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Key Information

Washington Justice is an American professional Overwatch esports team based in Washington, D.C. The Justice compete in the Overwatch League (OWL) as member of the league's West region. Founded in 2018, Washington Justice began play as one of eight expansion teams in 2019. The team is owned by Mark Ein, who founded Washington Esports Ventures to manage the franchise. The team has reached the season playoffs two times.

Franchise history

[edit]
The Justice are owned by Washington Esports Ventures, founded by D.C. venture capitalist Mark Ein.

On September 7, 2018, Activision Blizzard announced that Washington Esports Ventures, a venture led by local investor and entrepreneur Mark Ein, had purchased an expansion team based in Washington, D.C. for Overwatch League's second season.[1][2][3]

On September 12, Washington announced the signing of former New York Excelsior coach Kim "WizardHyeong" Hyeong-seok as the team's head coach.[4] Eight days later, Washington signed Molly "AVALLA" Kim as an analyst; AVALLA is the first female coach to be signed in the history of the Overwatch League.[5] On November 29, the team revealed they would be called Washington Justice.[6]

Washington Justice's first OWL match was on February 16, 2019, against the New York Excelsior in which Washington lost 1–3.[7] The Justice's first victory did not come until the last match of Stage 1, when on March 17, the team defeated the Florida Mayhem by a score of 3–2, giving Washington a Stage 1 record of 1–6.[8] Despite numerous pickup throughout the season, including the acquisitions of Hong "ArK" Yeon-jun from the New York Excelsior and Nikola "sleepy" Andrews from the San Francisco Shock,[9] the Justice struggled throughout the first three stages of the season, posting a 2–19 record in the first 21 games.[10] However, they team performed much better after the league's implementation of an enforced 2-2-2 role lock for Stage 4. Behind the damage duo of Ethan "Stratus" Yankel and Corey "Corey" Nigra, the team lost only one match in their final seven games to finish the in 17th place with an 8–20 record.[10][11]

Following the 2019 season, the Justice parted ways with their entire coaching staff.[12] The team also parted ways with six of their players, leaving Stratus, Corey, and ArK, as well as the tank duo Lukas "Lullsish" Wiklund and Elliot "Ellivote" Vaneryd, who did not play in the 2019 season due to visa issues.[13] Washington signed former Los Angeles Gladiators assistant coach Seetoh "JohnGalt" Jian Qing as their new head coach and picked up several veterans to the team, such as support player Kwon "AimGod" Min-seok and tank player Gye "Roar" Chang-hoon.[14][15] After a 3–9 start to the 2020 season, both Corey and Stratus retired.[16] Shifting to an all-Korean roster, the team picked up former Vancouver Titans players Choi "JJanu" Hyeon-woo and Lee "Stitch" Chung-hee in late May to early June. Head coach JohnGalt left the team shortly after the signing of Stitch, and Washington promoted performance coach Han "Sup7eme" Seung-jun as their new head coach.[17] After finishing the 2020 regular season with a 4–17 record, the Justice swept both the Vancouver Titans and Dallas Fuel in the North America play-in tournament to qualify for the season playoffs.[18] Ahead of the North America playoffs, the Justice signed former Dallas Fuel damage player Jang "Decay" Gui-un.[19] In their first match in the North America bracket, Washington squandered an early 2–0 lead over the San Francisco Shock and lost by a score of 2–3, sending them to the lower bracket.[20] The Justice won their next two games, defeating the third-seeded Paris Eternal and fourth-seeded Florida Mayhem.[21] Needing one more win to qualify for the Grand Finals Bracket, Washington next faced the top-seeded Philadelphia Fusion.[22] However, the Justice lost the match, 0–3, ending their playoff run.[23]

