2021 Atlanta Reign season
Head coachBrad "Sephy" Rajani
General managerPaul Hamilton
OwnerAtlanta Esports Ventures
RegionWest
Results
Record11–5 (.688)
Place
May MeleeDid not qualify
June JoustLower finals
Summer ShowdownLower round 1
Countdown CupLower finals
Season PlayoffsGrand Finals
Total Earnings$790,000

The 2021 Atlanta Reign season was the Atlanta Reign's third season in the Overwatch League and the team's third under head coach Brad "Sephy" Rajani. The team qualified for three of the four midseason tournaments but fell short of reaching the finals each time. For the third consecutive season, the team qualified for the season playoffs. The Reign appeared in the 2021 Grand Finals, the franchise's first Grand Finals appearance, but lost to the Shanghai Dragons, 0–4. Rookie damage player Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun was named the league's Rookie of the Year.

Preceding offseason

Roster changes

The Reign entered the free agency with six free agents, four of which became free agents due to the Reign not exercising the option to retain the player for another year.[1]

Acquisitions

The Reign's first offseason acquisition was Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun, a damage player who had recently won Overwatch Contenders Korea with team O2 Blast, on November 13, 2020.[2] Atlanta did not sign another player until February; on February 11, 2021, they signed Kai "Kai" Collins, a damage player who had signed with the Los Angeles Valiant in late 2020 but was released after the team dropped all of their players.[3]

Departures

None of the Reign's free agents returned, three of which signing with other teams, beginning with damage player Jeong "Erster" Jun signing with the Shanghai Dragons on November 17, 2020.[4] The Reign lost two more players in Tank player Nathan "Frd" Goebel and support player Anthony "Fire" King, both of whom signed with the Vancouver Titans on December 1, 2020.[5] On January 4, 2021, support player Dusttin "Dogman" Bowerman announced his retirement.[6] Two other free agents, damage player Garrett "Saucy" Roland and tank player Park "Pokpo" Hyeon-jun, did not sign with another team in the 2021 offseason. Outside of their free agents, the team released damage player Hugo "SharP" Sahlberg on February 10, 2021, giving life to rumors that the team was looking to sign former Los Angeles Valiant damage player Kai "Kai" Collins.[7]

Regular season

The Reign began their 2021 season on April 17, playing against the Florida Mayhem in the May Melee qualifiers; they lost their opener 1–3.[8] Atlanta faced the Toronto Defiant the following day; despite starting the match with a 2–0 lead, the Reign lost the match 2–3.[9] The Reign found their first win of the season on April 29 with a 3–0 sweep over the Paris Eternal.[10] Atlanta's final match in the May Melee qualifiers was on May 1 against the San Francisco Shock. Needing a win to advance to the knockout round, Atlanta opened the match with a 1–0 lead, thanks in part to a strong performance by rookie damage player Se-hyun "Pelican" Oh playing as Mei. However, they lost three of the following four maps to lose the match 2–3.[11] The 1–3 record in the qualifiers failed to advance the Reign to the regional knockouts.[12]

The team found success in the following tournament cycle, the June Joust; after going 3–1 in the qualifiers,[13] the Reign defeated the San Francisco Shock in the regional knockout finals to advance to the June Joust tournament.[14] However, the team lost in the lower bracket finals to the Shanghai Dragons by a 0–3 scoreline.[15]

Atlanta found similar results in the Summer Showdown, defeating the Los Angeles Gladiators in the regional finals to advance to their second consecutive midseason tournament.[16] The Reign ultimately fell in the first round of the lower bracket in a 2–3 loss to the Dallas Fuel.[17]

In the final tournament cycle, the Countdown Cup, the Reign qualified for their third consecutive tournament appearance. However, Reign rookie Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun suffered a collapsed lung prior to the tournament.[18] Atlanta fell in the tournament to the Chengdu Hunters by a score of 0–3.[19] The team finished the regular season with 11 wins, 5 losses, 13 league points, and the fifth seed in the season playoffs.[20]

Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun was awarded the league's Rookie of the Year award and was an MVP candidate for the 2021 regular season.[21][22]

