Houston Outlaws
Beasley Media Group | |
Head coach | Park "Neko" Se-hyeon |
---|---|
Main sponsor | H-E-B |
Website | Official website |
Uniforms | |
The Houston Outlaws are an American professional
Founded in 2017, Houston Outlaws is one of the league's twelve founding members and is one of two professional Overwatch teams based in Texas (the other,
The Outlaws have qualified for the season playoffs twice in their existence and reached the Grand Finals once, in 2023.
On November 10, 2023, the Houston Outlaws officially announced that they would no longer be competing in the Overwatch League and instead shifting their focus to content and entertainment.[1][2]
Franchise history
Beginnings
On September 20, 2017, Blizzard Entertainment officially announced that American esports organization OpTic Gaming had acquired the Houston-based franchise of the Overwatch League.[3] Reports suggested that OpTic received an investment from Texas Rangers co-owner Neil Leibman to help fund the US$20 million franchise fee.[4] On October 31, 2017, the franchise revealed its name, the Houston Outlaws, as well as their full 10-man roster and coaching staff.[5][6]
Early years (2018–present)
On January 11, 2018, the Outlaws played their first regular season Overwatch League match, a 3–2 loss to the
The Outlaws made minimal roster additions entering the 2019 season, signing only damage player Dante "Danteh" Cruz.[12] Houston struggled throughout the first half of the season, winning only three of their first 14 matches, including a winless Stage 2.[13] After the All-Star break, the Outlaws rebounded, posting a 5–2 record in Stage 3, and qualified for the Stage 3 playoffs.[14] However, the team lost to the Vancouver Titans, 0–3, in the quarterfinals.[15] A 1–3 loss to the London Spitfire in Week 3 of Stage 4 officially eliminated the Outlaws from season playoff contention.[16] Despite the strong Stage 3, Houston ended the season in 16th place with a 9–19 record.[17]
In the middle of the 2019 season, the Outlaws changed ownership. On June 12, 2019,
Prior to the start of the
In the offseason preceding the
Team identity
On October 30, 2017, OpTic Gaming announced that the team Houston-based team would be called the Houston Outlaws. The organization chose the name "to honor the region's rebellious and fearless nature in the face of all challenges, channeling its history and fight for independence to create a name and identity that is as large-and-in-charge as its hometown."[37]
The design of the logo was a collaboration between OpTic Gaming and the Overwatch Development team.[38] It depicts two revolvers arranged in the shape of the classic Texan longhorn skull, with a star in between the horns. The two revolvers forming the skull "symbolizes the strength of the team and the city it represents," while the single star "represents the team's pride in being a part of the Lone Star State."[39]
The colors of the logo, green and black, symbolize the "Green Wall", the name of OpTic's esports fan base. "We're excited for the Houston Outlaws to join the Green Wall family," said Hector Rodriguez. "All of our fans live to compete—to be louder than everyone else and to deafen the competition with our skilled play and enthusiasm. The Houston Outlaws will continue our historical dominance in esports and introduce a new meaning of 'community' to our fans in Texas."[40][41]
Sponsors
In May 2018, the Outlaws, revealed their first partnership, a sponsorship agreement with telecommunications provider
Personnel
Current roster
Houston Outlaws roster | ||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||
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Legend:
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Latest roster transaction: October 9, 2023. |
Head coaches
Handle | Name | Seasons | Record | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TaiRong | Kim Tae-yeong | 2018–2019 | 33–37 (.471) | [6][21] | |
Harsha | Harsha Bandi | 2020–2021 | 17–20 (.459) | Co-head coach with Junkbuck in 2021. | [22][47] |
Junkbuck | Choi Jae-won | 2021–2022 | 27–13 (.675) | Co-head coach with Harsha in 2021. | [48] |
Neko | Park Se-hyeon | 2023-present | 13-3 (.813) | [49] |
Awards and records
Seasons overview
Season | P | W | L | W% | Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 40 | 22 | 18 | .550 | 5th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
2019 | 28 | 9 | 19 | .321 | 6th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
2020 | 21 | 6 | 15 | .286 | 7th, North America | Did not qualify |
2021 | 16 | 11 | 5 | .688 | 6th, West | Did not qualify |
2022 | 24 | 16 | 8 | .667 | 4th, West | Lost in Lower Final, 0–3 (Shock) |
2023 | 16 | 13 | 3 | .813 | 2nd, West | Lost in Grand Finals, 0–4 (Mayhem) |
Individual accomplishments
All-Star Game selections
- Muma (Austin Wilmot) – 2018
- Danteh (Dante Cruz) – 2019, 2020
- Hydration (João Pedro Goes Telles) – 2020
- Jecse (Lee Seung-soo) – 2020
Academy team
Founded on February 21, 2018, to compete in Overwatch Contenders North America, the Outlaws' academy team initially went under the moniker "OpTic Academy".[50]
On July 2, 2018, one day prior to Season Two starting, the team announced they would be rebranding themselves as "GG Esports Academy".[51] However, in October 2018, GG Esports Academy was removed from Overwatch Contenders for failing to submit a final roster by the roster deadline. The team submitted an extension request, but it was denied by Blizzard.[52]
Seasons overview
Year | Season | Region | OWC regular season | OWC playoffs | Interregional | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish[a] | Wins | Losses | Win % | ||||||
OpTic Academy | |||||||||
2018 | 1 | North America | 3rd | 3 | 2 | .600 | Semifinals | ||
GG Esports Academy | |||||||||
2018 | 2 | North America | 5th | 2 | 3 | .400 | None held | ||
Regular season record | 5 | 5 | .500 | ||||||
Playoff record | 1 | 1 | .500 |
- ^ Placements reflect standings in the team's respective group and not the entire region.