Ahead of the 2021 season, the Justice parted ways with several players, including AimGod, Stitch, JJanu, and ArK.[24] The team upgraded their tank lineup with the signings of touted rookie prospect Kim "Mag" Tae-sung and former Fusion player Kim "Fury" Jun-ho, while looking to improve their support lineup with the signings of veterans Jung "Closer" Won-sik and Yoon "BeBe" Hee-chang. The team also brought in three damage players to compliment Decay, such as rookie Kim "Assassin" Sung-won.[25] In the first tournament cycle of the season, the May Melee, the Justice were one of two teams to go 4–0 in the qualifier stage. However, the team lost to the Florida Mayhem in the regional knockouts, failing to advance to the interregional tournament.[26] The team went through hot and cold streaks throughout the season, ending with a 9–7 regular season record. The finish advanced the team to the West region play-in tournament; after the Justice defeated the Houston Outlaws in the finals, they advanced to the season playoffs as the eighth, and final, seed.[27] The team was unable to secure a win in the playoffs, losing to the Dallas Fuel, 1–3,[28] and Atlanta Reign, 0–3.[29]

Team identity

[edit]

On November 29, 2018, the franchise name was revealed as the Washington Justice; the name "Justice" represents the teams core values. "Justice is a universal value and the perfect name for a franchise that we hope will inspire and unite both our Washington area community and fans around the globe", said owner Mark Ein. "There is no region in the world that attracts more people to serve the cause of justice in government, philanthropy, academia, military service, and the private sector than Washington. In fact, DC's official city motto is 'Justitia Omnibus,' which translates to 'Justice for All.' As a team representing the broader DMV region, it was important that our team identity reflects a value that unifies all of our community members, representing the full diversity of backgrounds and beliefs."[6] The team's logo is a red, white, and blue striped shield, representing the American flag, with the Washington Monument centered in a subtle W at the bottom.[6]

Personnel

[edit]

Roster

[edit]
Washington Justice roster
Players Coaches
Role No. Handle Name Nationality
Damage 12 Flora Lim Young-woo South Korea
Damage 27 AlphaYi Kim Jun South Korea
Support 15 Teru Kim Min-gi South Korea
Head coach
  • Vacant
Assistant coach(es)
  • Danny “Danny” Mychakov
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: October 18, 2023.

Head coaches

[edit]
Handle Name Seasons Record Notes Ref.
WizardHyeong Kim Hyeong-seok 2019 8–20 (.286) [4][12]
JohnGalt Seetoh Jian Qing 2020 3–10 (.231) Released after 13 games [14][17]
Sup7eme Han Seung-jun 2020–2022 21–27 (.438) [17][30]
GetAmazed Zouheir Baba 2023 6–10 (.375) [31]

Awards and records

[edit]

Seasons overview

[edit]
Season P W L W% Finish Playoffs
2019 28 8 20 .286 8th, Atlantic Did not qualify
2020 21 4 17 .190 9th, North America Lost in NA Lower Final, 0–3 (Fusion)
2021 16 9 7 .563 6th, West Lost in Lower Round 1, 0–3 (Reign)
2022 24 11 13 .458 9th, West Did not qualify
2023 16 6 10 .375 10th, West Did not qualify

Individual accomplishments

[edit]

Role Star selections

  • Corey (Corey Nigra) – 2019

All-Star Game selections

  • ArK (Hong Yeon-jun) – 2019
  • Decay (Jang Gui-un) – 2020

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Washington Justice

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from Grokipedia
The Washington Justice was an American professional esports team based in Washington, D.C., that represented the city's Capital Region in the (OWL) from 2019 to 2023. Owned and operated by Washington Esports Ventures—a company founded by local entrepreneur , who also owns the World TeamTennis franchise —the team competed as one of eight expansion franchises introduced by to grow the league's global footprint. With team colors of red, white, and blue evoking American patriotism, the Justice hosted home matches at The Anthem entertainment venue and maintained a dedicated training facility in the neighborhood, contributing to the establishment of , as an emerging hub for professional . Founded in September 2018 amid Blizzard's push to franchise the with city-based teams, the Washington Justice aimed to blend traditional sports infrastructure with competitive gaming, drawing support from local partners including Events DC, PenFed , and DC Brau Brewing Company. Investors such as Artist Capital Management and tech executive Dyson Dryden backed the venture, positioning the Justice as a flagship for regional development spanning to Richmond. The team debuted in the 2019 season in the Western Conference, facing challenges in early years with inconsistent rosters but gradually building a reputation for resilience; notable performances included a 7th-place finish in the 2021 playoffs, where they earned $50,000 in , and strong showings in play-in tournaments during the disrupted 2020 season amid the . The Justice played a pivotal role in elevating esports visibility in the nation's capital, hosting live homestands that attracted thousands of fans and fostering community engagement through watch parties and youth initiatives. In recognition of their contributions, D.C. Mayor declared May 7, 2022, as "Washington Justice Day," highlighting the team's efforts in making esports more accessible and inclusive. The franchise's tenure coincided with the OWL's peak popularity but also its challenges, including declining viewership and sponsorships, culminating in Blizzard's announcement in late 2023 to transition the league to a non-franchised model under the Overwatch Champions Series starting in 2024. As a result, the Washington Justice concluded operations after the 2023 season, marking the end of its run as D.C.'s premier contender.

