2019 Washington Justice season

The 2019 Washington Justice season was the first season of Washington Justice's existence in the Overwatch League as one of eight expansion franchises added for the 2019 season. The Justice struggled throughout the first three stages of the season, posting a 2–19 record in the first 21 games. However, the Justice flourished after the League's implementation of an enforced 2-2-2 role lock for Stage 4, as the team lost only one match in their final seven games to finish the season in 17th place with an 8–20 record.

2019 Washington Justice season
Head coachKim Hyeong-seok
General managerAnalynn Dang
OwnerMark Ein
DivisionAtlantic
Results
Record8–20 (.286)
Place
Stage 1 PlayoffsDid not qualify
Stage 2 PlayoffsDid not qualify
Stage 3 PlayoffsDid not qualify
Season PlayoffsDid not qualify

Preceding offseason

On September 12, Washington announced the signing of former New York Excelsior coach Kim "WizardHyeong" Hyeong-seok as the team's head coach.[1] Eight days later, Washington signed Molly "AVALLA" Kim as an analyst; AVALLA is the first female coach to be signed in the history of the Overwatch League.[2] Justice announced its inaugural season starting roster between September and December, consisting of the following players:[3][4][5]

  • Song "Janus" Junhwa,
  • Kim "Sansam" Hyang-ki,
  • Ethan "Stratus" Yankel,
  • Corey "Corey" Nigra,
  • Chon "Ado" Gi-hyeon,
  • Moon "Gido" Gi-do,
  • Riley "Fahzix" Taylor, and
  • Cho "Hyeonu" Hyeon-woo.

Regular season

The Justice's first regular season match was against the New York Excelsior on February 16; Washington lost the series 1–3.[6] The team lost their first six matches of the season. Washington's final match of Stage 1 was against the Florida Mayhem on March 17; the Justice won 3–2, giving the franchise their first-ever win, and ended the stage with a 1–6 record.[7] The following day, the Justice acquired support player Hong "ArK" Yeon-jun from New York Excelsior.[8]

On April 19, in the middle of Stage 2, the Justice acquired support Nikola "Sleepy" Andrews from the San Francisco Shock.[9] In Stage 2, the Justice again lost their first six matches. Their final match of Stage 2 was against the Boston Uprising. Washing took a 3–2 win and finished Stage 2 with a 1–6 record.[10]

In Stage 3, week 2, the Justice faced the Hangzhou Spark on June 15. In the match, Washington was handed one of the most dominant map losses in the history of the Overwatch League on Hollywood, as the team only secured two eliminations in the entire map.[11] The Justice lost all seven of their matches in Stage 3.[12]

Prior to the start of Stage 4, which would include the implementation of an enforced 2-2-2 role lock by the League, the Justice signed tanks Elliot "ELLIVOTE" Vaneryd and Lukas "LullSiSH" Wiklund from the Dallas Fuel's academy team Team Envy.[13] The Justice's first match of Stage 4 was against the Toronto Defiant on July 26; Washington came out of the match with a 3–1 victory, ending their seven-game losing streak.[14] The following week, the team took on the league-leading Vancouver Titans. In a major upset, the Justice handed the Titans their first ever 0–4 loss and only their second loss in the entire regular season. DPS Corey "Corey" Nigra led the Justice throughout the match and broke the Overwatch League record for critical hit accuracy while playing as the hero Hanzo.[15] The team continued to thrive under the 2-2-2 rule, going undefeated in their first four matches of the stage.[16] The winning streak increased to five after defeating the Houston Outlaws on August 11.[17] The Justice's first loss of the stage was on August 16 against the Atlanta Reign.[18] The team's final match of the regular season was against the Paris Eternal two days later; Washington won 3–1.[19]

Final roster
2019 Washington Justice roster
PlayersCoaches
Role No. Handle Name Nationality
Damage 11 Corey Nigra, Corey United States
Damage 27 Stratus Yankel, Ethan United States
Damage 99 Ado Chon Gi-hyeon South Korea
Tank 33 Sansam Kim Hyang-ki South Korea
Tank 39 Janus Song Jun-hwa South Korea
Tank 15 LullSiSH (I) Wiklund, Lukas Sweden
Tank 28 ELLIVOTE (I) Vaneryd, Elliot Sweden
Support 0 sleepy Andrews, Nikola United States
Support 2 ArK Hong Yeon-jun South Korea
Support 13 Gido Moon Gi-do South Korea
Support 23 Hyeonu Cho Hyeon-woo South Korea
Head coach
  • Kim Hyeong-seok
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: August 12, 2019.

