The2020 Los Angeles Gladiators season was the third season ofLos Angeles Gladiators's existence in theOverwatch League and their third season under head coach David "dpei" Pei. The Gladiators planned to host two homestand weekends in the 2020 season,[1] but all homestand matches were canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
The Gladiators finished the season with 11 wins and 10 losses to claim the sixth seed in the North America region.[2] On September 4, Los Angeles advanced to theseason playoffs after 3–2 win over theToronto Defiant in the North American Play-in tournament.[3] In the first round of the North American playoffs, the Gladiators were swept by thePhiladelphia Fusion, sending them to the lower bracket.[4] They lost to theFlorida Mayhem in the first round of the lower bracket, which eliminated them from the playoffs.[5]
In September 2019, both head coach David "dpei" Pei and assistant coach Seetoh "JohnGalt" Jian Qing announced that their contracts lapsed with the Gladiators and were seeking other opportunities.[6] The following month, JohnGalt signed with theWashington Justice's as their new head coach,[7] while Pei signed a new contract with the Gladiators as their head coach and general manager.[8] The team signed formerGuangzhou Charge assistant coach Rohit "Curryshot" Nathani to their coaching staff in late October.[9]
The Gladiators enter the new season with three free agents, six players which they have the option to retain for another year, and no players under contract.[13] The OWL's deadline to exercise a team option is November 11, after which any players not retained will become a free agent. Free agency officially began on October 7.[14]
After the Gladiators traded off-tank Aaron "Bischu" Kim to theGuangzhou Charge in the middle of the 2019 season, Bischu re-signed to the Gladiators from free agency on November 15.[18] A month later, on December 5, Los Angeles signed formerParis Eternal main tank Roni "LhCloudy" Tiihonen.[19] The team announced their final signing of the offseason on December 12, with the addition of DPS Jason "Jaru" White fromTeam Envy.[20]
On October 18, the Gladiators agreed to transfer main tank Gye "rOar" Chang-hoon to theWashington Justice, pending approval from the league.[21]
DPS João Pedro "Hydration" Goes Telles, who had been with the team since its inception in 2017, was the first of the Gladiators' free agents to leave the team, signing with theHouston Outlaws on October 18.[10] Following him was DPS Lane "Surefour" Roberts, as he signed with theToronto Defiant the following month.[11] On November 25, off-tank free agent Kang "Void" Jun-woo signed with theShanghai Dragons.[12] It was confirmed on December 5, after the disbandment of their academy teamGladiators Legion, that two-way tank player Lee "Panker" Byung-ho's option was not picked up for the 2020 season.[22]
The Gladiators' first player-for-player trade of the offseason took place on October 29, when they traded flex DPS Jang "Decay" Gui-un to theDallas Fuel in exchange for main tank Son "OGE" Min-seok.[23]
