Toronto Defiant Release 10 Players

Ahead of the 2021 Overwatch League season, the Toronto Defiant have taken the unprecedented step of releasing no fewer than 10 players from its roster. The team is clearly going for a complete overhaul, with those released now looking for pastures new during the offseason.

Which Players are Now Looking for a New Team?

Just hours after the League’s contract status update was revealed, the Defiant took to Twitter in order to announce the news that a total of 10 players from its 2020 roster were no longer with the team. Following the announcement, DPS players Brady “Agilities” Girardi, Lane “Surefour” Roberts and Thomas “zYKK” Hosono will be free agents, along with Liam “Mangachu” Campbell, main tanks Adam “Beast” Denton and Seb “Numlocked” Barton and off-tank Andreas “Nevix” Karlsson. Mangachu had moved into the Toronto coaching staff midway through last season.

Meanwhile, support players Harrison “Kruise” Pond, Park “RoKy” Joo-seung and Park “KariV” Young-seo were also released, leaving DPS Andreas “Logix” Berghmans as the only active member on the Toronto Defiant roster. However, with the Overwatch League contract status update having the Belgian down as a free agent, it could well be that the 23-year-old is also looking for a new team ahead of the 2021 season.

Why the Toronto Defiant Took Such a Step

The majority of released players have had their say on the matter via their personal social media accounts, where they put themselves in the shop window for a move to a new team before the new season kicks off. The announcement this week was the latest in a long line of changes for the Toronto Defiant, who restructured its roster during the 2019 offseason, opting for a Western-dominated team, which featured a host of Canadian players. However, having finished the 2020 Overwatch League in a disappointing 15th position, it perhaps comes as no surprise that additional changes have been made.

It remains to be seen as to which direction the team will now take, with no replacements having been announced as of yet. Toronto have followed in the footsteps of rivals Dallas Fuel in carrying out an entire roster overhaul for the 2021 Overwatch League.