Atlanta Reign

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Atlanta Reign
The logo for Atlanta Reign displays a rising phoenix in a crest.
FoundedAugust 2, 2018
LeagueOverwatch League
RegionWest
Team historyAtlanta Reign
2018–present
Location1290 Collier Rd.
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.[1]
Colors     
OwnerAtlanta Esports Ventures
Head coachBrad "Sephy" Rajani
General managerPaul Hamilton
Affiliation(s)ATL Academy
Main sponsorCox Communications
WebsiteOfficial website
Uniforms
Atlanta Reign Jersey.svg

Atlanta Reign is an American professional Overwatch esports team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Reign compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region.

Founded in 2018, Atlanta Reign began play as one of eight OWL expansion teams in 2019 and became the first esports team to officially represent the city of Atlanta. The team will host homestands at the Coca-Cola Roxy in the Battery Atlanta at Truist Park and at another, undetermined location. The team is owned by Atlanta Esports Ventures, a joint venture between Cox Enterprises and Province, Inc., who also own ATL Academy, an academy team for the Reign that compete in Overwatch Contenders.

The Reign are coached by Brad "Sephy" Rajani, who has led the team to three consecutive season playoff appearances, as well as a Grand Finals appearance in 2021.

Franchise history[]

OWL expansion[]

On August 2, 2018, it was announced that Atlanta Esports Ventures, a partnership between Cox Enterprises and Province, Inc, purchased one of Activision Blizzard's expansion slots in the Overwatch League at an estimated $30 million to $60 million.[2][3] Activision Blizzard was expecting to sell Atlanta one of the expansion slots, as president and CEO of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues Pete Vlastlica noted, "We always had our eye on [Atlanta], from the beginning. It [was] just a matter of when."[2] With the purchase, the franchise became the first esports team to officially represent the city of Atlanta.[4]

On September 9, 2018, Atlanta announced the hiring of former San Francisco Shock head coach Brad "Sephy" Rajani as their head coach.[5] On October 28, 2018, the Reign announced their full roster, consisting of eight players. It did not include any player that had previously competed in the Overwatch League; instead, the team signed players from various Overwatch Contenders scenes.[6]

Early years: 2019–present[]

2019–2020 seasons: Back-to-back playoffs[]

The Reign's first ever regular season OWL match resulted in a 4–0 victory against Florida Mayhem on February 15.[7] Atlanta finished Stage 1 with a 4–3 record and secured a spot in the Stage 1 playoffs, but a 1–3 loss in the quarterfinals by the Philadelphia Fusion ended their playoff run.[8] Prior to Stage 2, multiple roster changes took place, including the retirement of Daniel "dafran" Francesca.[9] The Reign struggled throughout Stages 2 and 3, posting a combined 5–9 record and no stage playoff appearances. The team hit their stride in Stage 4, when the league implemented a 2-2-2 role lock. A 4–0 victory over the Boston Uprising on August 25 gave the Reign a perfect 7–0 record in Stage 4, a 16–12 record for the season, and the sixth seed in the season playoffs.[10] Atlanta's first playoff match resulted with a 4–3 victory over the San Francisco Shock on September 6.[11] However, the team fell 2–4 to the New York Excelsior the following match, sending them to the lower bracket.[12] A 0–4 loss to the Hangzhou Spark in the following match ended the Reign's playoff run.[13]

The Reign finished in the quarterfinals in each of the three midseason tournaments of their 2020 season.[14][15][16] After advancing through the North America play-ins to the season playoffs, Atlanta was eliminated from North America playoff bracket by the Florida Mayhem.[17]

2021 season: Grand Finals appearance[]

Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun was named the 2021 OWL Rookie of the Year.

After a mediocre 2020 season, the Reign elected to not re-sign all six of their free agents in the offseason, which included damage players Garrett "Saucy" Roland and Joon "Erster" Jeong, tank players Park "Pokpo" Hyun-jun and Nathan "frd" Goebel, and support players Dusttin "Dogman" Bowerman and Anthony "Fire" King.[18] Additionally, the team released damage player Hugo "SharP" Sahlberg.[19] Atlanta signed two players in the offseason: damage players Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun and Kai "Kai" Collins.[20][21]

