Philly Roller Derby ( PRD ) 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).
41-970: 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. 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) and traveled to face
82-571: A non-stock corporation in 2015, as Mad Rollin' Dolls Inc. Ahead of its fifteenth season in 2019, the league announced a rebrand as Madison Roller Derby. MRD has both all-star A and B-level interleague teams, which are composed of skaters from the four home teams. These teams compete against other WFTDA and non-WFTDA leagues across the United States. The Dairyland Dolls A team competes in WFTDA-sanctioned games. Starting in 2008,
123-715: A 164-151 victory against Denver Roller Derby . Gotham Roller Derby has been featured in major publications and outlets, including the New York Times, ESPN, the Wendy Williams Show, The Huffington Post, the Wall Street Journal and Refinery29. In the 2010s, home bouts were telecast on NYC Life, the flagship station of NYC Media Group , the official TV, radio and online network of the City of New York. In October 2011, Gotham skater Suzy Hotrod
164-524: A 253-210 loss to Texas. At that year's Championships in Milwaukee, Philly lost in the opening round to Windy City Rollers , 221-174. After finishing third at the 2014 Division 1 tournament in Charleston, the Liberty Belles lost to Denver Roller Dolls in the opening round of Championships, 148-139. In 2015, Philly missed WFTDA Championships for the first time since 2007, by finishing in fourth place at
205-623: A roller skate on its foot. League Champions by year are: MRD also includes a recreational league in Madison, originally known as the Mad Wreckin' Dolls and renamed Madison Wreckers Roller Derby in 2016. At the first WFTDA Championships , the 2006 Dust Devil tournament, Madison placed seventh overall. The following year at the first WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, the "Heartland Havoc" event, Madison did not get past
246-613: 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 . 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 and 2008. Gotham Girls Roller Derby Gotham Roller Derby
287-474: 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. At the 2019 WFTDA International Championships in Montreal , Canada, Philly Liberty Belles opened their weekend by defeating eighth-seeded Texas Rollergirls by
328-555: A second Crash Pad location in Bushwick. In recent years, Gotham home teams play against each other at John Jay College and Abe Stark Arena. The league consists of roughly 150 skaters and officials. In 2021, the league announced a rebrand and shortened its name to Gotham Roller Derby, "better reflect our community and the evolution of our sport". The Gotham Girls All-Stars lost their first inter-league bout in September 2005, against
369-514: 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,
410-517: 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. 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
451-701: 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 . Mad Rollin' Dolls was started in 2004 by "Crackerjack," whose sister "Lucille Brawl" had helped found Texas Rollergirls in Austin, Texas , and "Pamdemonium." Currently,
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#1732797351825492-645: Is supported by a "Jeerleader" squad and consists of 16 skaters who were drafted from a pool. The league consists of travel teams that play against other leagues. To join Gotham, skaters must complete tryouts that occur annually in October before they become the league's newest inducted skaters. Skaters tryout over a weekend then advance to tryout period lasting several weeks before they become official league members. Karin "Chassis Crass" Bruce and David "Lefty" Leibowitz met through an online ad in 2003 and together formed
533-754: The Alliant Energy Center , the Dairyland Dolls also competed at the Division 1 tournament, where they entered as the tenth seed and left in seventh place. With upset victories over No Coast Derby Girls (Lincoln, Nebraska) and Chicago's Windy City Rollers , Madison had achieved the most D1 playoff upsets in WFTDA history. In 2017, Madison was the eleventh seed at Division 1 Playoffs in Seattle , but lost 225–83 to host Rat City Rollergirls and 241–140 to Bay Area Derby and finished out of
574-540: 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. 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. At Championships, following an opening round victory over Naptown Roller Girls , Philly lost to Oly in
615-565: The Naptown Roller Girls of Indianapolis (166-101) to finish in fifth place. At the 2015 Division 1 Playoff in Tucson, Madison again pulled rankings upsets (this time over Arizona Roller Derby and Baltimore's Charm City Roller Girls )to improve their position over the weekend, going from the ninth seed to sixth place. For the first time since 2008, Mad Rollin' Dolls hosted a WFTDA Playoff tournament in September 2016. Held at
656-654: The Sin City Rollergirls (Las Vegas). Home events were held at Millennium Skate World in nearby Camden , New Jersey. In March 2007 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. By 2008, the Hostile Honeys had folded and