Transactions

Transactions of/for players on the roster during the 2019 regular season:

  • On March 18, Justice acquired Hong "ArK Yeon-jun from New York Excelsior.[20]
  • On April 19, Justice acquired Nikola "Sleepy" Andrews from San Francisco Shock.[9]
  • On July 14, Justice signed Elliot "ELLIVOTE" Vaneryd and Lukas "LullSiSH" Wiklund.[13]
  • On August 12, Justice released Riley "Fahzix" Taylor.[21]

Standings

Record by stage
StagePldWLPctMWMLMTMDPos
1 7 1 6 .143 9 20 1 -11 18
2 7 1 6 .143 8 21 0 -13 18
3 7 0 7 .000 2 22 4 -20 19
4[lower-alpha 1] 7 6 1 .857 20 9 1 +11 4
Overall 28 8 20 .286 39 72 6 -33 17
  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
2019 game log (Regular season record: 8–20)
Stage 1 (1–6)
1 February 16 Washington Justice 1 – 3 New York Excelsior Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Ilios 2
0 King's Row 1
1 Horizon Lunar Colony 0
1 Rialto 2
2 February 21 Washington Justice 2 – 3 London Spitfire Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 1
3 Numbani 2
2 Horizon Lunar Colony 4
2 Rialto 3
0 Nepal 2
3 February 28 Washington Justice 1 – 3 Philadelphia Fusion Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Ilios 1
1 Hollywood 2
3 Temple of Anubis 4
1 Route 66 3
4 March 02 San Francisco Shock 4 – 0 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Nepal 1
3 Numbani 2
2 Temple of Anubis 0
3 Route 66 1
5 March 09 Seoul Dynasty 3 – 1 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 0
4 Hollywood 3
3 Temple of Anubis 2
3 Dorado 4
6 March 16 Washington Justice 1 – 2 Paris Eternal Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Busan 2
3 King's Row 3
3 Volskaya Industries 2
2 Dorado 3
7 March 17 Washington Justice 3 – 2 Florida Mayhem Burbank, CA
   Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Nepal 1
3 Hollywood 2
4 Volskaya Industries 5
4 Dorado 5
2 Ilios 1

Stage 2 (1–6)
8 April 05 Washington Justice 1 – 3 Toronto Defiant Burbank, CA
5:45 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Lijang Tower 2
0 Hanamura 1
2 Eichenwalde 3
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
9 April 07 Washington Justice 1 – 3 Chengdu Hunters Burbank, CA
5:15 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
0 Oasis 2
1 Temple of Anubis 0
0 King's Row 1
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 4
10 April 11 New York Excelsior 4 – 0 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
5:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Lijiang Tower 0
3 Hanamura 2
3 Eichenwalde 1
3 Junkertown 2
11 April 14 Atlanta Reign 3 – 1 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
1:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 0
0 Paris 1
2 Eichenwalde 1
4 Rialto 3
12 April 19 Los Angeles Valiant 3 – 1 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
7:00 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Oasis 0
3 Temple of Anubis 4
3 King's Row 2
3 Rialto 0
13 May 03 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 1 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
8:30 pm PST    Recap Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 0
2 Paris 1
0 Blizzard World 1
2 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 1
14 May 05 Washington Justice 3 – 2 Boston Uprising Burbank, CA
1:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Lijiang Tower 2
0 Temple of Anubis 2
2 Blizzard World 1
4 Rialto 3
2 Busan 1

Stage 3 (0–7)
15 June 09 Washington Justice 0 – 3 Dallas Fuel Burbank, CA
3:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Oasis 2
4 Volskaya Industries 4
2 Eichenwalde 3
0 Havana 3
16 June 15 Washington Justice 0 – 3 Hangzhou Spark Burbank, CA
12:00 noon PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Ilios 2
1 Paris 1
0 Hollywood 3
0 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3
17 June 16 Washington Justice 0 – 4 Los Angeles Gladiators Burbank, CA
5:15 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Nepal 2
0 Horizon Lunar Colony 2
0 Numbani 1
1 Havana 3
18 June 22 London Spitfire 2 – 1 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
12:00 noon PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Nepal 2
2 Paris 2
4 Numbani 3
4 Dorado 3
19 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
20 July 06 Philadelphia Fusion 3 – 1 Washington Justice Atlanta, GA
10:15 am PST    Details Cobb Energy Center
1 Ilios 2
3 Horizon Lunar Colony 2
3 Hollywood 1
3 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 2
21 July 07 Washington Justice 0 – 4 Guangzhou Charge Atlanta, GA
11:00 am PST    Details Cobb Energy Center
1 Nepal 2
0 Volskaya Industries 2
0 Eichenwalde 3
2 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 3