References
- ^ "Front Page". Houston Outlaws. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ^ "The future of Outlaws..." X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ^ Chen, James (20 September 2017). "Overwatch League Completes the Circuit". Red Bull. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- Houston Business Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Introducing the Houston Outlaws, the Official Overwatch League™ Team from OpTic Gaming". Business Wire. October 31, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ Rosen, Rick (January 11, 2018). "Overwatch League: Philadelphia Fusion vs Houston Outlaws Recap". Heavy. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "London Spitfire beats Houston, New York to win Overwatch League Stage 1 playoffs". ESPN. February 11, 2018.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ Erzberger, Tyler (July 3, 2018). "See you next season: Overwatch League send-offs". ESPN. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ "2019 Team Preview: Houston Outlaws". Overwatch League. January 9, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Buchholtz, Matt (May 10, 2019). "Looking Up: A Chat with Boink on the Outlaws' Difficult Season". Twin Galaxies. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ "Beasley Media Group purchases Houston Outlaws from Immortals Gaming Club". ESPN. November 14, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
- ^ Dot Esports. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Goslin, Austen (June 12, 2019). "Immortals Gaming acquires Infinite Esports parent company of OpTic Gaming and Houston Outlaws". Polygon. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- Sports Business Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- Venture Beat. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ Dot Esports. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ Dot Esports. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ Gschwind, Soe (January 15, 2020). "2020 Team Preview: Houston Outlaws". Overwatch League. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Dot Esports. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Czar, Michael (December 11, 2020). "Main support Joobi signs to the Houston Outlaws". Upcomer. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Amenabar, Teddy (March 1, 2021). "Jake, OWL's caster, player and (now) coach, on finding his future in esports". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- Houston Business Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ "Outlaws, Reign, Shock win in June Joust qualifiers". Reuters. May 30, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Collins, Sean (May 2, 2021). "Dallas Fuel smash San Francisco, Houston to qualify for May Melee with best Overwatch in franchise history". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ Collins, Sean (June 6, 2021). "Brief moments of focus have the Dallas Fuel heading back to Hawaii, chasing a second Overwatch League trophy". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ "Fuel take down Outlaws in Summer Showdown qualifying". Reuters. Field Level Media. July 9, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Gladiators sweep Outlaws in key Countdown Cup qualifier". Reuters. August 14, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ OpTic Gaming (October 31, 2017). "Introducing the Houston Outlaws, the official Overwatch League team from OpTic Gaming" (PDF). Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- Houston Business Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ Kennedy, Megan (November 1, 2017). "Houston Outlaws join Overwatch League's inaugural season". Click2Houston. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ Marshall, Cass (November 1, 2017). "The Houston Outlaws stake their claim in the Overwatch League". Heroes Never Die. Polygon. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ Ring, Oliver (November 1, 2017). "OpTic Gaming's Overwatch League team to be named Houston Outlaws". Esports Insider. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "Turtle Beach & Houston Outlaws Band Together | Turtle Beach Blog". 24 May 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ^ Hollingsworth, David (May 1, 2018). "OpTic Gaming extends partnership with Turtle Beach". Esports Insider. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ Fitch, Adam (March 27, 2019). "OpTic Gaming and Houston Outlaws add GameStop as video game retail partner". Esports Insider. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- Sports Business Journal. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Houston Outlaws [@Outlaws] (December 24, 2022). "Welcome @ow_neko as our Head Coach and @JunkBuckOW as Director of Competition!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Dot Esports. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ GG Esports Academy [@GGEAOverwatch] (July 2, 2018). "OpTic Academy is now GGEA" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 July 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Genova, Vincent (October 6, 2018). "OpTic Gaming's GGEA kicked out of OW Contenders after roster mishap". Dexerto. Retrieved March 17, 2019.