697-579: The 2019 Gotham Girls Roller Derby home team season are the Bronx Gridlock. In May 2009, the league retired the uniform number of league founder Chassis Crass. Her framed Brooklyn Bombshell retired uniform hangs at Manitoba's, 99 Avenue B in Manhattan. In December 2016 at Gotham's end-of-year awards night, Bonnie Thunders' jersey was retired by the league. Mad Rollin%27 Dolls Madison Roller Derby ( MRD ), founded as " Mad Rollin' Dolls ",
738-575: The Dairyland Dolls of Mad Rollin' Dolls of Madison, Wisconsin, 82-72. In February 2006, the All-Stars competed at the first WFTDA -sanctioned roller derby tournament, the Dust Devil, in Tucson, Arizona where they finished in 10th place. The All-Stars are five-time Women's Flat Track Derby Association champions, winning the Hydra trophy in 2008 and from 2011 through 2014. From the introduction of
779-800: The Division 1 Playoff in Dallas with a 178-154 loss to Rat City Rollergirls of Seattle. 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. At the 2017 Division 1 tournament in Dallas , Philly won their opening game against Arizona Roller Derby 163-108. 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. In 2018, Philly qualified for WFTDA Playoffs as
820-579: The Independence Dolls serve as alternates for The Liberty Belles. Together, these 30 skaters make up PRD's International All-Star travel team contingent. 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
861-769: The Mad Rollin' Dolls added a second travel team, Team Unicorn. Their first bout was in Hamilton, Ontario on July 26, 2008. MRD is composed of four home teams; the Quad Squad, the Reservoir Dolls, the Unholy Rollers and the Vaudeville Vixens. Each year the home teams compete for the league championship, with the winner being awarded a trophy named "Leggy", fashioned from a mannequin leg with
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#1732797351825902-618: The Manhattan Mayhem defeated all-stars from the New Jersey Dirty Dames in a double-header. In 2008, Gotham added more interleague play and held eight bouts at Hunter College. The Wall Street Traitors played teams from Philly, Connecticut, and New England, while the Brooklyn Bombshells and Manhattan Mayhem won against Montreal and Providence, respectively. Since 2010, the league has practiced out of
943-582: The WFTDA Division system in 2013 through March 2017, Gotham was continuously the top- ranked league in the organization until Victorian Roller Derby League took over top spot. In 2018, Gotham received a bye directly to WFTDA Championships , by placing within the top four teams overall, as the third seed, in the June 30 rankings. At Championships in New Orleans, Gotham won the bronze medal with
984-407: The eighth seed in A Coruña , Spain, and opened their weekend by defeating Stockholm Roller Derby by a score of 204-154. 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. In 2019, Philly qualified for WFTDA Playoffs as the third seed in Seattle , and opened their weekend by defeating London Roller Derby by
1025-622: The emphasis more on the sport than on the gender of those participating. Philly hosted the 2017 WFTDA Championships at the Liacouras Center . As of 2016, Philly Roller Derby has four teams, 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
1066-608: The home league operated with three teams. In 2009, Philly moved into a temporary new home venue, the 23rd Street Armory , where they were consistently drawing sold-out crowds of over 700 fans per event. Philly hosted the 2009 WFTDA Championships , dubbed "Declaration of Derby", at the Pennsylvania Convention Center . Philly again hosted Championships in 2017, at the Liacouras Center . In early 2015, Philly announced an official name change to Philly Roller Derby , to both embrace gender inclusivity and to put
1107-636: The league introduced the Queens of Pain, who became the first Gotham Season Champions. In 2006, the league introduced its fourth home team, the Bronx Gridlock. In 2007, The Skate Key closed and the league secured a practice space called the Crash Pad. The league began holding season bouts at City College of New York and Hunter College. That same year, the Brooklyn Bombshells defeated the Long Island Roller Rebels All-Stars, and
1148-423: 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. Gotham consists of four home teams that represent four of the city's boroughs that do not reflect the residences of the skaters. These team play interleague games against each other, culminating in the annual championship game. Each team
1189-679: The medals. In 2018, MRD missed the cutoff for WFTDA Playoffs, instead qualifying for the first WFTDA Continental Cup , the 2018 North America East edition in Kalamazoo , Michigan, at which they were the second seed. MRD finished the weekend in fourth place, dropping the bronze medal game to Team United Roller Derby by a score of 189–131. In 2019, MRD again qualified for the WFTDA Continental Cup North America East, held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania , as