History

Formation and Overwatch League entry

The Washington Justice was established on September 7, 2018, when Washington Esports Ventures, led by entrepreneur and Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein, announced its acquisition of an expansion franchise in the Overwatch League (OWL) to represent Washington, D.C. This purchase positioned the team as one of eight new franchises added to the OWL for its second season, expanding the league from 12 to 20 teams and bringing professional Overwatch esports to the nation's capital. The franchise rights were acquired for a reported fee of between $30 million and $60 million, reflecting the premium placed on major U.S. markets during the league's growth phase. In the initial organizational setup, Washington Esports Ventures focused on building a robust and development pipeline. On the day of the announcement, the group hired Kate Mitchell, a former , as the team's first assistant , marking an early step in assembling to oversee operations and talent acquisition. Concurrently, efforts began to scout and form the Justice Academy, the team's affiliated development squad competing in the OWL's Contenders league, aimed at nurturing emerging talent for potential promotion to the main roster. Pre-debut preparations emphasized integrating the team into the D.C. and planning live events to build fan engagement. The organization coordinated homestand events at local venues to host matches, though plans adapted to venue availability. Community outreach initiatives included watch parties at local venues like Penn Social in the , drawing hundreds of fans for the team's inaugural matches and fostering support across the D.C. metro area from to Richmond.

