The 2018 New York Excelsior season was the first season of
New York Excelsior's existence in the
Overwatch League. The team finished the league-leading regular season record of 34–6.
New York qualified for all four of the Stage Playoffs. The team lost in the Stage 1 finals to the
London Spitfire, won in the Stage 2 finals against
Philadelphia Fusion, won in the Stage 3 finals against
Boston Uprising, and lost in the Stage 4 finals against the
Los Angeles Valiant. The team also qualified for the Season Playoffs, but lost to the
Philadelphia Fusion in the semifinals.
Preceding offseason
On October 30, 2017, New York Excelsior unveiled their inaugural season roster, consisting of the following players:[1]
The team also announced the signings of coaches Yu "Pavane" Hyeon-sang and Kim "WizardHyeong" Hyeong-seok, and Meta Athena's Kim "Libero" Hae-seong.[1]
Stage 2 played out much like Stage 1 for New York, as the team went on to post again a 9–1 record and a first-round bye into the
Stage 2 Playoffs. Also like Stage 1, the playoff finals ended in a 3–2 reverse sweep, but this time New York was on the winning side, defeating the
Philadelphia Fusion on March 25 to claim the Stage 2.[5][6]
In Stage 3, New York once again posted a 9–1 record, giving them the second seed for the
Stage 3 Playoffs. In the semifinals, the Excelsior swept the
Los Angeles Valiant 3–0. The team won in the Stage 3 finals against
Boston Uprising in another 3–0 sweep, giving New York back-to-back stage titles.[7]
New York posted their worst record (7–3) in Stage 4, but still claimed the third seed for the
Stage 4 Playoffs. Their first matchup was in the semifinals against the
Dallas Fuel, in which the Excelsior won 3–2. However, they lost in the Stage 4 finals against the
Los Angeles Valiant by a score of 1–3.[8]
New York ended their season with a league-leading 34–6 record and qualified for the Season Playoffs prior to the beginning of Stage 4.[9] The team had a first-round bye and faced the
Philadelphia Fusion in the semifinals on July 18 and 21. New York lost both matchups by scores of 0–3 and 2–3, eliminating them from the playoffs.[10]
On July 11, 2018, Blizzard officially named support player Bang "
JJonak" Seong-hyun the inaugural Overwatch League season
MVP.[11]
Source:
The Overwatch League Rules for classification: 1)
winning percentage; 2) map differential; 3) head-to-head map differential; 4) head-to-head record
The 2018 New York Excelsior season was the first season of
New York Excelsior's existence in the
Overwatch League. The team finished the league-leading regular season record of 34–6.
New York qualified for all four of the Stage Playoffs. The team lost in the Stage 1 finals to the
London Spitfire, won in the Stage 2 finals against
Philadelphia Fusion, won in the Stage 3 finals against
Boston Uprising, and lost in the Stage 4 finals against the
Los Angeles Valiant. The team also qualified for the Season Playoffs, but lost to the
Philadelphia Fusion in the semifinals.
Preceding offseason
On October 30, 2017, New York Excelsior unveiled their inaugural season roster, consisting of the following players:[1]
The team also announced the signings of coaches Yu "Pavane" Hyeon-sang and Kim "WizardHyeong" Hyeong-seok, and Meta Athena's Kim "Libero" Hae-seong.[1]
Stage 2 played out much like Stage 1 for New York, as the team went on to post again a 9–1 record and a first-round bye into the
Stage 2 Playoffs. Also like Stage 1, the playoff finals ended in a 3–2 reverse sweep, but this time New York was on the winning side, defeating the
Philadelphia Fusion on March 25 to claim the Stage 2.[5][6]
In Stage 3, New York once again posted a 9–1 record, giving them the second seed for the
Stage 3 Playoffs. In the semifinals, the Excelsior swept the
Los Angeles Valiant 3–0. The team won in the Stage 3 finals against
Boston Uprising in another 3–0 sweep, giving New York back-to-back stage titles.[7]
New York posted their worst record (7–3) in Stage 4, but still claimed the third seed for the
Stage 4 Playoffs. Their first matchup was in the semifinals against the
Dallas Fuel, in which the Excelsior won 3–2. However, they lost in the Stage 4 finals against the
Los Angeles Valiant by a score of 1–3.[8]
New York ended their season with a league-leading 34–6 record and qualified for the Season Playoffs prior to the beginning of Stage 4.[9] The team had a first-round bye and faced the
Philadelphia Fusion in the semifinals on July 18 and 21. New York lost both matchups by scores of 0–3 and 2–3, eliminating them from the playoffs.[10]
On July 11, 2018, Blizzard officially named support player Bang "
JJonak" Seong-hyun the inaugural Overwatch League season
MVP.[11]
Source:
The Overwatch League Rules for classification: 1)
winning percentage; 2) map differential; 3) head-to-head map differential; 4) head-to-head record