Metro area | Philadelphia, PA |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Founded | 2005 |
Teams | Liberty Belles (A) Block Party (B) City Wide Specials (C) Germantown Loose Cannons Passyunk Punks West Philly Warriors Philly Roller Derby Juniors |
Track type(s) | Flat |
Venue | The Roller Jawn |
Affiliations | WFTDA |
Website | http://www.phillyrollerderby.com/ |
Philly Roller Derby (PRD) [1] is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, Philly Roller Derby is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). [2]
First organized as the Philly Roller Girls in 2005, the league debuted in 2006 as a four-team home league, comprising the Broad Street Butchers, the Heavy Metal Hookers, the Hostile City Honeys and the Philthy Britches. [3] The home teams competed for a league championship called the Warrior Cup. Later in 2006, Philly launched a travel team called the Liberty Belles, made of members of the home teams, that by November had hosted Gotham Girls Roller Derby (New York City) [4] and traveled to face the Sin City Rollergirls (Las Vegas). [5] Home events were held at Millennium Skate World in nearby Camden, New Jersey. [4]
In March 2007 [6] Philly first hosted East Coast Derby Extravaganza (ECDX), an invitational weekend tournament at the Sportsplex in Feasterville (which had also become the league regular home) that hit its 10th anniversary event in 2016. [7] By 2008, the Hostile Honeys had folded and the home league operated with three teams. In 2009, Philly moved into a temporary new home venue, the 23rd Street Armory, [8] [9] where they were consistently drawing sold-out crowds of over 700 fans per event. [10]
Philly hosted the 2009 WFTDA Championships, dubbed "Declaration of Derby", at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. [11] Philly again hosted Championships in 2017, at the Liacouras Center. [12]
In early 2015, Philly announced an official name change to Philly Roller Derby, to both embrace gender inclusivity and to put the emphasis more on the sport than on the gender of those participating. [1] [13]
Philly hosted the 2017 WFTDA Championships at the Liacouras Center. [14]
As of 2016, Philly Roller Derby has four teams, [15] which compete against teams from other roller derby leagues. The Liberty Belles are Philly's all-star travel team, and represent the league at the highest level of interleague competition in the WFTDA. The Independence Dolls represent PRD against WFTDA "B" level travel teams, up-and-coming WFTDA "A" level travel teams and non-WFTDA all-star teams. Members of the Independence Dolls serve as alternates for The Liberty Belles. Together, these 30 skaters make up PRD's International All-Star travel team contingent. [16]
The Block Party represents Philly Roller Derby primarily against regional competitors. Considered a pick-up team, the Block Party is composed of skaters not already skating for the Liberty Belles or Independence Dolls who are interested in additional competitive playing time. The Cheeseskates is a team limited to first year Philly Roller Derby skaters (fresh meat or transfers).
PRD run a junior roller derby league, Philly Roller Derby Juniors, open to skaters from 6-18 years old who play by the JRDA ruleset. [17]
Season | Champion | Second Place | Third Place |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Philthy Brithches | Broad Street Butchers | Heavy Metal Hookers |
2007 | Philthy Brithches | Broad Street Butchers | Heavy Metal Hookers |
2008 | Philthy Brithches | Broad Street Butchers | Heavy Metal Hookers |
2009 | Philthy Brithches | Heavy Metal Hookers | Broad Street Butchers |
2010 | Broad Street Butchers | Philthy Brithches | Heavy Metal Hookers |
2011 | Philthy Brithches | Broad Street Butchers | Heavy Metal Hookers |
2012 | Heavy Metal Hookers | Broad Street Butchers | Philthy Brithches |
2013 | NO Home Team | ||
2014 | NO Home Team | ||
2015 | NO Home Team | ||
2016 | NO Home Team | ||
2017 | Germantown Loose Cannons | Passssyunk Punks | West Philly Warriors |
2018 | Germantown Loose Cannons | Passssyunk Punks | West Philly Warriors |
2019 | Passssyunk Punks | Germantown Loose Cannons | West Philly Warriors |
2020 | COVID-19 | COVID-19 | COVID-19 |
This section needs to be updated.(October 2023) |