Competitive seasons in the Overwatch League

The Washington Justice entered the () as one of its inaugural franchises in 2019, competing through the league's restructuring to regional formats and the introduction of role queue mechanics until the suspension of organized play following the 2023 season. The team navigated early struggles with roster instability and adaptation to the 2-2-2 role lock implemented in 's Stage 4 of 2019, which mandated balanced team compositions of two tanks, two damage dealers, and two supports, influencing strategic depth and hero selection across all seasons. Regional divisions, introduced in 2020 due to the and expanded in later years, shifted focus to North American competition, affecting matchups and qualification paths for the Justice. In their debut 2019 season, the Justice endured a challenging start, dropping their first 10 matches and posting a 2-19 record through the initial three stages amid frequent roster adjustments and difficulties integrating international talent under the league's global format. The team hosted its inaugural homestand in June at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in , marking one of the OWL's early efforts to localize events and engage local fans through live viewing parties and community activations. Implementation of role queue in late 2019 spurred a late-season surge, with five consecutive wins that helped secure an overall 8-20 regular season record, though they finished 17th and missed playoffs, highlighting the format's role in stabilizing team performance. The 2020 season saw the Justice adapt to an all-online format amid the pandemic, competing primarily in the North American region with a 4-17 regular season record that belied their postseason potential through aggressive dive compositions emphasizing mobility heroes like Tracer and Winston. They qualified for the North American playoffs as the lowest seed via play-ins, sweeping the Vancouver Titans and Dallas Fuel before a 0-3 quarterfinal loss to the Philadelphia Fusion, earning third place regionally and $250,000 in prize money—their first playoff appearance. Homestands shifted to The Anthem in Washington, D.C., in February, drawing thousands for immersive events with LED stages and fan zones, though subsequent plans were canceled due to health restrictions. Under new head coach PapaSmithy in 2021, the Justice achieved their strongest regular season at 9-7, placing 10th overall and sixth in the West, leveraging hybrid strategies blending poke and brawl playstyles suited to Overwatch's evolving meta post-role queue. They topped the May Melee qualifiers undefeated at 4-0 before reaching the tournament final, where they fell 1-3 to the despite strong showings in control maps. In playoffs, the Justice advanced through play-ins with a 3-2 win over the Houston Outlaws but exited early with a 0-3 loss to the , securing $50,000 and seventh-to-eighth place. Regional restructuring mid-season intensified North American rivalries, aiding their consistent mid-table contention. The 2022 season marked a decline amid league-wide financial pressures, with the Justice posting an 11-13 regular season record and missing despite fourth place in the Countdown Cup through resilient support lines and flex DPS versatility. Internal challenges peaked in when ownership, citing eroded trust in OWL's economic viability, attempted to sell player contracts to reduce spending, leading to mid-season roster flux including trades for tanks like Chilhwa. The team hosted no homestands due to ongoing instability, focusing instead on online adaptations to the league's international-regional hybrid. In 2023, the Justice's final OWL season featured a rebuilt roster with mid-season signings of Benjamin "BenBest" Dieulafait and support Brice "FDGod" Monsçavoir in March, aiming to revive French core synergy from prior years, though FDGod was released in June amid performance adjustments. They finished ninth overall with mixed stage results, including fifth-to-sixth in play-ins after a 2-3 loss to Spitfire, emphasizing aggressive initiations in 2's updated mechanics. The season concluded in September without playoffs, followed by Blizzard's October announcement pausing competitive operations to "revitalize" , returning player rights and assets to franchises like the Justice by November. This marked the end of structured play, reflecting broader league challenges in viewership and sustainability.

Post-league dissolution and legacy

Following the Overwatch League's dissolution in November 2023, when a majority of team owners voted to terminate their agreements with the franchised structure, Blizzard returned control of player contracts and team assets to the individual organizations. The league's shutdown provided each exiting team with a $6 million termination fee, totaling approximately $114 million across all franchises, as Blizzard shifted toward a new esports ecosystem centered on regional circuits like the Champions Series. The Washington Justice, concluding a challenging 2023 season without playoff qualification, opted against fielding a roster in the Overwatch Champions Series or other post-league competitions. The organization was disbanded on January 23, 2024, with no announcements of revival or participation in professional Overwatch events as of November 2025. Their headquarters in Penn Quarter, opened in 2021 on 7th Street NW, persists as a physical emblem of the team's era, located adjacent to the Navy Memorial in downtown Washington, D.C. The Justice's tenure played a pivotal role in elevating esports visibility in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, serving as a catalyst for local growth through homestand events at venues like The Anthem and partnerships with Events DC. These initiatives helped cultivate a regional fanbase, including community-driven efforts under slogans like "Justice Fighting," and supported the proliferation of DMV-area tournaments and youth leagues. On a broader scale, the Justice's disbandment exemplified the financial strains of city-based esports models, where high infrastructure costs and fluctuating viewership undermined sustainability amid the league's overall collapse. Owner Mark Ein's Washington Esports Ventures, which managed the franchise, has since focused on other investments outside competitive .

