Boston Uprising

Franchise Foundation and Early Success

The Boston Uprising were born on July 12, 2017, when Blizzard Entertainment announced the Kraft Group had acquired the Boston-based Overwatch League franchise. Robert Kraft stated the global success of Overwatch and the league's structure made it the right entry point into esports for his organization. Chris HuK Loranger was appointed president of gaming in August 2017 to oversee player acquisition, training, and daily operations. The team's name, logo, and blue-yellow-black color scheme, inspired by Boston's flag and revolutionary history, were revealed that October alongside an eight-player roster.

The Uprising's inaugural 2018 season began with a loss to the New York Excelsior but found their first win a day later against the Florida Mayhem. A significant change occurred in April when player Jonathan DreamKazper Sanchez was indefinitely suspended and then released following allegations of misconduct. Kwon Striker Nam-joo took over the starting position. This move proved beneficial as the Striker-led Uprising did not lose a single match throughout Stage 3, going 10-0 to become the first team to go undefeated in a stage. They reached the Stage 3 finals, losing to the New York Excelsior. Before Stage 4, a game update reduced Striker's effectiveness and head coach Park Crusty Dae-hee left for the San Francisco Shock. The Uprising finished the regular season in third place with a 26-14 record. Their postseason ended in the quarterfinals with a loss to the Philadelphia Fusion.

A Period of Struggle and Rebuilding

The period following the 2018 high was challenging. Before the 2019 season, the Uprising lost head coach Crusty and traded star players Striker and Noh Gamsu Young-jin to the San Francisco Shock and Shanghai Dragons respectively. They played the entire 2019 season without a head coach. The team picked up tank player Cameron Fusions Bosworth after his 2018 World Cup performance. Their record was middling at 7-7 in the first half, but they only secured a single win in the second half, finishing the regular season in 19th place with an 8-20 record.

A major rebuild began ahead of 2020 with the hiring of head coach Vytis Mineral Lasaitis, the organization's first head coach in 16 months. The team released all but three players, signing mostly rookies. Many analysts predicted a finish near the bottom of the standings. Throughout the season, Boston parted ways with four players, and tank player Park Axxiom Min-sub became inactive for medical reasons. The roster instability proved too much, as Boston ended the season with a league-worst 2-19 record and found no success in midseason or play-in tournaments.

Another reset came for the 2021 season with new head coach Kim Lori Seung-hyun, while Mineral took a management role. The team retained four players including Colourhex, Fusions, Myunb0ng, and Punk, while signing a mixture of veterans and rookies. They placed second in the SteelSeries Invitational. Behind a stable roster, Boston finished in 15th place with a 7-9 record, their best regular season winning percentage since 2018. They qualified for the Western region play-in tournament but lost in the first round to the Toronto Defiant.

Final Seasons and Legacy

The Uprising's final chapters were marked by brief reunions and a late playoff return. In the following offseason after 2021, the team parted ways with six players, including Colourhex, Myunb0ng, and Fusions, who retired from professional Overwatch. For the 2022 season, the team notably re-signed Striker after his retirement in the middle of the 2021 season. However, three weeks into the season, Striker was dropped from the team. The organization's final competitive achievement came in the Overwatch League's last season in 2023, when they returned to the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.

Throughout their existence, the Boston Uprising remained a part of the league as one of its twelve founding teams. Their identity was tied to their city, with the name Uprising honoring Boston's resilient forefathers in the American Revolution. The shield logo featuring a bold B and the color scheme drawing inspiration from the colors found in Boston's city flag reinforced this local connection.

Organization and Sponsorships

The Uprising were owned by the Kraft Group, giving them a direct link to traditional sports through Robert Kraft's ownership of the NFL's New England Patriots. The organization also fielded an academy team, Uprising Academy, which competed in Overwatch Contenders. This team originated from a partnership with the Toronto Esports Club's Overwatch Contenders team announced in February 2018. Following the unveiling of the Toronto Defiant in the Overwatch League, the league informed the Uprising they needed to change the academy team's name. The Toronto Esports team decided to pull out of Contenders completely. The Kraft organization retained the rights to the players, coaches and the Contenders slot, with the team officially competing as Uprising Academy.

In terms of commercial partnerships, the Uprising secured sponsorships with major Boston-based companies. Their first partner, revealed in late April 2018, was Gillette. The deal included digital and social content initiatives, and the Gillette logo was featured on the team's practice jerseys and training facility. On October 31, 2018, the team added Bose as a sponsor, joining other Kraft-owned sports franchises and Boston teams supported by the audio company.

Notable Players and Recognition

Several Uprising players earned individual recognition through All-Star Game selections, highlighting key contributors across different eras. In the team's successful 2018 season, three players were selected: tank Noh Gamsu Young-jin, support Park Neko Se-hyun, and damage player Kwon Striker Nam-joo. Cameron Fusions Bosworth represented the team in 2019, and support Seo Myunb0ng Sang-min was selected in 2020.

While team success was intermittent after 2018, these selections underscored the individual talent that passed through the organization. Players like Striker, whose mid-season insertion in 2018 led to the historic undefeated stage, and Fusions, who joined after a strong 2018 World Cup performance, became defining figures for the Boston Uprising.