Stage 4 (6–1)
22 July 26 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
4:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Busan 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
1 Blizzard World 2
2 Havana 3
23 August 01 Florida Mayhem 2 – 3 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
5:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
2 Busan 1
2 Volskaya Industries 0
1 King's Row 2
0 Havana 3
0 Ilios 2
24 August 04 Vancouver Titans 0 – 4 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
3:30 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
0 Ilios 2
1 Volskaya Industries 2
3 Hollywood 4
0 Havana 3
25 August 09 Boston Uprising 1 – 3 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
4:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Lijiang Tower 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
2 Blizzard World 1
1 Route 66 2
26 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
27 August 16 Washington Justice 1 – 2 Atlanta Reign Burbank, CA
4:00 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Busan 2
1 Hanamura 1
1 Hollywood 0
2 Junkertown 3
28 August 18 Paris Eternal 1 – 3 Washington Justice Burbank, CA
1:45 pm PST    Details Blizzard Arena
1 Ilios 2
1 Hanamura 2
6 King's Row 5
1 Junkertown 2

References
  1. Carpenter, Nicole (September 12, 2018). "Washington, D.C. Overwatch League team signs Janus, WizardHyeong". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  2. Carpenter, Nicole (September 20, 2018). "Washington, DC signs Overwatch League's first female coach". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  3. Carpenter, Nicole (September 12, 2018). "Washington, D.C. Overwatch League team signs Janus, WizardHyeong". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  4. Carpenter, Nicole (December 5, 2018). "Washington Justice signs three players to Overwatch League roster". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  5. "Overwatch: Washington Justice announce roster". ESPN. Reuters. December 6, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  6. Carpenter, Nicole (February 17, 2019). "Washington Justice shows spark of hope in tough opening loss to NYXL". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  7. Fossett, Wyatt (March 17, 2019). "Washington Justice Earn First Win in the Overwatch League". Twin Galaxies. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  8. Richardson, Liz (March 18, 2019). "Washington Justice acquires ArK from NYXL". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  9. Richardson, Liz (April 19, 2019). "Washington Justice acquire sleepy from San Francisco Shock". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  10. Richardson, Liz (May 6, 2019). "Washington Justice's Sleepy buys ice cream for his teammates after an Overwatch League win". Dot Esports. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  11. Buchholtz, Matt (June 16, 2019). "Washington Justice Held to Two Eliminations vs Hangzhou Spark". Twin Galaxies. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  12. Shelp, Malik (July 9, 2019). "Atlanta Reign's Homestand was as Good as the First". ESTNN. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  13. Richardson, Liz (July 14, 2019). "Washington Justice acquire ELLIVOTE and LullSiSH". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  14. Cooney, Bill (July 27, 2019). "Overwatch pro Logix pulls off insane bait and switch by changing heroes". Dexerto. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  15. Richardson, Liz (August 5, 2019). "How role lock caused huge upsets in the Overwatch League". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  16. Rand, Emily (August 10, 2019). "Justice unbeaten in 2-2-2 meta". ESPN. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  17. Arnold, Alex (August 16, 2019). "Washington Justice Preview: Stage 4, Week 4". The Game Haus. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  18. Colombi, Gabrielle (August 17, 2019). "Overwatch League: trionfano ancora una volta Reign e Shock mentre i Gladiators si arrestano contro gli Spark" [Overwatch League: Reign and Shock once again triumph while the Gladiators stop the Spark]. Powned.it (in Italian). Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  19. Salaun, Theo (August 18, 2019). "Overwatch League 2019 Stage 4, Week 4: Hangzhou Spark's Top Plays, Prize Money". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  20. Czar, Michael (March 18, 2019). "Ark traded from the New York Excelsior to the Washington Justice". Daily Esports. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  21. Richardson, Liz (August 12, 2019). "Washington Justice drops Fahzix". Dot Esports. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
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