2021 Philadelphia Fusion season explained

Team:Philadelphia Fusion
Year:2021
Region:East
Record:10–6
Region Place:4th
League Place:10th
Coach:Kim "NineK" Bum-hoon
Owner:Comcast Spectacor
Tournament1name:May Melee
T1playoffs:Regional finals
Tournament2name:June Joust
T2playoffs:Did not qualify
Tournament3name:Summer Showdown
T3playoffs:Did not qualify
Tournament4name:Countdown Cup
T4playoffs:Regional finals
Playoffs:Lower round 1
Earnings:$50,000

The 2021 Philadelphia Fusion season will be the fourth season of the Philadelphia Fusion's existence in the Overwatch League and their first under head coach Kim "NineK" Bum-hoon.

Preceding offseason

Roster changes

Free agents
PositionHandleName2021 teamDate signedNotes
SupportBoomboxIsaac CharlesYoung and Beautiful (OWC)March 10[1]
DamageChipsaPhilip GrahamOption declined
DamageEqoJosue CoronaPhiladelphia FusionNovember 18[2] Option declined
TankFuryKim Jun-hoWashington JusticeNovember 21[3]
DamageIvyLee Seung-hyunNew York ExcelsiorDecember 22[4]
TankPokoGael GouzerchPhiladelphia FusionNovember 17Option declined
TankSadoKim Su-minToronto DefiantNovember 21[5] Option declined
Legend
  • Light green background indicates a player was re-signed by the Fusion.
  • Light red background indicates a player departed from the Fusion.
  • The Fusion entered free agency with seven free agents, four of which became free agents due to the team not exercising the option to retain the player for another year.[6]

    Acquisitions

    The Fusion's first offseason acquisition was Kim "Mano" Dong-gyu, a veteran tank player coming from the New York Excelsior who signed on November 2, 2020. The Fusion next signed Niclas "Shockwave" Jensen, a second-year damage playing who played for the Vancouver Titans in mid-2020, on November 23.[7] Philadelphia did not pick up another player until 2021; on March 15, they signed Kim "Rascal" Dong-jun, a veteran damage player coming off back-to-back Grand Finals championships with the San Francisco Shock.[8] The Fusion next signed Choi "Hotba" Hong-jun, a tank player from the Excelsior who was a part of the Fusion's 2018 Grand Finals team, on April 7.[9] One day later, they signed Yang "Tobi" Jin-mo, a veteran support player coming off a Grand Finals appearance with the Seoul Dynasty in 2020.[10]

    Departures

    Five of the Fusion's seven free agents did not return, four of which signed with other teams, beginning with tank players Kim "Fury" Jun-ho and Kim "Sado" Su-min, who signed with the Washington Justice and Toronto Defiant, respectively, on November 21, 2020. The Fusion lost damage player Lee "Ivy" Seung-hyun on December 22 after he signed with the New York Excelsior. Support player Isaac "Boombox" Charles signed with Overwatch Contenders team Young and Beautiful on March 10, 2021. The Fusion's final free agent, damage player Philip "Chipsa" Graham did not sign with a team in the offseason. Outside of free agency, the Fusion transferred damage player Jeong "Heesu" Hee-su to the Toronto Defiant on November 23, 2020.[11]

    Regular season

    May Melee

    The Fusion began their 2021 season on April 17, with a 3–1 win over the Seoul Dynasty in the May Melee qualifiers.[12] In their following match, they swept the Los Angeles Valiant 3–0.[13]

    Game log

    Regular season

    |2021 season schedule

    Postseason

    Notes and References

    1. YaB_OW . Young and Beautiful . 1369724744208154632 . Here are the players that will be representing Young and Beautiful in EU Contenders this 2021 season . March 10, 2021 . March 10, 2021.
    2. News: Searl . Nate . Eqo and Poko rejoin the Philadelphia Fusion for the 2021 OWL Season . January 24, 2021 . Daily Esports . November 18, 2020.
    3. News: Michael . Cale . Washington Justice signs Fury . January 24, 2021 . Dot Esports . November 21, 2020.
    4. News: Alford . Aaron . NYXL Complete 2021 Lineup . January 21, 2021 . Hotspawn . December 23, 2020.
    5. News: Czar . Michael . Sado signed by the Toronto Defiant . January 24, 2021 . Daily Esports . November 21, 2020.
    6. News: 2021 Player Contract Status . April 21, 2021 . Overwatch League . October 21, 2020.
    7. News: Richardson . Liz . Philadelphia Fusion signs DPS sHockWave . January 24, 2021 . Dot Esports . November 23, 2020.
    8. News: Richardson . Liz . Rascal joins the Philadelphia Fusion . March 15, 2021 . Dot Esports . March 15, 2021.
    9. News: Richardson . Liz . HOTBA returns to Philadelphia Fusion . April 7, 2021 . Dot Esports . April 7, 2021.
    10. News: Field Level Media . Fusion add tobi to Overwatch League roster . April 8, 2021 . Reuters . April 8, 2021.
    11. News: Richardson . Liz . Toronto Defiant acquires former Fusion DPS Heesu . January 24, 2021 . Dot Esports . November 23, 2020.
    12. News: Field Level Media . Philadelphia Fusion open strong in Week 1 of Overwatch League . April 20, 2021 . Gwinnett Prep Sports . April 17, 2021.
    13. News: O'Dwyer . Jack . Overwatch League Week 1 Round-Up . April 19, 2021 . MSN . April 19, 2021.