Playoffs

In the first round of the 2021 season playoffs, the Reign fell to the third-seeded Chengdu Hunters, 2–3, sending Atlanta to the lower bracket of the tournament.[23] Atlanta ran through the lower bracket, defeating the eighth-seeded Washington Justice, 3–0,[24] the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Gladiators, 3–2[25] the sixth-seeded San Francisco Shock, 3–1,[26] and the second-seeded Dallas Fuel, 3–1.[26] With a run through the lower bracket, the Reign advanced to the 2021 Overwatch League Grand Finals. In the finals, the Reign faced the top-seeded Shanghai Dragons; Atlanta was swept 0–4 in the matchup.[27]

Final roster

2021 Atlanta Reign roster
PlayersCoaches
Role No. Handle Name Nationality
Damage 7 Edison Kim Tae-hoon South Korea
Damage 75 Pelican Oh Se-hyun South Korea
Damage 17 Kai Collins, Kai United Kingdom
Tank 1 Gator Scott, Blake United States
Tank 8 Hawk Domecq, Xander United States
Support 20 Ir1s Kim Seung-hyun South Korea
Support 66 Masaa Kantanen, Petja Finland
Head coach
  • Brad "Sephy" Rajani
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: February 11, 2021.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W L Pts PCT MW ML MT MD Qualification
1 Dallas Fuel 16 11 5 17 0.688 40 26 3 +14 Advance to season playoffs
2 Los Angeles Gladiators 16 11 5 14 0.688 41 21 0 +20
3 Atlanta Reign 16 11 5 13 0.688 41 21 0 +20
4 San Francisco Shock 16 12 4 12 0.750 43 24 2 +19 Advance to play-ins
5 Houston Outlaws 16 11 5 11 0.688 34 24 3 +10
6 Washington Justice 16 9 7 9 0.563 29 26 2 +3
7 Toronto Defiant 16 9 7 9 0.563 31 31 0 0
8 Paris Eternal 16 8 8 8 0.500 32 32 2 0
9 Boston Uprising 16 7 9 7 0.438 27 31 1 −4
10 Florida Mayhem 16 5 11 6 0.313 26 38 2 −12
11 London Spitfire 16 1 15 1 0.063 12 47 1 −35
12 Vancouver Titans 16 1 15 1 0.063 10 45 0 −35
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 Atlanta Reign 1 – 3 Florida Mayhem Online
4:30 pm EDT    Details
1 Ilios 2
2 Eichenwalde 1
0 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 1
1 Hanamura 2
Qualifier match 2 April 18 Toronto Defiant 3 – 2 Atlanta Reign Online
6:00 pm EDT    Details
0 Nepal 2
2 Blizzard World 3
3 Dorado 2
2 Temple of Anubis 1
2 Busan 0
Qualifier match 3 April 29 Paris Eternal 0 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
3:00 pm EDT    Details
1 Busan 2
2 Hanamura 3
2 Eichenwalde 3
Qualifier match 4 May 01 San Francisco Shock 3 – 2 Atlanta Reign Online
6:00 pm EDT    Details
0 Oasis 2
3 Volskaya Industries 2
2 King's Row 3
3 Havana 0
2 Nepal 0

June Joust
Qualifier match 1 May 22 Houston Outlaws 1 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
4:30 pm EDT    Details
2 Ilios 0
1 Hollywood 3
2 Junkertown 3
0 Hanamura 2
Qualifier match 2 May 23 Atlanta Reign 3 – 0 London Spitfire Online
3:00 pm EDT    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 0
3 Eichenwalde 2
3 Dorado 1
Qualifier match 3 May 29 Atlanta Reign 1 – 3 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
6:00 pm EDT    Details
1 Busan 2
3 Rialto 4
1 Volskaya Industries 0
2 Numbani 3
Qualifier match 4 May 30 Vancouver Titans 0 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
4:30 pm EDT    Details
0 Nepal 2
0 Dorado 3
0 Temple of Anubis 2
Regional semifinals June 06 Boston Uprising 0 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
4:30 pm EDT    Details
0 Lijiang Tower 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
3 Numbani 5
Regional finals June 06 Atlanta Reign 3 – 0 San Francisco Shock Online
7:15 pm EDT    Details
2 Nepal 0
2 Hanamura 1
4 Hollywood 3
Tournament first round June 10 New York Excelsior 0 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
9:00 pm EDT    Details
0 Lijiang Tower 2
2 Temple of Anubis 4
3 Numbani 4
Upper finals June 11 Dallas Fuel 3 – 1 Atlanta Reign Online
9:00 pm EDT    Details
1 Nepal 2
3 Volskaya Industries 2
3 Numbani 2
2 Rialto 1
Lower finals June 12 Shanghai Dragons 3 – 0 Atlanta Reign Online
12:00 midnight EDT    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
3 Hanamura 2
4 Numbani 3