Organization and facilities

Ownership and management

Washington Esports Ventures, founded by Washington, D.C.-based venture capitalist and sports investor , served as the primary owner of the Washington Justice since the organization's inception in 2018. Ein established the venture specifically to secure a franchise slot in the , paying an expansion fee reported to be between $30 million and $60 million to for entry ahead of the 2019 season. As a prominent figure in local sports, Ein also owns the franchise, leveraging his experience to build the esports entity. The management hierarchy was led by Ein, with early hires including Kate Mitchell as assistant general manager in September 2018 to handle initial operational setup. In August 2019, Analynn "Bawlynn" Dang was brought on as , focusing on roster building, community engagement, and strategic operations until her departure in May 2020; she was succeeded by Aaron "PRE" Heckman, who served as through the remainder of the franchise's operations. Financial backers supported the structure, drawing from Ein's network of investors, though the organization operated independently without direct ties to larger conglomerates. Key financial milestones included revenue from league-wide sponsorships, such as Coca-Cola's multi-year deal as the official beverage partner starting in 2019, alongside team-specific agreements like Events DC serving as the jersey patch sponsor for the inaugural season. However, by 2022, amid the League's declining valuations and waning owner confidence, Washington Esports Ventures pursued cost-cutting measures, including efforts to sell player contracts and reduce overall spending on competitive activities. Following the Overwatch League's dissolution in late 2023, after a majority of franchise owners voted to exit the structured league format, the organization released all remaining player contracts, effectively halting competitive investments and esports activities. As of 2025, Washington Esports Ventures has no active involvement in esports.

Training facilities and operations

The Washington Justice's primary training facility, Justice Headquarters, was located in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of downtown Washington, D.C., adjacent to Capital One Arena at 415 8th Street NW. Opened on March 10, 2021, the over 4,200-square-foot space included specialized training rooms equipped for daily practices and official competitions, content creation studios for media production, player lounges for rest and team bonding, and a full retail shop for merchandise sales. Funded by the team's ownership group, Washington Esports Ventures, the headquarters served as a central hub for player development and community outreach, hosting exclusive fan events such as watch parties and merchandise launches to foster local engagement with esports. The Justice organized annual homestand events from 2019 to 2022 as fan festivals, featuring immersive live match viewings, watch parties, and player meet-and-greets to bring global to the audience. These gatherings created a festival-like atmosphere with curated options, interactive experiences, and opportunities for DC-area residents to connect directly with the team, starting with the inaugural event at The Anthem venue in February 2020. Operational logistics for the Justice involved coordinated travel to international and domestic match locations, particularly during early seasons with multi-city stages that required teams to relocate for weeks at a time. In response to the during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the team adapted to remote training setups from temporary facilities in and fully match formats, mirroring the league-wide shift to virtual competition to prioritize and safety while maintaining practice routines via digital tools. The organization also supported player pipelines through integration with the league, scouting and elevating prospects to the main roster without a dedicated team. Following the Overwatch League's dissolution in late 2023, the Justice ceased competitive operations in early 2024, with the headquarters no longer used or maintained by the organization.

Branding and identity

Team name, logo, and colors

The Washington Justice team name draws inspiration from 's official motto, "Justitia Omnibus," which translates to "Justice for All," reflecting the city's legal and governmental heritage while evoking themes of fairness, resilience, and universal values. The name was officially unveiled on December 3, 2018, by Washington Esports Ventures, the team's ownership group, as part of their entry into the for the 2019 season. The team's logo features a patriotic design banded in red and white stripes, symbolizing American unity and protection, with the subtly integrated to form a "W" at the base as a nod to the . At the center is a stylized depiction of the Overwatch hero Soldier: 76, an American icon representing valor and heroism, flanked by a white star against a blue field to honor the U.S. flag. This design was created to blend local symbolism with the game's lore, emphasizing the team's connection to D.C.'s monumental identity. The primary colors of the Washington Justice—red, white, and blue—are directly tied to American symbolism. These hues were selected to evoke and the nation's capital, aligning the branding with D.C.'s role as the seat of U.S. . The core branding elements remained largely unchanged throughout the team's existence, including during the League's 2021 shift to role queue formats, which primarily affected in-game skins and jerseys rather than the foundational and color palette. These design components were consistently applied to the team's uniforms, reinforcing their visual identity across competitions until the franchise's dissolution in 2023.