In the first tournament cycle of the season, the May Melee, the Reign went 1–3 in the qualifiers, failing to advance the regional knockouts.[22] The team found success in the following tournament cycle, the June Joust; after going 3–1 in the qualifiers,[23] the Reign defeated the San Francisco Shock in the regional knockout finals to advance to the June Joust tournament.[24] However, the team lost in the in the lower bracket finals to the Shanghai Dragons by a 0–3 scoreline.[25] Atlanta found similar results in the Summer Showdown, defeating the Los Angeles Gladiators in the regional finals to advance to their second consecutive midseason tournament.[26] The Reign ultimately fell in the first round of the lower bracket in a 2–3 loss to the Dallas Fuel.[27] In the final tournament cycle, the Countdown Cup, the Reign qualified for their third consecutive tournament appearance. However, Reign rookie Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun suffered a collapsed lung prior to the tournament.[28] Atlanta fell in the tournament to the Chengdu Hunters by a score of 0–3.[29] The team finished the regular season with 11 wins, 5 losses, 13 league points, and the fifth seed in the season playoffs.[30] Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun was awarded the league's Rookie of the Year award and was an MVP candidate for the 2021 regular season.[31][32]

In the first round of the 2021 season playoffs, the Reign fell to the third-seeded Chengdu Hunters, 2–3, sending Atlanta to the lower bracket of the tournament.[33] Atlanta ran through the lower bracket, defeating the eighth-seeded Washington Justice, 3–0,[34] the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Gladiators, 3–2[35] the sixth-seeded San Francisco Shock, 3–1,[36] and the second-seeded Dallas Fuel, 3–1.[36] With a run through the lower bracket, the Reign advanced to the 2021 Overwatch League Grand Finals. In the finals, the Reign faced the top-seeded Shanghai Dragons; Atlanta was swept 0–4 in the matchup.[37]

Team identity[]

On October 23, 2018, Atlanta Esports Ventures announced that the team Atlanta-based team would be called the Atlanta Reign. "We are excited to finally unveil the Atlanta Reign,” said President and chief executive officer of Atlanta Esports Ventures Paul Hamilton, "We said from the beginning that we are building to compete. We chose a name that reflects that intention. We want to engage directly with Atlanta's passionate esports community and the city as a whole."[38][39]

The logo depicts a red phoenix inside a crest, with the rising phoenix representing Atlanta's city seal and new beginnings, as well as the team's name, representing "work ethic, reinvention, and excellence," especially that of the city of Atlanta. The official colors of the team are red, light gray, and charcoal gray.[39]

Personnel[]

Current roster[]

Atlanta Reign roster
Players Coaches
Role No. Handle Name Nationality
Damage  17 Kai  Collins, Kai   United Kingdom 
Damage  6 nero  Zwarg, Charlie   United States 
Damage  Venom  Lee Dong-keun  South Korea 
Tank  1 Gator  Scott, Blake   United States 
Tank  8 Hawk  Domecq, Xander   United States 
Support  Ojee  Han, Christian   United States 
Support  UltraViolet (I)  David, Benjamin   United States 
Head coach
  • Brad "Sephy" Rajani
Legend
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injury / Illness

Latest roster transaction: October 29, 2021.

Head coaches[]

Atlanta Reign head coaches
Handle Name From To Span Ref.
Sephy Brad Rajani October 17, 2018 – 3 years, 93 days [40]

Awards and records[]

Seasons overview[]

Season P W L W% Finish Playoffs
2019 28 16 12 .571 2nd, Atlantic Lost in Lower Round 2, 0–4 (Spark)
2020 21 10 11 .476 5th, North America Lost in NA Lower Round 2, 0–3 (Mayhem)
2021 16 11 5 .688 3rd, West Lost in Grand Finals, 0–4 (Dragons)

Individual accomplishments[]

Rookie of the Year

  • Pelican (Oh Se-hyun) – 2021

All-Star Game selections

  • Dogman (Dusttin Bowerman) – 2019, 2020

Academy team[]

Main article: ATL Academy

On November 23, 2018, the Atlanta Reign announced that unsponsored Overwatch Contenders team Last Night's Leftovers would be competing as Atlanta's academy team. The team, rebranded as ATL Academy, began play as an affiliate team in the North America region of Contenders in Season 3 of 2018.[41]

References[]