Summer Showdown
Qualifier match 1 July 02 Washington Justice 0 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
4:30 pm EDT    Details
1 Busan 2
0 Junkertown 1
2 Volskaya Industries 3
Qualifier match 2 July 04 Atlanta Reign 2 – 3 Dallas Fuel Online
3:00 pm EDT    Details
1 Nepal 2
3 Route 66 1
0 Temple of Anubis 2
3 Eichenwalde 2
0 Busan 2
Qualifier match 3 July 08 Atlanta Reign 3 – 0 London Spitfire Online
3:00 pm EDT    Details
2 Ilios 1
3 Volskaya Industries 2
1 King's Row 0
Qualifier match 4 July 10 Atlanta Reign 3 – 0 Boston Uprising Online
3:00 pm EDT    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 0
2 Hanamura 1
3 Hollywood 2
Regional finals July 11 Los Angeles Gladiators 2 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
7:50 pm EDT    Details
0 Lijiang Tower 2
1 Temple of Anubis 0
0 King's Row 1
1 Watchpoint: Gibraltar 0
1 Nepal 2
Tournament first round July 15 Atlanta Reign 0 – 3 Shanghai Dragons Online
11:00 pm EDT    Details
0 Nepal 2
1 Hanamura 2
0 King's Row 3
Lower round 1 July 16 Atlanta Reign 2 – 3 Dallas Fuel Online
11:15 pm EDT    Details
0 Lijiang Tower 2
2 Hanamura 1
5 King's Row 6
3 Route 66 2
1 Nepal 2

Countdown Cup
Qualifier match 1 July 31 Atlanta Reign 3 – 2 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
4:30 pm EDT    Details
2 Lijiang Tower 1
1 Blizzard World 2
3 Route 66 2
1 Temple of Anubis 2
2 Oasis 0
Qualifier match 2 August 01 Atlanta Reign 3 – 0 Houston Outlaws Online
3:00 pm EDT    Details
2 Nepal 1
3 King's Row 2
2 Rialto 1
Qualifier match 3 August 07 Florida Mayhem 2 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
4:30 pm EDT    Details
0 Oasis 2
3 Havana 2
2 Hanamura 0
1 Numbani 3
1 Nepal 2
Qualifier match 4 August 08 Atlanta Reign 3 – 1 Dallas Fuel Online
4:30 pm EDT    Details
2 Busan 0
4 Rialto 3
3 Temple of Anubis 4
3 Blizzard World 0
Regional finals August 15 Toronto Defiant 1 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
6:15 pm EDT    Details
1 Busan 2
3 Volskaya Industries 3
3 King's Row 5
1 Route 66 0
1 Oasis 2
Tournament first round August 19 Seoul Dynasty 1 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
9:00 pm EDT    Details
2 Busan 0
2 Hanamura 3
4 Numbani 5
1 Route 66 3
Upper finals August 20 Los Angeles Gladiators 3 – 0 Atlanta Reign Online
9:00 pm EDT    Details
2 Oasis 0
4 Hanamura 2
3 King's Row 0
Lower finals August 21 Atlanta Reign 0 – 3 Chengdu Hunters Online
12:00 midnight EDT    Details
1 Ilios 2
1 Hanamura 2
1 Blizzard World 2