Uniforms and merchandise

The Washington Justice's primary home jersey, debuted ahead of the 2019 Overwatch League season, featured a red base color with white and blue accents to align with the team's patriotic palette inspired by the American flag. The design included the team's shield logo prominently on the chest, player numbers on the back, and integrated sponsor patches such as Events DC on the sleeve. In 2020, the team introduced an official away jersey with a white base and red-blue detailing for contrast during road matches, maintaining the core shield emblem and league-standard formatting for uniformity across OWL teams. Special edition jerseys expanded the team's apparel offerings to tie into local events and themes. For the 2021 homestand, the Justice released a collection featuring a jersey in soft pink and red tones, drawing from 's annual festival; this limited-run design was available exclusively during the event and celebrated the city's cultural landmarks. Merchandise for the Washington Justice was distributed through the League's partnership with Fanatics, the league's official provider of fan gear since 2018, which handled production and sales of jerseys, headwear, and accessories. The lineup encompassed casual apparel like hoodies and snapback hats emblazoned with the team logo, alongside collectibles such as branded keychains and posters; digital items, including virtual jersey customizations, were offered via the OWL's online shop for in-game integrations. Following the Overwatch League's dissolution in late 2023, remaining inventory was available through secondary markets.

Personnel

Head coaches and staff

The Washington Justice's inaugural head coach was Kim "WizardHyeong" Hyeong-seok, who joined in September 2018 ahead of the 2019 season and brought extensive experience from coaching the to a in 2018. His strategic approach emphasized innovative tactics and player development, earning praise from team members for its depth and creativity. The initial staff also featured assistant coach Kyoungey "AVALLA" Kim, the first woman hired as a coach in league history, who contributed analytical insights as both an assistant and early analyst; coach/analyst Mikael "mkL" Orjuela; and strategic coach "Shrugger" Harder. This group focused on building foundational strategies amid the team's expansion entry, but following a challenging debut season, the entire coaching staff was released in September 2019. In 2020, Seetoh "JohnGalt" Jian Qing assumed the role at the season's start, prioritizing team cohesion during a period of roster adjustments. Midway through the year, in June 2020, Han "Sup7eme" Seung-jun was promoted from development coach to , a move that correlated with a turnaround in performance, including a strong 5-2 record in the . Sup7eme's tenure through 2022 emphasized balanced compositions and player synergy, drawing from his prior experience coaching mixed international rosters at the Spark; under his leadership, the Justice achieved their most competitive season in 2021, advancing deep into the postseason. Assistant coaches during this era included Park "Chilhwa" Min-hyeung, who supported tactical planning until departing in 2022. The organization parted ways with the full in November 2022 amid broader transitions. For the final 2023 season, Zouheir "GetAmazed" Baba served as head coach, focusing on adaptive strategies in the era; in February 2023, he faced public accusations of grooming and sexual exploitation of an aspiring player. With the ending operations in late 2023, the head coach position remained vacant as the Justice ceased competitive activities in January 2024. Key support roles evolved to include more data-driven analysts post-2019, such as "PRE" Heckman, whose background in analytics from the informed roster and strategy decisions. The organization utilized overlapping staff for academy development in the OWL Academy league. Coaching shifts notably aligned with performance improvements, such as Sup7eme's promotion preceding the 2020 playoff surge and the 2021 campaign's success.

Notable players and roster evolution

The Washington Justice's inaugural 2019 roster emphasized international imports to establish a tank-heavy lineup aligned with the prevailing Overwatch meta, featuring main Song "Janus" Joon-hwa, flex Kim "SanSam" Hyang-ki, and DPS Chon "Ado" Gi-hyeon, complemented by domestic players such as DPS Ethan "Stratus" Yankel and Corey "Corey" Nigra, and support Moon "Gido" Gi-do. Additional signings during the season, including support Park "sleepy" Hyun-woo via free agency in April 2019, reflected early adjustments amid the team's expansion status. Entering the 2020 offseason, the Justice pursued roster stability through targeted acquisitions, notably signing DPS Jang "Decay" Gui-un in August 2020 as a travel-eligible player after his release from the , bolstering their damage output for the North American stage. This move exemplified the team's use of free agency to integrate experienced talent into a developing core. The 2021 season marked a peak in roster balance, with free agency additions of support players Yoon "BeBe" Hye-chang and Jung "Closer" Won-sik joining Decay to form a versatile lineup capable of adapting to evolving metas. Tanks like Choi "JJANU" Hyeon-woo and Kim "Fury" Joon-ho further solidified the composition, highlighting a shift toward depth over initial import reliance. From 2022 to 2023, the Justice experienced pronounced roster flux, including the return of former Paris Eternal tank Benjamin "BenBest" Dieulafait and San Francisco Shock support Brice "FDGod" Monsçavoir via free agency and Contenders promotions, alongside new imports such as DPS Kim "AlphaYi" Jun-seo and Lim "" Young-woo. Flex tank Chris "MirroR" Trinh and support Kim "Teru" Min-gi rounded out the 2023 group, drawing from academy pipelines and international scenes. Overall, the organization cycled through 30 players across its run, fueled by frequent free agency transactions, occasional trades, and academy elevations, with widespread contract releases after the 2023 season amid the league's dissolution.

