2020 Washington Justice season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Han Seung-jun
| 2020 Washington Justice season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Seetoh Jian Qing (rel. Jun 5) Han Seung-jun |
| General manager | Analynn Dang |
| Owner | Mark Ein |
| Arena(s) | The Anthem |
| Conference | Atlantic |
| Division | South |
| Region | North America |
| Results | |
| Record | 4–17 (.190) |
| Place |
|
| May Melee | Knockouts |
| Summer Showdown | Quarterfinals |
| Countdown Cup | Knockouts |
| Season Playoffs | NA Lower Finals |
| Total Earnings | $255,000 |
The 2020 Washington Justice season was the second season of Washington Justice's existence in the Overwatch League. The Justice planned to host a league-high five homestand weekends in the 2020 season; the first three would take place at The Anthem, while the second two would be at the Entertainment and Sports Arena.[1] While the first two homestands at took place, all other homestand events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On June 5, the Justice parted ways with head coach Seetoh "JohnGalt" Jian Qing.[2] On June 17, Washington promoted assistant coach Han "Sup7eme" Seung-jun to head coach.[3] After finishing the regular season with a 4–17 record, the Justice swept both the Vancouver Titans and Dallas Fuel in the North America play-in tournament to qualify to the season playoffs.[4] In their first match in the North America bracket, Washington squandered an early 2–0 lead over the San Francisco Shock and lost by a score of 2–3, sending them to the lower bracket.[5] The following day, on September 6, the Justice swept the third-seeded Paris Eternal, 3–0.[6] Washington continued their playoff run, taking down the fourth-seeded Florida Mayhem on September 11 and needing one more win to qualify for the Grand Finals Bracket.[7] However, the team fell to the top-seeded Philadelphia Fusion the following day by a score of 0–3, ending their playoff run.[8]
Organizational changes
In late September 2019, the Justice parted ways with their entire coaching staff from their inaugural season, including head coach Kim "WizardHyeong" Hyeong-seok.[9] The team signed Seetoh "JohnGalt" Jian Qing, who was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Gladiators, as their new head coach in October.[10] Washington added two more coaches to their staff on November 8, with the hiring of former Hangzhou Spark assistant coach Han "Sup7eme" Seung-jun as a development coach and former XL2 Academy coach Lee "Wiz" Hae-joon as a strategic coach.[11][12] A month later, on December 5, the Justice signed former Houston Outlaws support player Chris "Bani" Banell as an assistant coach.[13]
Roster changes
| Role | Player | Contract status | Date signed | 2020 team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handle | Name | ||||
| Damage | Ado | Gi-Hyeon Chon | Free agent | – | – |
| Support | Ark | Yeon-Jun Hong | Free agent | October 31 | Washington Justice[14] |
| Support | Hyeonu | Hyeon-Woo Jo | Free agent | – | – |
| Tank | Janus | Joon-Hwa Song | Free agent | – | – |
| Tank | Sansam | Hyang-Gi Kim | Free agent | – | – |
| Support | Sleepy | Nikola Andrews | Free agent | – | – |
| |||||
The Justice enter the new season with six free agents, two players which they have the option to retain for another year, and three players under contract.[15] The OWL's deadline to exercise a team option is November 11, after which any players not retained will become a free agent. Free agency officially began on October 7.[16]
Acquisitions
The Justice's first offseason acquisition was on October 18, when they agreed to acquire main tank Gye "rOar" Chang-hoon from the Los Angeles Gladiators, pending approval from the league.[17] The team made their first signing on October 23 in flex DPS Lee "TTuba" Ho-sung.[18] On November 7, Washington signed former Boston Uprising flex support Kwon "AimGod" Min-seok.[19]
Departures
On October 7, the Justice announced that they would not re-sign free agents main tank Song "Janus" Joon-hwa, off-tank Kim "SanSam" Hyang-gi, DPS Chon "Ado" Gi-Hyeon, and support Jo "Hyeonu" Hyeon-woo.[20] Days later, they announced that they would not re-sign support Nikola "Sleepy" Andrews, and they would not exercise their option to retain flex support Mun "Gido" Gi-do.[21]
Roster
| 2020 Washington Justice roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend:
|
Latest roster transaction: September 1, 2020. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transactions
Transactions of/for players on the roster during the 2020 regular season:
- On May 8, DPS Corey "Corey" Nigra and DPS Ethan "Stratus" Yankel retired.[22][23]
- On May 16, the Justice signed DPS Lee "Stitch" Choong-hui and tank Choi "JJANU" Hyeon-woo on 14-day contracts.[24]
- On May 22, the Justice signed tank Choi "JJANU" Hyeon-woo to a long-term contract.[25]
- On June 1, the Justice signed DPS Lee "Stitch" Choong-hui to a long-term contract.[26]
- On June 4, the Justice released tank Elliot "ELLIVOTE" Vaneryd.[27]
- On August 12, the Justice signed DPS Jang "Decay" Gui-un.[28]
- On September 1, the Justice released tank Lukas "LullSiSH" Wiklund.[29]