1230-520: The organization as Gotham Girls Roller Derby, initially recruiting skaters and holding "open skate" sessions. In 2004, Gotham hosted their first exhibition bout, the "Beat Down in the Boogie Down," at The Skate Key, where a crowd of 600 watched the Brooklyn Bombshells defeat the Manhattan Mayhem in overtime. In 2005, Gotham launched its first full season at The Skate Key, with a roster of 20-25 skaters. After two games between Manhattan and Brooklyn,
1271-431: The organization has a four-team home league that competes for an annual championship. The league also has two travel teams that compete internationally. Mad Rollin' Dolls games in Madison are held at the Alliant Energy Center and have been known to sell out, with crowds of 1500 people. As a business enterprise, the league was registered in 2004 as a limited liability corporation , Mad Rollin' Dolls LLC, and converted into
Philly Roller Derby - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-637: The quarterfinals, 181-95. For the fourth straight year, Philly faced - and lost to - Gotham in the East Region final, to again finish the tournament in second place. At Champs, Philly lost in the opening round to Bay Area, 169-119. 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 , at which they finished in second place with
1353-695: The quarterfinals, the Liberty Belles were defeated in overtime by the West #2 seed Rocky Mountain Rollergirls 128-121, eliminating them from the tournament. In 2010, Philly again faced Gotham in the East Region Final, this time with Gotham winning 133-103, placing Philly in second. At the "Uproar on the Lakeshore" 2010 Championships in Chicago, the Liberty Belles defeated Mad Rollin' Dolls and
1394-547: The second round. In October 2008 the Mad Rollin' Dolls hosted that year's East Region Playoff, " Derby in Dairyland ". At that tournament, Madison won their opening game against the Minnesota Rollergirls 143–67, but then lost in the quarterfinals to Gotham Girls Roller Derby of New York, 138–70. Following a win against Grand Raggidy Roller Girls and a narrow loss to Boston Derby Dames , Madison finished
1435-467: The second round. 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. At Championships in Portland, Oregon , Philly opened with a narrow victory over Bay Area Derby Girls which matched them up - again - against Gotham in
1476-503: The second straight year, Madison was defeated in the opening round, this time by Philly Roller Girls , 213–53. In 2011, the Dairyland Dolls entered the North Central Playoffs as the sixth seed, but lost each game and finished the weekend in tenth place. In 2012, Madison entered what would be the final North Central Regional Playoff as the tenth seed, and improved on their seeding by defeating Arch Rival Roller Girls in
1517-671: The semifinal, who won handily. Philly ultimately took third place with a 114-95 victory against Texas Rollergirls . 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. In 2009, PRG hosted the WFTDA Championships in Philadelphia, where the Philly Roller Girls had a bye past the first round due to their first-place regional seeding. In
1558-655: The seventh place game, 217–119. In 2013, the WFTDA changed its playoff structure, and Madison qualified for the WFTDA Division 1 International Playoff tournament in Asheville, North Carolina as the sixth seed, ultimately finishing in ninth place with a 265–195 victory over the Columbia Quadsquad . As the seventh seed in Charleston for Division 1 Playoffs in 2014, the Dairyland Dolls improved on their seeding with upset victories over Boston (176-175) and
1599-590: The sixth seed. MRD defeated Ohio Roller Derby 159-132 before falling to Detroit Roller Derby 258-146 and Tampa Roller Derby 182–116. As a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the Mad Rollin' Dolls were originally member of the WFTDA's East Region , but by the end of 2008 were moved to the North Central Region , and were ranked sixth in the North Central at the end of 2012. The WFTDA moved away from regions and into
1640-597: The weekend in sixth place. In 2009, now part of the North Central Region , Mad Rollin' Dolls placed second in the North Central Regional Tournament , "Brawl of America" in Saint Paul, Minnesota. At the 2009 Championships, Madison was eliminated by Boston, 104–98. At the 2010 North Central Playoffs, Madison came in third place, winning their final game 164–143 against Cincinnati Rollergirls , to again qualify for WFTDA Championships. For
1681-673: Was featured photographed without clothing in ESPN Magazine 's annual "The Body Issue," representing roller derby alongside athletes from many other mainstream American sports. League Champions are determined in an end-of-season playoff bout and additional award winners are determined by poll of league members. The C.A.N.T.S.L.E.E.P. award is the "Crass Award for Never-Tiring Support for the League with Endless Enthusiasm and Positivity," named for league founder Chassis Crass, and awarded to one league member each year. The current champions of