Competitive achievements

Season records and standings

The Washington Justice competed in the from its inaugural 2019 season through 2023, participating in a total of five regular seasons with varying formats across years. Their performance fluctuated, with the team achieving its best result in 2021 while struggling in other campaigns. Regular season outcomes were pivotal for seeding in regional play-ins and postseason qualification. The following table summarizes the Justice's regular season records and regional standings:
SeasonRecord (W–L)Regional Placement
20198–2017th overall
20204–1712th in NA
20219–76th in NA
202211–139th in West
20236–910th in West
Over their tenure, the Justice compiled an aggregate regular season record of 38–66, yielding a .365 win percentage. The team never advanced to the Grand Finals or secured a . Format changes influenced performance metrics across seasons. In 2020, the prompted a shift to fully online regional competition after an initial global schedule, reducing in-person events and altering match logistics for all teams, including the Justice. The 2022 season incorporated the inaugural Midseason Madness tournament, a best-of-five inter-regional event that integrated into the regular season standings and required teams to balance preparation between league matches and the midseason competition. These adjustments affected overall scheduling and win-loss tallies without altering the core Bo3 or Bo5 match formats used in regular play.

Playoff appearances and results

The Washington Justice made three appearances in the postseason during their tenure, in 2020, 2021, and 2022, all times qualifying through play-ins or regional brackets as underdogs from the North American (later West) region. Despite strong regular-season struggles, their postseason runs showcased resilience through upset victories, though they were unable to advance beyond the early rounds of the main brackets. The team compiled an overall playoff record of 5 wins and 4 losses across these appearances. In the 2020 North America playoffs, the Justice, seeded 12th after a 4-17 regular season, entered the regional bracket and pulled off a series of upsets to reach the quarterfinals. They opened with a dominant 3-0 sweep over the Vancouver Titans on September 3, capitalizing on strong team coordination to shut down the Titans' dive compositions. The following day, September 4, they edged out the Dallas Fuel 3-2 in a back-and-forth series, securing their spot in the main eight-team double-elimination bracket with clutch performances on maps like King's Row and Dorado. Dropping to the lower bracket after an initial placement, the Justice then swept the Florida Mayhem 3-0 on September 12, eliminating the Mayhem with aggressive pushes led by their tank line. Their run ended in the quarterfinals with a 0-3 shutout loss to the Philadelphia Fusion on September 13, as the Fusion's superior map control proved insurmountable. This performance earned them third place in the NA bracket and $250,000 in prize money, highlighting their potential despite roster instability. The Justice returned to the postseason in 2021, qualifying through the West play-in tournament after finishing 9-7 in the regular season. On , they dispatched the Paris Eternal 3-0 in the play-in opener, dominating with efficient economy management on control maps. Advancing to the play-in final on September 5, they overcame the Houston Outlaws 3-2 in a thrilling decider on Lijiang Tower, punching their ticket to the main playoffs as the eighth seed. However, their main bracket run was short-lived; in the upper quarterfinals on September 22, they fell 1-3 to the , struggling against the Fuel's high-mobility heroes on hybrid maps. Dropped to the lower bracket, the Justice were eliminated 0-3 by the on September 23, with the Reign's disciplined defense overwhelming Washington's aggressive style. Finishing 7th-8th overall, they earned $50,000, but the early exit underscored ongoing challenges in sustaining momentum against top seeds. In 2022, the Justice qualified for the West play-ins after finishing 9th in the region. On October 21, they faced the in the upper bracket round 1 and lost 0-3, ending their postseason run without advancing further. In 2023, the Justice participated in the play-ins but exited early with a 2-3 loss to the London Spitfire.
YearStageOpponentResultDate
2020NA Playoffs Round 1Vancouver Titans3-0 (W)Sep 3
2020NA Playoffs Round 23-2 (W)Sep 4
2020NA Lower Round 33-0 (W)Sep 12
2020NA QuarterfinalsPhiladelphia Fusion0-3 (L)Sep 13
2021Play-in Round 1Paris Eternal3-0 (W)Sep 4
2021Play-in FinalHouston Outlaws3-2 (W)Sep 5
2021Upper Quarterfinals1-3 (L)Sep 22
2021Lower Round 10-3 (L)Sep 23
2022West Play-ins Upper Bracket Round 10-3 (L)Oct 21
Throughout their playoff matches, the Justice often relied on versatile supports like Baptiste for sustain in elimination scenarios and damage heroes such as for dive disruptions, though these compositions faltered against elite counterplay in decisive series.