Philly's Liberty Belles first appeared at WFTDA Playoffs at the first WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament, "Heartland Havoc" in Columbus, Ohio, where they were eliminated by Gotham in the second round. [18] The following year in Madison, a narrow loss to Gotham in the semifinal put Philly in the third-place game at Eastern Regionals, which they won against Carolina Rollergirls 112-48 to qualify for WFTDA Championships for the first time. [19] At Championships in Portland, Oregon, Philly opened with a narrow victory over Bay Area Derby Girls which matched them up - again - against Gotham in the semifinal, who won handily. [20] Philly ultimately took third place with a 114-95 victory against Texas Rollergirls. [20]
At the 2009 East Region Tournament "Wicked Wheels of the East" in Raleigh, the Liberty Belles finally defeated Gotham 90-89 to take first place. [21] In 2009, PRG hosted the WFTDA Championships in Philadelphia, [11] where the Philly Roller Girls had a bye past the first round due to their first-place regional seeding. In the quarterfinals, the Liberty Belles were defeated in overtime by the West #2 seed Rocky Mountain Rollergirls 128-121, eliminating them from the tournament. [22]
In 2010, Philly again faced Gotham in the East Region Final, this time with Gotham winning 133-103, placing Philly in second. [23] At the "Uproar on the Lakeshore" 2010 Championships in Chicago, the Liberty Belles defeated Mad Rollin' Dolls and the Kansas City Roller Warriors in the opening rounds, and then lost their semifinal to Oly Rollers, pitting them against Gotham in the third place game, which they lost 162-51 to finish in fourth place. [24]
The Liberty Belles met Gotham for the fifth straight Eastern Regional Tournament in 2011, losing the final 252-97 to again finish in second place. [25] At Championships, following an opening round victory over Naptown Roller Girls, Philly lost to Oly in the quarterfinals, 181-95. [26] For the fourth straight year, Philly faced - and lost to - Gotham in the East Region final, to again finish the tournament in second place. [27] At Champs, Philly lost in the opening round to Bay Area, 169-119. [28]
Beginning in 2013, the WFTDA moved to a divisional system instead of geographic for playoff tournaments, and he Liberty Belles qualified for the 2013 Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 1 playoff tournament in Richmond, Virginia, [29] at which they finished in second place with a 253-210 loss to Texas. [30] At that year's Championships in Milwaukee, Philly lost in the opening round to Windy City Rollers, 221-174. [31] After finishing third at the 2014 Division 1 tournament in Charleston, [32] the Liberty Belles lost to Denver Roller Dolls in the opening round of Championships, 148-139. [33] In 2015, Philly missed WFTDA Championships for the first time since 2007, by finishing in fourth place at the Division 1 Playoff in Dallas with a 178-154 loss to Rat City Rollergirls of Seattle. [34] Philly had a repeat result in 2016 with a second consecutive day 3 loss to Rat City at the Vancouver Division 1 tournament, 134-114, to again finish in fourth place and miss Championships. [35] At the 2017 Division 1 tournament in Dallas, Philly won their opening game against Arizona Roller Derby 163-108. [36] After losing their quarterfinal to Victorian Roller Derby League, Philly finished their weekend by winning their consolation round game against Santa Cruz Derby Girls 156-106. [37]
In 2018, Philly qualified for WFTDA Playoffs as the eighth seed in A Coruña, Spain, and opened their weekend by defeating Stockholm Roller Derby by a score of 204-154. [38] For the second year in a row, Philly ended their weekend in the consolation round against Santa Cruz, this time losing by a score of 186-139. [39]
In 2019, Philly qualified for WFTDA Playoffs as the third seed in Seattle, and opened their weekend by defeating London Roller Derby by a score of 199-121. For the second game Philly took on second seed Montreal Roller Derby, losing 181-147. Philly defeated Crime City Rollers by a score of 156-104 to win the bronze medal, qualifying for WFTDA Championships for the first time since 2014. [40] At the 2019 WFTDA International Championships in Montreal, Canada, Philly Liberty Belles opened their weekend by defeating eighth-seeded Texas Rollergirls by a score of 136-114. For the second game Philly took on top seed Rose City Rollers, losing 205-50. For the third game Philly took on sixth seed Montreal Roller Derby, losing 135-115.
