Listen to this Article

With the 2019 season of the Overwatch League is gearing up in just under a month, it’s about that time I start racking my brain on which team would likely come out on top. I usually compare a team’s previous stats with any changes made off-season, followed by a brief look at the other teams in their division. I’m not going to lie, it was a tough decision to make. There are a few teams that I kept leaning back and forth on as my team to champion. After a lot of thought and consideration, however, I decided that out of all the Overwatch League teams this year, the L.A. Valiant have the most promise. Here are a few reasons why they’re the team to look out for in 2019.

1. The Roster

One of biggest reasons the L.A. Valiant will play better this year is due to the change in their roster. As of January, the team has abandoned their 12 player roster for a smaller 9 player one. There were a lot of great players in Valiant last year, but let’s be honest. Cutting the fat off of their roster not only gives the team a more focused playstyle, but also allows more one-on-one time with each individual player in practice.

This is also beneficial for how they’ll be subbing during games. Before it was the case of just having multiple backups for every role, there’s not a lot of room for strategy with that kind of mentality. Now with fewer subs, the backup plan won’t work. This forces them to come up with more interesting ways to use their subs, which can only work in their favor.

2. The Coach

Despite there being many talented players, it all means nothing without a voice to lead them. Ever since stepping in, Byung Chul Moon has shown a remarkable skill of leading his team with surprising finesse. His ability to see the strength of every player and know where they can be most useful is one of the reasons why the Valiant have gotten where they are today. If it wasn’t for him, players like Agilities wouldn’t have been able to reach their full potential last season. Moon, along with the rest of the staff team, make up the perfect infrastructure for this team to thrive on for years to come.

3. Time To Develop

It’s no secret that the Valiant are still a fairly new team, debuting just over a year ago. They did amazingly well for their first season and finally found a system that works for them, but it was just too late to capitalize on that. They had the talent and the chemistry, all they needed was the experience to grow as a team. My guess is that the off-season has given them just that.

They were good before, but I think we’re going to see a more calculating team this time around. They’ll be able to keep their cool and work together on a level they never could previously. Now, this is all just speculation, but with how amazing their players and coaches are it’s hard to see my assumptions were far from the truth. I can guarantee a profound change from this team in the coming weeks.

The L.A. Valiant have a special place in my heart. They connect with their community in a way that I don’t see very often and have such a unique roster of players. The potential this team shows is proof that new teams can become the best if they work hard enough and genuinely want it. It’s been a long time since I’ve been invested in a team like this. Their story is so inspiring and hopefully, more teams will inspire to be like them. Nothing’s for certain, but if I had to bet my money, I’d bet the L.A. Valiants will win this whole thing.

For more on The Overwatch League, click here

For the latest in gaming and entertainment, be sure to like Gaming Historia on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can also support us via Patreon, which allows us to create better content for our audience.

Log in to use Ginger Limited mode hopeful ×

Log in to use Ginger Limited mode any changes made off-season ×