  1. ^ Jackson, Eric (October 22, 2019). "Cox Enterprises buys esports facility for $2.27M". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Soderstrom, Alex (August 2, 2018). "Cox Enterprises backing new Atlanta esports team". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Wolf, Jacob (July 28, 2018). "Overwatch League sells Atlanta spot to group funded by Cox". ESPN. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  4. ^ Reisigl, Joe (November 15, 2018). "Atlanta bought an Overwatch eSports team. Here's why you should care". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  5. ^ Radcliffe, Noam (September 10, 2018). "Atlanta Overwatch League Franchise Announces Coaches, Staff". DBLTAP. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Carpenter, Nicole. "Controversial streamer Dafran signed to Atlanta Reign Overwatch League roster". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  7. ^ August, Charlotte (February 16, 2019). "Overwatch Esports: Overwatch League Day 2 Recap". ESTNN. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  8. ^ Czar, Michael (March 23, 2019). "Overwatch League Stage 1 Playoff Recap: Fusion and Shock dominate". Daily Esports. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "Dafran retires from Overwatch, joins Reign stream team". ESPN. Reuters. March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  10. ^ "Reign cap perfect Stage 4, clinch top-six playoff spot". ESPN. Reuters. August 25, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  11. ^ Bennet, Connor (October 5, 2019). "Overwatch: Atlanta Reign win huge upset after SF Shock 'C9' at OWL Playoffs". Dexerto. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "Vancouver, New York reach OWL winners final". ESPN. Reuters. September 8, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  13. ^ Gemignani, Mike (September 13, 2019). "Overwatch League Playoff: Spark and Shock Advance". Hotspawn. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  14. ^ Field Level Media (May 24, 2020). "Top seeds all reach semifinals at May Melee America". Reuters. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  15. ^ Field Level Media (July 4, 2020). "Defiant upset Reign, reach OWL Summer Showdown semis". Reuters. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  16. ^ Field Level Media (August 8, 2020). "Shock, Fusion, Mayhem cruise at OWL Countdown Cup". Reuters. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  17. ^ Richardson, Liz (September 11, 2020). "Atlanta Reign, Los Angeles Valiant eliminated in latest Overwatch League playoff matches". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  18. ^ Alford, Aaron (October 22, 2020). "Atlanta Reign releases 6 players". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  19. ^ Richardson, Liz (February 10, 2021). "Atlanta Reign releases DPS SharP". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  20. ^ Castelot, Ophelie (November 13, 2020). "Overwatch League: Atlanta Reign Signs Pelican". ESTNN. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  21. ^ Richardson, Liz (February 11, 2021). "Atlanta Reign signs DPS Kai". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  22. ^ "Fuel, Dragons advance to OWL's May Melee final". Reuters. Field Level Media. May 8, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  23. ^ "Fuel, Reign secure spots in OWL's June Joust". Reuters. Field Level Media. June 6, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  24. ^ Richardson, Liz (June 7, 2021). "Here are the Overwatch League June Joust teams". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  25. ^ Alford, Aaron (September 24, 2021). "ATL Reign kills the king of NA Dallas Fuel to advance to OWL 2021 Grand Finals". Inven Global. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  26. ^ Richardson, Liz (July 12, 2021). "Here are the Overwatch League Summer Showdown teams". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  27. ^ "Chengdu Hunters upset Dallas Fuel in Summer Showdown". Reuters. Field Level Media. July 16, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  28. ^ Richardson, Liz (August 19, 2021). "Everything you need to know about the 2021 Overwatch League Countdown Cup tournament". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  29. ^ Qu, Bonnie (September 19, 2021). "Chengdu Hunters 'the most underrated team' in Overwatch League playoffs". Upcomer. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  30. ^ "Overwatch League 2021 Standings". Overwatch League. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  31. ^ Scharnagle, Jessica (September 21, 2021). "Pelican named 2021 Overwatch League Rookie of the Year". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  32. ^ Garcia, Ethan (August 13, 2021). "Fleta, Sp9rk1e among MVP candidates for 2021 Overwatch League season". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  33. ^ "Overwatch League playoffs recap: Day 1". Upcomer. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "Overwatch League 2021 playoffs recap: Day 2". Upcomer. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  35. ^ Richardson, Liz (September 24, 2021). "Chengdu Hunters, Los Angeles Gladiators eliminated from Overwatch League 2021 playoffs". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  36. ^ a b "Overwatch League 2021 playoffs recap: Day 4". Upcomer. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  37. ^ Parrish, Ash (September 27, 2021). "The Overwatch League grand finals were a storybook sendoff ahead of Overwatch 2". The Verge. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  38. ^ Mandel, Eric (October 23, 2018). "Cox Enterprises cites 'reinvention' in branding for Atlanta's new Overwatch League franchise". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  39. ^ a b Atlanta Esports Ventures (October 23, 2018). "Introducing the Atlanta Reign: Identity Unveiled for New Esports Franchise" (PDF). Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  40. ^ "Atlanta Esports Ventures Welcomes Coaches for Overwatch League Team". Atlanta Esports Ventures. September 10, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  41. ^ Rodriguez, Veronika (November 23, 2018). "Atlanta Reign Announces Overwatch League Academy Team". DBLTAP. Retrieved March 16, 2019.

External links[]

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