2021 season schedule

Postseason

2021 playoff game log
Season Playoffs
Upper round 1 September 22 Atlanta Reign 2 – 3 Chengdu Hunters Online
1:30 am EDT    Details
2 Nepal 0
3 Temple of Anubis 4
4 King's Row 3
2 Dorado 3
0 Oasis 2
Lower round 1 September 22 Washington Justice 0 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
7:00 pm EDT    Details
0 Nepal 2
0 Temple of Anubis 2
1 King's Row 3
Lower round 2 September 23 Atlanta Reign 3 – 2 Los Angeles Gladiators Online
7:00 pm EDT    Details
0 Ilios 2
3 Hanamura 2
5 King's Row 4
1 Dorado 2
2 Nepal 0
Lower round 3 September 24 San Francisco Shock 1 – 3 Atlanta Reign Online
9:00 pm EDT    Details
2 Nepal 0
2 Hanamura 3
1 King's Row 3
2 Havana 3
Lower final September 24 Atlanta Reign 3 – 1 Dallas Fuel Online
10:30 pm EDT    Details
1 Lijiang Tower 2
2 Hanamura 1
4 King's Row 3
3 Dorado 2
Grand Finals September 25 Atlanta Reign 0 – 4 Shanghai Dragons Online
9:00 pm EDT    Details
0 Ilios 2
2 Hanamura 3
5 King's Row 6
2 Havana 3

References

  1. ↑ "2021 Player Contract Status". Overwatch League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  2. ↑ Castelot, Ophelie (November 13, 2020). "Overwatch League: Atlanta Reign Signs Pelican". ESTNN. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  3. ↑ Richardson, Liz (February 11, 2021). "Atlanta Reign signs DPS Kai". Dot Esports. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  4. ↑ O'Dwyer, Samuel (November 18, 2020). "Shanghai Dragons add Erster". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  5. ↑ Richardson, Liz (December 1, 2020). "Vancouver Titans adds LiNkzr, frd, and Fire". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ Boyce, Rhiannon (December 12, 2020). ""Dogman was the Imposter"- A Dog(man)'s Journey, Retirement and Next Steps". The Game Haus. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  7. ↑ Field Level Media (February 11, 2021). "Reign release DPS SharP". Reuters. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ Field Level Media (April 17, 2021). "SP9RK1E leads Fuel past Gladiators in Overwatch Week 1". Reuters. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  9. ↑ Waltzer, Noah; Field Level Media (April 18, 2021). "Houston upsets San Francisco, improves to 2-0 in wild Sunday". Gwinnet Prep Sports. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  10. ↑ Field Level Media (April 29, 2021). "Reign, Justice open Week 3 with victories". Reuters. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ Field Level Media (April 29, 2021). "Trio of teams set for May Melee with critical wins". Reuters. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Fuel, Dragons advance to OWL's May Melee final". Reuters. Field Level Media. May 8, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Fuel, Reign secure spots in OWL's June Joust". Reuters. Field Level Media. June 6, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  14. ↑ Richardson, Liz (June 7, 2021). "Here are the Overwatch League June Joust teams". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  15. ↑ Alford, Aaron (September 24, 2021). "ATL Reign kills the king of NA Dallas Fuel to advance to OWL 2021 Grand Finals". Inven Global. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  16. ↑ Richardson, Liz (July 12, 2021). "Here are the Overwatch League Summer Showdown teams". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Chengdu Hunters upset Dallas Fuel in Summer Showdown". Reuters. Field Level Media. July 16, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  18. ↑ Richardson, Liz (August 19, 2021). "Everything you need to know about the 2021 Overwatch League Countdown Cup tournament". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  19. ↑ Qu, Bonnie (September 19, 2021). "Chengdu Hunters 'the most underrated team' in Overwatch League playoffs". Upcomer. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Overwatch League 2021 Standings". Overwatch League. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  21. ↑ Scharnagle, Jessica (September 21, 2021). "Pelican named 2021 Overwatch League Rookie of the Year". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  22. ↑ Garcia, Ethan (August 13, 2021). "Fleta, Sp9rk1e among MVP candidates for 2021 Overwatch League season". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Overwatch League playoffs recap: Day 1". Upcomer. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Overwatch League 2021 playoffs recap: Day 2". Upcomer. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  25. ↑ Richardson, Liz (September 24, 2021). "Chengdu Hunters, Los Angeles Gladiators eliminated from Overwatch League 2021 playoffs". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Overwatch League 2021 playoffs recap: Day 4". Upcomer. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  27. ↑ Parrish, Ash (September 27, 2021). "The Overwatch League grand finals were a storybook sendoff ahead of Overwatch 2". The Verge. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
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