The Los Angeles Valiant needed just one more win to secure a spot in the season play-ins heading into the final weekend of the 2019 Overwatch League regular season. The conditions had been set, the Valiant were hosting the Kit-Kat Rivalry Weekend, and the games promised to be exciting.
The Valiant lost a close game in the 'Battle of LA' against the Gladiators with only one more opportunity to secure their spot. They would have to beat the San Francisco Shock - currently the best team in the league. It was the classic David vs. Goliath story and if the Valiant won, their self-proclaimed "Anime Ending" would become a reality. Unfortunately, all great stories eventually end, and while the Valiant didn't get the miracle ending they were hoping for, they proved a team could be resilient even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Clipped Wings
Going into the start of the 2019 Overwatch League season, fans were excited about the Los Angeles Valiant. They finished the inaugural 2018 season with the second best record, but lost in the playoffs to the eventual league champions - London Spitfire. The Valiant had a lot going for them heading into this new season and fans were hopeful about the team.
A lot of the team's strength lies in their DPS players, so the 3-3 meta made it difficult for the Valiant to adapt. LA ended stage one with a 0-7 record. They were at the bottom of the standings and their chances were already looking awful for the season playoffs. It would be an uphill battle going forward.
The second stage proved to be a little better for the Valiant. They seemed to understand the meta better, but still finished with a losing record of 3-4. They were now 3-11 halfway through the season. Their playoffs hopes were all but gone at this point unless a miracle happened.
Ascending To The Skies
Something changed in the Valiant when stage 3 came around. They lost their first match to the Shanghai Dragons but started winning the matches after. The meta was slowly shifting to what many referred to as "Sombra-Goats" - a variation of the 3-3 meta that was being played throughout the first two stages. It played to the strengths of the team a bit better and they used that to their advantage.
Now, the mind-set of the team completely changed. Part of it had to do with the shifting meta, but a bigger, more intangible part was at play. The team was confident in their abilities and had a leader they could rally around. Scott "Custa" Kennedy helped keep the Valiant's spirits alive even when their season was on the brink of collapse. Custa's veteran presence and cool demeanor set a standard for the Valiant team.
Even after the 0-7 start and a record of 3-11 halfway through the season, the Los Angeles Valiant never gave up. The highlight of the Valiant's season came halfway through stage 3. They beat the Vancouver Titans 3-1. It was the first regular season loss for the Titans at the time and helped write the narrative for the Valiant going forward. They had a chance to make a run for the top 12 and they were going to take it. Their stage three record was 5-2 and they were 8-13 going into the final stage of the season. Only seven more games were left for the Valiant.
A Valiant Effort
With a 4-1 record through the first four weeks of stage 4, the Valiant needed just one more victory to secure the 12th spot in the Overwatch League standings and a chance at the season play-ins. The Los Angeles Valiant were hosting the final weekend of the regular season - The Kit-Kat Rivalry Weekend. The crowd was electric and the party had begun. It was the perfect setting for the Valiant. Despite a hard fought battle, the Valiant lost to the Gladiators and fell short against the Shock. Their season was over.
The Los Angeles Valiant came up just short of continuing their miracle run through the 2019 Overwatch League season. It was a season of adversity and overcoming obstacles, where the team had to prove to themselves they were more than their record had indicated. The "Anime Ending" almost came true for the Valiant, but they walked away empty-handed. The Los Angeles Valiant have a lot going for them heading into the 2020 season, and if they can keep their mindset right, they are a scary team going forward.