Fusion University

Fusion University (FU) was an American esports team for the video game Overwatch competing in Overwatch Contenders (OWC) and an academy team for the Philadelphia Fusion of the Overwatch League (OWL). The team is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and plays in the Europe region of OWC. Fusion has won four consecutive North America Contenders titles and most recently won the 2019 Atlantic Showdown. The team began competition in the North America region of OWC and moved to the Korea division in 2019. Prior to the 2020 season, Fusion University disbanded. They returned to competition for the Europe 2021 season.

Fusion University
Founded2018
Disbanded2021
LeagueOverwatch Contenders
ConferenceAtlantic
RegionEurope
Team historyFusion University
2018–present
ColorsOrange, black, white
     
OwnerComcast Spectacor
Affiliation(s)Philadelphia Fusion
Regional titles
  • 4
  • 2018 Season 1
  • 2018 Season 2
  • 2018 Season 3
  • 2019 Season 1
Interregional titles
  • 1
  • 2019 Atlantic Showdown

Franchise history

On January 29, 2018, the Philadelphia Fusion formally announced their academy team would be named Fusion University and begin competition in the North American region of Overwatch Contenders.[1]

In their first season of play, FU posted a perfect 5–0 record en route to qualify for the playoffs, where they capped off the season with victory over Toronto Esports to claim the 2018 Season 1 North America title.[2][3] Following the win, the team fell to the Contenders Europe Champions British Hurricane in the 2018 Atlantic Showdown by a score of 1–3.[4] The following season, Fusion University again posted perfect a 5–0 record in the group stages and defeated XL2 Academy in the 2018 Season 2 North America Grand Finals to win back-to-back regional titles.[5] For the third season of 2018, the team, again, did not drop a match and defeated ATL Academy in the North America Grand Finals, taking home their third regional title in three seasons.[6]

Fusion competed in the North America East region for season one of 2019. Going into their last match of the group stages, FU had a 6–0 record and was set to face Mayhem Academy; Mayhem won the match 3–1, snapping Fusion's 30-game win streak.[7] As the second seed, the team had a first-round bye for the first week of the playoffs, and went on to defeat Gladiators Legion in the finals to claim their fourth consecutive North America Contenders title.[8] As the North America champions, Fusion qualified for the 2019 Atlantic Showdown, an interregional double-elimination tournament. The team did not lose a single match, and dropped only one map throughout its entirety, to claim the title of Atlantic Contenders Champions.[9]

After winning the first Atlantic Showdown, Fusion University announced that they would be moving from the North American division to compete in Korean Trials; the move was reportedly made to abide by the new region lock rules, which were implemented in 2019 Season 1, though FU was given a season-long grace period.[10] The team qualified for Korea Contenders, but they struggled in the group stages, posting a meager 3–4 record. FU qualified for the Korea regional playoffs, but they fell in the quarterfinals to RunAway.[11]

In December 2019, T1, who is also owned by Comcast Spectacor, became the Philadelphia Fusion's academy team and took Fusion University's spot in Contenders Korea.[12]

In May 2021, Fusion University announced that it was returning to Overwatch Contenders as the second academy team for the Philadelphia Fusion.[13] The team competed in the Europe division during the June 2021 tournament, placing 4th in the tournament after losing to British Hurricane 3–1 on June 17. The team disbanded after the tournament ended.[14]

Seasons overview
Year Season Region OWC regular season Regional playoffs Interregional events
Finish Wins Losses Win %
Fusion University
20181North America1st501.000WinnersAtlantic Showdown – Runners-up
2North America1st501.000WinnersNone held
3North America1st501.000Winners
20191North America East2nd61.857WinnersAtlantic Showdown – Winners
2Korea5th34.429QuarterfinalsThe Gauntlet – Did not qualify

OWL buyouts and promotions

All Overwatch Contenders players are eligible to be promoted by their affiliated Overwatch League team or signed to any other Overwatch League during specified non-blackout periods.[15]

2018
  • Support Elijah "Elk" Gallagher was promoted to Philadelphia Fusion on September 25 while still remaining a member of Fusion University on a two-way contract.[16]
  • DPS Zachary "ZachaREEE" Lombardo was signed by Dallas Fuel on December 3.[17]

2019

References
  1. "Philadelphia Fusion Reveal Fusion University Contenders Roster". Dexerto. January 30, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  2. O'Brien, Joe (May 14, 2018). "Fusion University Wins Overwatch Contenders NA Season One - Final Placements". Dexerto. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018.
  3. Meyer, Guilherme (May 14, 2018). "In Case you Missed Anything: Esports Weekend + Monday News Recap". Inven Global. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  4. Scott-Jones, Richard (May 15, 2018). "British Hurricane are Overwatch Contenders Atlantic champions". PCGamesN. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  5. Wing, Robert (October 9, 2018). "Fusion University, the Lanimals". The Overwatch League. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  6. Neylan, Adam (January 25, 2019). "Elijah 'Elk' Gallagher on his path to pro and joining the Overwatch League". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  7. Amos, Andrew (April 15, 2019). "Fusion University lose their first Contenders match against Mayhem Academy". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  8. Feng, Evie (May 6, 2019). "Fusion University extends reign as 4-time Contenders Champions". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  9. Jing Hao-liang (June 5, 2019). "Takeaways from the 2019 Overwatch Atlantic Showdown". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  10. Richardson, Liz (June 2, 2019). "Fusion University moving from North American Contenders to Korean Trials". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  11. Jing Hao Liang (September 10, 2019). "A year in review for the Fusion". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  12. O'Dwyer, Samuel (December 3, 2019). "T1 joins Overwatch Contenders Korea for the 2020 season". Dot Esports. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  13. Czarnowski, Michael (May 23, 2021). "Fusion University return, joining EU Contenders Trials with Fusion players". Upcomer. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  14. Fusion University [@FusionUni] (June 17, 2021). "Thanks for all the hospitality @owpathtopro but we'll be bowing out now" (Tweet). Retrieved December 17, 2021 – via Twitter.
  15. Olmstead, Sydney (June 14, 2018). "Blizzard Reveals Information About Overwatch League Offseason". VGR. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  16. O'Brien, Joe (September 27, 2018). "Overwatch League Season One runners-up Philadelphia Fusion make first roster addition". Dexerto. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  17. Carpenter, Nicole (December 4, 2018). "Dallas Fuel signs 17-year-old ZachaREEE to flex DPS role". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  18. "Fusion, Fuel, Defiant and more make Overwatch League roster moves". ESPN. Reuters. October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  19. Field Level Media (October 30, 2019). "It's official: Defiant acquire Beasthalo". Gwinnett Prep Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  20. Richardson, Liz (December 4, 2019). "Whoru joins the New York Excelsior". Dot Esports. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
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