New to WFTDA 2017 Playoffs: Paris Rollergirls

New to WFTDA 2017 Playoffs: Paris Rollergirls Photo credit: Cedric Hervaud. facebook.com/cedric.hervaud.3
August 16, 2017

The Paris Rollergirls are another team putting their country on the WFTDA map this year, with their Playoff debut. Like most teams with a competitive edge, they dreamed of making tournaments and after taking a risk, Paris realized how attainable their goals really were.

Going 5-0 in sanctioned games this season, Paris’s passion is taking them all the way to Pittsburgh, PA, as a #3 seed at the Division 2 Playoffs. Read on to learn more about the French roller derby scene, and how the drive and commitment of the Paris Rollergirls have taken them this far.

Read More

New to WFTDA 2017 Playoffs: Pirate City Rollers

New to WFTDA 2017 Playoffs: Pirate City Rollers Photo credit: Regularman Photography. regularmanphotography.com
August 15, 2017

So far we have highlighted a few teams from Europe that are debuting at WFTDA Playoffs this season, but now sail with us over to New Zealand to get to know the Pirate City Rollers.

As the team of firsts for leagues in Aotearoa, Pirate City’s desire to make it to WFTDA tournaments helped them overcome various obstacles due to their location. Pirate City was established in 2006, and formed its all-star team—the All Scars—in 2009. This weekend in Pittsburgh, this team from Auckland finally gets their chance at a bracket in WFTDA postseason.

Read More

New to WFTDA 2017 Playoffs: Dublin Roller Derby

New to WFTDA 2017 Playoffs: Dublin Roller Derby Photo credit: Roller Derby on Film. facebook.com/pg/RollerDerbyOnFilm
August 10, 2017

As Ireland’s first roller derby team, Dublin Roller Derby now takes the title of the first Irish team to make it to WFTDA Playoffs as well. With teams becoming more accurately ranked in Europe, Dublin managed to earn their trip to Pittsburgh without a prior trip across the Atlantic in 2017.

Ranked #58, Dublin may have snuck into Playoffs, but they have been making progress in leaps and bounds and are excited to take hold of this opportunity and show that they shouldn’t be underestimated.

Read More

New to WFTDA 2017 Playoffs: Middlesbrough Roller Derby

New to WFTDA 2017 Playoffs: Middlesbrough Roller Derby Photo credit: NSP 189 Photography. facebook.com/pg/nsp189
August 3, 2017

This year there was a bigger influx of leagues outside the United States that got their first invite to WFTDA Playoffs. Middlesbrough Roller Derby was one of those seven invited teams.

Despite being a small league and having to deal with the ranking roadblocks that come with being located in UK, the team has carved a path up the ranks to make it to Division 2 Playoffs this year. Here’s a quick look at who Middlesbrough is, and how their journey has led them to Pittsburgh later this month.

Read More

2017 MRDA Playoffs and Championships

2017 MRDA Playoffs and Championships Photo credit: John Hesse. facebook.com/john.hesse
July 28, 2017

Last November, the Men’s Roller Derby Association announced a new structure for their post season tournaments which has expanded to include two regional playoffs. Like WFTDA, this year is also the first time a MRDA tournament will be held outside the United States, and in fact, none of the three men’s tournaments are in the states this season. The new format has 20 teams participating and the first five teams will compete this weekend in Toulouse, France for two spots at Championships.

Read More