Uprising Academy Explained
| Uprising Academy |
| Founded: | 2016 |
| League: | Overwatch Contenders |
| Division: | America |
| Region: | North America |
| History: | Toronto Esports
2016–2018
Uprising Academy
2018–present |
| City: | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Colors: | Blue, yellow, white
|
| Owner: | Robert Kraft |
| Coach: | Amir "Amir" Ahmed |
| Affiliations: | Boston Uprising |
Uprising Academy is an American esports team for the video game Overwatch competing in Overwatch Contenders (OWC) and an academy team for the Boston Uprising of the Overwatch League (OWL). The franchise played its first four seasons as Toronto Esports; shortly after being purchased by the Kraft Group, the team rebranded as Uprising Academy due to a naming rights issue with Toronto Defiant. The team is based in Boston, Massachusetts and recently played in the North American region of OWC.
Franchise history
2016–2018: Toronto Esports
Toronto Esports Club, a multi-game esports organization, announced their intention to enter the competitive Overwatch scene under the name Toronto Esports on August 6 with the hiring of Chris "HuK" Loranger as the team's Overwatch consultant manager;[1] a month later, the club announced their first professional Overwatch roster.[2] Toronto Esports competed in North America Contenders 2017 Season 0,[3] but failed to qualify for 2017 Season 1.[4]
On February 19, 2018, Uprising announced that Toronto Esports would be competing as Boston's academy team in Contenders for 2018 Season 1.[5] In their first season as an affiliate team, Toronto made it to the North America Grand Finals, where the team fell 1–4 to Fusion University.[6] The team again qualified for the playoffs in 2018 Season 2, where they faced Fusion University in the quarterfinals; although the match was closer than their Grand Finals match the previous season, Toronto lost 2–3.[7]
In November 2018, Blizzard Entertainment informed Toronto Esports Club that the team must drop the word "Toronto" from its Overwatch team brand, as the new Overwatch League expansion team Toronto Defiant had "exclusive naming rights" in the city.[8] The club responded by attempting to disband their Overwatch team altogether, posting on Twitter, However, Loranger clarified that the Kraft organization still owned all the rights to the players, coaches, and the Contenders slot held by the team and would continue to compete in Contenders, albeit under a new brand.[9]
2018–present: Uprising Academy
On November 28, 2018, the team officially announced that they would be competing under the name Uprising Academy.[10] In 2018 Season 3, Uprising qualified for the playoffs, but fell to XL2 Academy in the quarterfinals.[11] The team did not qualify for the playoffs the following season, posting a 1–6 record, and marking the first time they failed to qualify for the playoffs since becoming an OWL affiliate team.[12] In 2019 Season 2, Uprising Academy finished the regular season with a 5–2 record to qualify for the NA East regional playoffs.[13] However, the team fell to the Gladiators Legion in the NA East quarterfinals match.
In 2021, Uprising Academy announced it would be playing in OWC Korea for 2021 season 1.[14]
In May 2021, Uprising Academy announced its return to North America for Contenders Trials Season 2.[15]
In October 2022, Uprising Academy announced that it would no longer be competing in Overwatch Contenders 2022.[16]
Seasons overview
| Year | Season | Region | OWC regular season | Regional playoffs | Interregional events |
|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|
| Toronto Esports |
|---|
| 2017 | 0 | North America | 3rd | 1 | 3 | | | None held |
| 1 | North America | Did not qualify | |
| 2018 | 1 | North America | 1st | 4 | 1 | | Runners-up | |
| 2 | North America | 4th | 2 | 3 | | Quarterfinals | None held |
| Uprising Academy |
|---|
| 2018 | 3 | North America | 4th | 2 | 3 | | Quarterfinals | None held |
| 2019 | 1 | North America East | 8th | 1 | 6 | | | |
| 2 | North America East | 3rd | 5 | 2 | | Quarterfinals | |
| 2020 | 1 | North America | 8th | 1 | 2 | | | None held |
| 2 | North America | – | 0 | 1 | | None held | The Gauntlet: NA – Lower Round 4 |
| Regular season record | 16 | 21 | | |
|---|
| Playoff record | 2 | 4 | | | |
|---|
OWL buyouts and promotions
All Overwatch Contenders players are eligible to be promoted by their affiliated Overwatch League team or signed to any other Overwatch League during specified non-blackout periods.[17]
2018
- Support Harrison "Kruise" Pond was signed by new expansion franchise Paris Eternal on October 23.[18]
- Tank Park "Axxiom" Min-seob and DPS Kelsey "Colourhex" Birse were promoted to Boston Uprising on October 30.[19]
- DPS Charlie "nero" Zwarg and support Kim "Shu" Jin-seo were signed to Guangzhou Charge on November 22.[20]
2019
- Tank Cameron "Fusions" Bosworth was promoted to Boston Uprising on February 12.[21]
- Support Gabriel "Swimmer" Levy and tank Walid "Mouffin" Bassal were promoted to Boston Uprising on November 7, with Mouffin on a two-way contract.[22]
- DPS Chris "MirroR" Trinh was signed to the Los Angeles Gladiators on November 12.[23]
2021
- Tank Yun "GaeBullSsi" Young-sun was promoted to Boston Uprising on April 16.[24]
- DPS Lim "Finale" Jung-woo was signed to the Toronto Defiant on December 12.[25]
- DPS Oh "Victoria" Gi-hun was promoted to Boston Uprising on December 22.[26]
2022
- Tank Kim "ITSAL" Chang-hee was promoted to Boston Uprising on March 23.[27]
OWL affiliates
Uprising Academy
Toronto Esports
Notes and References
- Web site: Chris 'HuK' Loranger joins as Toronto Esports Overwatch consultant manager . August 9, 2016 . Toronto Esports Club . https://web.archive.org/web/20161217142532/http://www.torontoesports.gg/news.asp . December 17, 2016.
