats & Info: OWL signing window analysis". ESPN. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- ^ Esguerra, Lawrence (September 18, 2018). "Houston Outlaws acquire DPS player Danteh". Daily Esports. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
- ^ Custodio, Yuri (February 16, 2019). "Overwatch League's Toronto Defiant Debut in "Stellar" Fashion". ESTNN. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
- ^ Golden, Garrett (March 17, 2019). "Overwatch League Recap: Atlanta Reign vs Houston Outlaws". The Game Haus. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Joyce, Darby (May 4, 2019). "Overwatch League Recap: Houston Outlaws vs. London Spitfire". The Game Haus. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (June 15, 2019). "How the Houston Outlaws beat the San Francisco Shock". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (July 8, 2019). "Overwatch League stage 3 playoff bracket revealed". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ Linscott, Gillian (July 12, 2019). "Shanghai Dragons Break Through to the Semifinals". Hotspawn. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ Richardson, Liz (August 12, 2019). "Overwatch League season playoffs update: Stage 4, week 3". Dot Esports. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
- ^ Goslin, Austen (June 12, 2019). "Immortals Gaming acquires Infinite Esports parent company of OpTic Gaming and Houston Outlaws". Polygon. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ Hayward, Andrew (June 12, 2019). "Immortals GC Acquires OpTic Gaming and Houston Outlaws Parent, Infinite Esports & Entertainment". The Esports Observer. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ Chillerón, Lucas (May 8, 2019). "OWL All-Star event lineup finally complete with reserve players announced". Daily Esports. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
Houston Outlaws |
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- Founded in 2017
- Based in Houston, Texas
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Retired numbers | 76 |
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