The 2020 WFTDA season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Season | Final ranking [41] | Playoffs | Championship |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | 18 WFTDA [42] | — | N/A |
2007 | 10 WFTDA [43] | R2 E [18] | DNQ |
2008 | 2 E [44] | 3 E [19] | 3 [20] |
2009 | 2 E [45] | 1 E [21] | QF [22] |
2010 | 2 E [46] | 2 E [23] | 4 [24] |
2011 | 2 E [47] | 2 E [25] | QF [26] |
2012 | 2 E [48] | 2 E [27] | R1 [28] |
2013 | 14 WFTDA [49] | 2 D1 [30] | R1 D1 [31] |
2014 | 10 WFTDA [50] | 3 D1 [32] | R1 D1 [33] |
2015 | 11 WFTDA [51] | 4 D1 [34] | DNQ |
2016 | 17 WFTDA [52] | 4 D1 [35] | DNQ |
2017 | 25 WFTDA [53] | CR D1 [37] | DNQ |
2018 | 23 WFTDA [54] | CR [39] | DNQ |
2019 | 9 WFTDA [55] | 3 [56] | R2 [57] |
2020 | NO DERBY COVID-19 |
Philly donated a portion of ticket proceeds from the East Coast Derby Extravaganza tournament to benefit the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation in both 2007 [58] and 2008. [59]
This section needs additional citations for verification .(January 2021) |
Windy City Rollers is a women's flat-track roller derby league located in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Juanna Rumbel and Sister Sledgehammer in 2004, Windy City is the first flat-track roller derby league established in Chicago, and is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Rat City Roller Derby is a women's flat-track roller derby league in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2004 as Rat City Rollergirls, LLC, the league has incorporated alternative cultural influences, and has inspired and mentored other leagues. Rat City is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and has achieved success on the WFTDA stage, qualifying for WFTDA Playoffs every season, including a second-place finish in the 2007 WFTDA Championships.
Providence Roller Derby (PRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 2004 as the first all-female flat-track roller derby league in New England, Providence is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The Rose City Rollers is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Portland, Oregon, operating as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). Established in 2004, the Rose City Rollers consists of a recreational program, four adult local home teams, and two all-star travel teams that represent the league in competition with others as well as junior skaters on six home teams with a travel team for Rose Petals (7–12) and a travel team for Rosebuds (12–17). Rose City's all-star travel team "Wheels of Justice" won the WFTDA Championships in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
The Kansas City Roller Warriors (KCRW) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Kansas City, Kansas that was founded in 2004. The members of the league are split into four home teams that play within the league and two travel teams that represent KCRW in competition with other leagues. KCRW is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and the Kansas City Roller Warriors All Star travel team was the winner of the 2007 WFTDA Championships, the "Texas Shootout", which took place in Austin, Texas.
Carolina Roller Derby is a women's flat-track roller derby league in Raleigh, North Carolina. Operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and founded in January 2004, Carolina is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Texas Rollergirls is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Austin, Texas. Founded in early 2003 and widely credited as the league that started the modern roller derby movement, the Texas Rollergirls were the first flat-track league in the nation to play a version of roller derby using new standardized rules and a track design based on the dimensions of the old banked tracks. As flat-track derby caught on in other American cities, the Texas Rollergirls' rulebook and track design eventually evolved into the specifications that were adopted and ratified upon formation of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) in 2005, of which Texas is a founding member.
Ohio Roller Derby (OHRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 2005, the league currently consists of two mixed teams which compete against teams from other leagues. Ohio Roller Derby is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Madison Roller Derby (MRD), founded as "Mad Rollin' Dolls", is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 2004, Madison is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and was the fourth league to join the fledgling organization. Since 2006, Madison has qualified for the WFTDA post-season every year, including three appearances at WFTDA Championships.
Gotham Roller Derby is a flat track roller derby league based in New York City, New York. Founded in late 2003, Gotham is the first flat track roller derby league in the metropolitan New York area and a founding member league of the sport's governing body, the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). Gotham is one of the preeminent leagues in roller derby, having won five WFTDA Championships. Today, the league is composed of four New York City-based teams, three travel teams, a competitive developmental team, a non competitive recreational program and a juniors program for youth.
Charm City Roller Derby (CCRD), was a flat track roller derby league in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 2005, Charm City is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The Oly Rollers are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Olympia, Washington. Founded in February 2006, the Oly Rollers have won both the WFTDA Championship and the USARS National Championship. The Oly Rollers are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Rocky Mountain Roller Derby (RMRD) is a flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2004, Rocky Mountain is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and has qualified for WFTDA Playoffs every year, including winning the WFTDA Championships in 2010.
Houston Roller Derby (HRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Houston, Texas. HRD was founded in early 2004, and is a founding member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Nashville Roller Derby is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded as Nashville Rollergirls, the league is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Dutchland Derby Rollers or Dutchland Rollers, is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005, the Dutchland Rollers have been a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) since 2008.
Naptown Roller Derby (NRD) is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 2006, the league started their 10th season in March 2016. Naptown Roller Derby is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The home bouts of Naptown Roller Derby are held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
Duke City Roller Derby (DCRD) is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 2005, Duke City is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The International Women's Flat Track Derby Association Championships are the leading competition for roller derby leagues.
The WFTDA East Region Playoffs or WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament was one of four annual roller derby regional qualifying tournaments for the WFTDA Championships.