- Web site: Toronto Esports announces Overwatch Pro Roster . September 6, 2016 . Toronto Esports Club . https://web.archive.org/web/20161217142532/http://www.torontoesports.gg/news.asp . December 17, 2016.
- News: Golsin . Austen . Overwatch Contenders NA Preview: Big orgs, amateur squads clash in Group Stage . . June 16, 2017 . July 23, 2019.
- News: Carpenter . Nicole . Toronto Esports' Overwatch squad join Contenders in partnership with Boston Uprising . . February 20, 2018 . July 23, 2019.
- News: Tahan . Chelsey . Toronto Esports aligns with the Boston Uprising for Overwatch Contenders 2018 . Overwatch Wire . . February 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180709215708/https://overwatchwire.usatoday.com/2018/02/19/toronto-esports-aligns-with-the-boston-uprising-for-overwatch-contenders-2018/ . July 9, 2018.
- News: Meyer . Guilherme . In Case you Missed Anything: Esports Weekend + Monday News Recap . Inven Global . May 14, 2018 . July 23, 2019.
- News: O'Brien . Joe . WhoRU Slaughters Toronto Esports in Overwatch Contenders NA Playoffs . Dexerto . August 9, 2018 . July 23, 2019.
- News: Chalk . Andy . Toronto Esports Club quits Overwatch after being told it has to change its name . . November 14, 2018 . July 23, 2019.
- News: Mudhar . Raju . An esports battle erupts in Toronto over the use of the city in a team name . . November 16, 2018 . July 23, 2018.
- UprisingAcad . 1067916084127223808 . November 28, 2018 . Meet the Uprising Academy.
- News: O'Brien . Joe . Overwatch pro pulls off insanely clutch long-distance Graviton Surge . Dexerto . February 4, 2019 . July 23, 2019.
- News: April . Olivia . Overwatch Contenders announce three live events coming in May . April 19, 2019 . Win.gg . July 23, 2019.
- News: Rockwood . Bryan . Uprising Academy Quarterfinal Preview . September 25, 2019 . The Game Haus . August 13, 2019.
- News: Lyons . Ben . Uprising Academy announces its new roster . March 9, 2021 . Gamereactor UK . March 3, 2021.
- UprisingAcad . 1396542101442154503 . May 23, 2021 . Please welcome your 2021 Contenders Trials Roster!.
- Uprising Academy will no longer be competing in Overwatch Contenders 2022. . UprisingAcad . 1575977667320778752 . 2023-01-25 . Twitter . en.
- News: Olmstead . Sydney . Blizzard Reveals Information About Overwatch League Offseason . VGR . June 14, 2018 . July 19, 2019.
- News: Mary-Justice . Amelia . New Paris OWL roster includes SoOn, ShaDowBurn, more fan favorites . Inven Global . October 23, 2018 . July 23, 2019.
- News: Mallow . Max . Boston Uprising Adds ColourHex and Axxiom to Overwatch League Roster . DBLTAP . October 30, 2018 . July 23, 2019.
- News: Mary-Justice . Amelia . Guangzhou Charge Reveals Full Roster Incl. Kyb, Eileen, Happy . Inven Global . November 23, 2018 . July 23, 2019.
- News: Sacco . Dom . UK Player Fusions Called Up to Overwatch League Side Boston Uprising . February 13, 2019 . Esports News UK . July 23, 2019.
- News: Richardson . Liz . Boston Uprising promote Swimmer and Mouffin . November 7, 2019 . Dot Esports . November 7, 2019.
- News: Richardson . Liz . Los Angeles Gladiators sign MirroR . November 12, 2019 . Dot Esports . November 12, 2019.
- News: Boston Uprising promote 'GaeBullSsi' to starting roster . April 3, 2022 . . April 16, 2021.
- News: Kennedy . Matthew . Uprising Academy DPS Finale signs with Toronto Defiant . April 3, 2022 . . December 12, 2021.
- News: The Boston Uprising announced today the signing of DPS player Gihun "Victoria" Oh . Overwatch League . December 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222155252/https://uprising.overwatchleague.com/en-us/news/the-boston-uprising-announced-today-the-signing-of-dps-player-gihun-victoria-oh . December 22, 2021.
- News: Richardson . Liz . Boston Uprising adds tank ITSAL from Uprising Academy . April 3, 2022 . . March 23, 2022.