Individual awards and honors

Washington Justice players have earned several individual accolades in the , primarily through selections and Role Star awards, recognizing standout performances in their respective roles. In the 2019 season, damage player Corey Nigra was selected as a Role Star for his exceptional contributions, demonstrating high mechanical skill on heroes like Hanzo. This marked one of the team's early individual highlights amid a challenging inaugural year. Support player Hong "ArK" Yeon-jun also represented the Justice at the 2019 as a Pacific Division starter, reuniting with former teammates and showcasing his shot-calling abilities during the event. The following year, damage player Jang "Decay" Gui-un earned an All-Star selection for the 2020 event, competing in the APAC regional showcase and contributing to skills matches and team exhibitions as one of the league's rising talents. While the Justice roster has featured promising rookies like Yim "Flora" Young-woo in 2023, no further Role Star awards, MVP honors, or of the Year recognitions have been secured, with the team's total individual accolades standing at three across its history.

References

  1. https://www.washington-justice.com/about
  2. https://wharflifedc.com/meet-washingtons-professional-esports-team-the-washington-justice/
  3. https://www.washington-justice.com/news/new-washington-justice-practice-facility
  4. https://ggscore.com/en/overwatch/team/washington-justice
  5. https://eventsdc.com/news/mayor-bowser-declares-may-7-2022-washington-justice-day-district-columbia
  6. https://www.wusa9.com/article/features/where-the-geek-becomes-chic-professional-gaming-is-changing-the-sports-world-in-dc-and-across-the-nation/65-a1d339cb-682b-4c3c-a96b-803f4cfa8310
  7. https://www.sportspro.com/news/overwatch-league-teams-format-esports/
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  24. https://www.ggrecon.com/articles/sources-washington-justice-trying-to-sell-its-players-after-loss-of-trust-in-owl-finances/
  25. https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/france-and-former-glory-combine-in-washington-justices-2023-overwatch-league-roster
  26. https://liquipedia.net/overwatch/Overwatch_League/2023/Play-Ins
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  32. https://x.com/washjustice
  33. https://eventsdc.com/news/washington-justice-and-overwatch-league-come-dc-2020-five-homestand-weekends
  34. https://www.wusa9.com/article/sports/esports-are-taking-over-the-dmv/65-5bb55895-0ae9-4801-85b1-e5f7f5d772d5
  35. https://eventsdc.com/strategic-partnerships/esports
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  40. https://washingtonian.com/2018/09/07/mark-ein-buys-an-esports-team/
  41. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/08/15/washington-justice-hires-analynn-bawlynn-dang-be-new-gm/
  42. https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/page/overwatchbrandsponsornews/coca-cola-signs-multi-year-deal-sponsorship-deal-overwatch-league
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  47. https://technical.ly/dc/2020/02/17/washington-justice-partnering-penfed-credit-union-2020-season/
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  84. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY_D38ZB0h8
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