​DBLTAP – Can you tell me about your background in esports and Overwatch?





Brady "Agilities" Girardi – My background in esports is literally just Overwatch. I have played games like Call of Duty, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and League of Legends, but not at a professional level. I just played with my friends and I had no plans to go professional or pursue them in any way. With Overwatch, it was a little different, and that’s my only background in esports.





[Before joining Valiant,] I just played a lot of ranked. I was on an amateur team and then we got picked up by Immortals, which went to Valiant. I started out in Quick Play, but when ranked came out I grinded it, playing Gengi mainly, climbed the ladder, and then got to try out for a team.

DBLTAP – What is a normal day during the Overwatch League like for you?





Agilities – We have an 11AM call time, so by that time we have to be downstairs and ready to meet to go to the compound we practice at. Usually, I wake up around 30 minutes before and shower. At the facility we practice, scrim, and do some analysis of our team.





We try to practice to the best that we can. We learn what we’re doing wrong and what we are better at, and try to fix our mistakes from there. By the time that we are done with scrims, we have dinner, which, along with lunch, is provided by the Valiant, who have catering here. I get home around 6PM. I just stream for the rest of the night and go to sleep.

DBLTAP – What has it been like working with the Valiant coaching staff?





Agilities – We have a very good coaching staff. Dong-wook “Ooks” Kim focuses a lot on in-game stuff and stuff we can be better at. Henry “Cuddles” Coxall is the head coach and he helps us out with player motivation and helps us be prepared outside of the game, as well as inside.

Along with that, the Immortals have a very good policy on player health and care, which not a lot of other esport organizations have. They obviously hired the best people to help us with that.





DBLTAP – What do you believe are the keys to success for the Valiant this season as well as your own personal and team goals?





Agilities – I think our strength is the mechanical skill. On paper, we are probably one of the best rosters, if not the best roster, in the Overwatch League, just based on our names alone. I think we need to bring that mechanical skill into our teamwork, and once we do that I think we can be the best team in the Overwatch League.





My goal for the team is to work on our team synergy and communication, which we’ve had problems with in the past. I believe that once we work past that, we can become a better team in the future and stay a top team for more seasons to come.





My goal, individually, is just to improve and pick up on everything I can for the first season and carry it over to the next season.

Moving to LA today. I'm going to miss my family and my dogs, but I'm very excited for this great opportunity. pic.twitter.com/amdpf2ndka — Brady Girardi (@IMTAgilities) June 27, 2017

DBLTAP – Is there already a rivalry between the two Overwatch League teams in Los Angeles and why should we root for the Valiant?





Agilities – I think, by default, there is a rivalry because the two LA-based teams are the only two from the same city in the Overwatch League. While each team’s skill doesn’t really matter because there can be a rivalry regardless, but I do think we are a lot better than the [Los Angeles] Gladiators. Based on our preseason matches and roster in general, I believe we have a lot over them.

DBLTAP – At the beginning of the preseason, the Valiant were not in the top four teams that many believed could win the league, what do you have to say to anyone who is not confident in the Valiant’s ability to perform?





Agilities – I think a lot of people based their rankings on the tournaments before the Overwatch League, but this is a new game and we are more prepared this time. We are working on things that we weren’t working on before and just overall improving. I feel that people who are not highly ranking us don’t understand we are putting a lot more work in to become one of the greatest Overwatch League teams, if not the greatest.

DBLTAP – Do you view not being able to play in the pre-season as an advantage or setback?





Agilities – I think it is kind of an advantage because people don’t know how we play as a team with me because we haven’t played a tournament since August. However, it was upsetting not getting to play in the first ever games of the league, with the new stage and everything, which was not the best, but my team did well and I am happy with it.

First match today vs @SFShock, unfortunately I won't be playing at all during preseason because I'm still under 18 but i'm still very excited and will be cheering on my team! Hopefully I get to meet some of you guys there — Brady Girardi (@IMTAgilities) December 6, 2017

DBLTAP – What do you believes defines your playstyle and makes it so captivating?





Agilities – My playstyle, with Gengi at least, is very aggressive, which people don’t see a lot in competitive games. I push really far up and build my ultimate fast, which I often get comments on. I just think it comes down to having a very aggressive playstyle compared to other people.

HI JEFF FROM THE OVERWATCH TEAM! I CANT STOP CHEESIN'@IMTAgilities as cool as Canada.. as always. Why you gotta make me look bad?  pic.twitter.com/YCttHOeSor — Joshua (Mins) Kim (@dzMins) August 11, 2017

DBLTAP – What heroes have you been focusing on in preparation for the Overwatch League?





Agilities – During our scrims in the past month or so I have been trying to play other heroes besides Gengi. I have been practicing Solider, Junkrat, Pharah, and even McCree. I am trying to work on my hero pool in general, for when I have to play stuff that I am not used to. If I feel like I might have to play something in the future that I am not playing right now, I’ll practice that as well.





This interview has been edited for clarity.