The Los Angeles Valiant have been busy.

Leading up to the transfer deadline for Overwatch League Season 1, the Valiant by far have been the most active team tinkering with their lineup as teams ready themselves for Stage 3 of the competition.

Following the addition of Korean-born Tracer specialist, Joon-hyuk “Bunny” Chae from the Seoul Dynasty last week, the Valiant earlier today confirmed a host of roster-related movements as they sought to strengthen their push for the seasonal playoff spot. A one-for-one trade with the Dallas Fuel’s for support main Scott “Custa” Kennedy will see French support main and former Rogue, Benjamin “uNKOE” Chevasson head the opposite direction.

Please join us in welcoming Scott @Custa Kennedy who we have acquired in trade with @DallasFuel!

Read 📰 » https://t.co/lehTRctpkt pic.twitter.com/SCCCtKw59Y

— Los Angeles Valiant 👼 (@LAValiant) April 2, 2018

By joining the Fuel, uNKOE reunites with his former French national team and Rogue compatriot, Dylan “aKm” Bignet. This move leaves Terence “SoOn” Tarlier as the sole Rogue member remaining at Valiant – a strange situation considering the recent addition of Bunny, who many believe will be favored to fill the Tracer role.

🔥💙ROSTER ANNOUNCEMENT: @Custa has been traded to @LAValiant in exchange for @unkoe. Both players will be eligible to play in Stage 3. Welcome uNKOE to Dallas Fuel! #BurnBlue

Press Release: https://t.co/V51VzLZ8KT pic.twitter.com/1Bt8JEfEmf

— Dallas Fuel (@DallasFuel) April 2, 2018

The Valiant also had a change in the coaching department as Christopher “GrimReality” Schaefer has been moved to the Assistant Coach role for the team. LA Valiant’s official post read:

Christopher “GrimReality” Schaefer decided to transition from active player to a coaching role within the LA Valiant. Schaefer will be assuming the role of an assistant coach, working directly with Stoop to scout up and coming talent, assist his colleagues with strategic review, and liaise player issues with management.

However, the biggest news of the day from the Valiant would be the departure of tank main, Kang-Jae “Envy” Lee. After breakdown in talks to trade him, involving proposed swap deals with Dallas Fuel’s Brandon ‘Seagull‘ Larned as well as with Seoul Dynasty for Jae-mo “xepheR” Koo, the Valiant have decided to mutually part ways with the player.

According to Rod ‘Slasher’ Breslau’s tweet from a few days back, these moves were done to free roster slots and one of the main reason they want to get rid of Envy was due to personality clashes.

In addition to the LA Valiant’s expected trade of Unkoe to the Dallas Fuel, the team is also looking to transfer the contracts or trade Envy, Silkthread, and GrimReality, sources said. This is to free up roster spots and again, due to personality clashes. SoOn likely to stay.

— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) March 30, 2018

Commenting on his departure from the Valiant, Envy tweeted the following:

Hi! I know a lot of fans are curious and have questions about this sudden release. So I would like to kinda sort out things here a bit. There is an actual rumor about me punching the coaches’ faces and blah blah. THIS ISNT REAL. First of all, I was not that aware of cultural

— Envy (@envyow) April 2, 2018

differences between NA an Korea. I was really aggressive for winning and this kinda falsely led to somewhere I did not intend to. Also, I was stressed out throughout stage 1 to 2 and miscommunication caused by the language barrier obviously took part of it. Imo, I tried my best

— Envy (@envyow) April 2, 2018

but did not work out the way I expected to be. So the team and I decided to either trade or release me but the day we made decision was too close to the trade window so I was not able to find my new home. The team and I both had a long talk and came across together with this

— Envy (@envyow) April 2, 2018

decision. It was hard for me but also for the team as well. Once again, I really appreciate your supports and love and will try my best to get back in SS2 in Korea. 🤗

— Envy (@envyow) April 2, 2018

In other news also related to the Valiant, word has it that Ted ‘Silkthread‘ Wang is set to join city rivals, the LA Gladiators. Slasher broke the news a few hours ago and his sources have been spot on to date.

LA Valiant’s Silkthread contract is set to be transferred/sold to the LA Gladiators, sources said.

— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) April 2, 2018

After finishing fourth in Stage 1, the Valiant had a disastrous Stage 2 as they struggled with the meta change. They dropped to 8th in the league and are now in damage control mode as they try to make ground as the second half of the season resume this week.

Stage 3 of the Overwatch League’s inaugural season kicks off Thursday and it’s gonna be a juicy one as Bunny -if he starts – set to face his old mates as the Valiant face the Dynasty. Other interesting matches include the potential debut of the league’s first ever female player, Zarya specialist Kim “Geguri” Se-yeon as the Shanghai Dragons take on Dallas Fuel.

This week’s matches are as follows: