WFTDA Championships
The International Women's Flat Track Derby Association Championships are the leading competition for roller derby leagues.
The Championships are organized by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. They originated in 2007 as the Inaugural National WFTDA Championship "Texas Shootout" held in Austin, Texas. Previously the "Dust Devil" tournament in 2006 featured teams from across the US, was held in front of several thousand fans in Tucson, Arizona. This was the first multi-league flat track roller derby tournament.
In 2019, the Championships were hosted outside the United States for the first time, in Montreal, Canada. 2026 will mark the first Championships held outside of North America, taking place in Europe.
Format
In 2007, Western and Eastern Region Tournaments were held in order to determine qualifiers for the "Texas Shootout" National Championship, held in Austin, Texas. By 2010, with leagues in Canada and the United Kingdom also enjoying membership of the WFTDA, "National" was dropped from the title of the contest.Through the 2012 WFTDA season, the WFTDA was divided into regions based on geography. Each region held a tournament contested by its top ten leagues: the Eastern, WFTDA [North Central Region Tournament|North Central], WFTDA [South Central Region Tournament|South Central] and Western Regional Tournaments. The top three leagues from each of these four tournaments qualified for the Championships. Together, the qualifying tournaments and Championships were termed the "Big 5".
From 2013 through 2016, full WFTDA members were eligible for ranking in one of the association's three divisions. Division 1 comprised the top 40-ranked teams in the WFTDA, and the top 40 teams that met eligibility requirements based on the June 30 rankings of that year were invited to Division 1 Playoffs, and were divided into four playoff tournaments using an S-curve for seeding. Participants in Division 1 Playoffs were not required to be current members of Division 1, as long as they meet ranking and other requirements. The teams that finished first through third at each Division 1 Tournament then moved on to the WFTDA Championship tournament. Division 2 comprised the teams ranked 41 through 100, and the next 20 teams overall that meet requirements after the 40 confirmed Division 1 playoff participants were then invited to Division 2 Playoffs, divided into two playoff tournaments. The top 2 teams of each Division 2 Tournament then played each other at the WFTDA Championship Tournament, with the winner crowned the Division 2 champion. Through 2014, Division 3 comprised all ranked teams from 101 on, and there are no Division 3 Playoffs.
Starting with the 2017 season, the top 36 teams compete in three Division 1 Playoff Tournaments, and the top four finishers from each tournament go on to the WFTDA Championship Tournament. The next 16 eligible teams compete in a single Division 2 Playoff Tournament, with the winner crowned the Division 2 champion.
Since 2008, the winner of the Championships has been awarded the Hydra Trophy.
Broadcast
The tournament is broadcast on the WFTDA online service WFTDA.tv on a pay-per-view basis; starting in 2015 the WFTDA entered into a partnership with ESPN whereby the Sunday games of the tournament – the Division 1 and Division 2 championship and 3rd place games – are carried on ESPN3. For 2017 the format was changed, with the Division 2 Championship occurring earlier in the year, and the Division 1 championship game scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN2, marking the first time contemporary women's flat track roller derby will be aired live on American network television.Championships
2006 Dust Devil
In Tucson, Arizona, over the weekend of February 24–26, 2006, Tucson Roller Derby hosted 20 WFTDA leagues from around the United States in a tournament.Round-robin bouts were instituted to determine seeding for a single-elimination tournament. Four pools were created, titled Scorpion, Tarantula, Black Widow and Rattlesnake, with each pool consisting of 5 teams. On Friday, February 24, 2006, each team played four ten-minute bouts in each pool. Point differential was used to determine the ranking and placement of each team within its pool. With this information in hand, tournament officials selected the top three teams of each pool and seeded them according to the point differential of each team for the single-elimination tournament.
The single-elimination tournament started on Saturday, February 25, 2006 with 12 of the previous day's 20 teams. Scheduling of the bouts allowed for the top four seeded teams to receive a bye in the first round of play. Teams seeded 5 through 12 played in the first round. The winners of the first round of the single elimination tournament played the top four seeds in the second round. Bout winners advanced to the semi-finals and bout losers were eliminated.
On Sunday February 26, 2006, four teams played in the semi-final bouts. In the first bout, the Texecutioners defeated the Tent City Terrors in a full three-period bout, 114 to 81, sending the Texas to the championship bout and Arizona to the 3rd-place bout. A second full three-period semi-final bout was played between Tucson and the Minnesota Rollergirls. Tucson defeated Minnesota 136–75. This pitted the Tent City Terrors against Minnesota for the 3rd-place bout, and set the WFTDA National Championship Bout to be between Texas and Tucson. The 3rd-place bout was played out with the Tent City Terrors upsetting 3rd-seeded Minnesota 115–88. The Championship bout was finalized later in the evening, with the Texecutioners defeating the Saddle Tramps 129–96.
The tournament also saw the first collaboration between roller derby announcers. Following the event, announcer Bob Noxious founded "Voices of Reason", an announcers' association.
2007 Texas Shootout
On September 30, 2007, the Kansas City Roller Warriors beat the Rat City Rollergirls 89–85 in the final match of the Texas Shootout to become the first WFTDA National Champions. The Texas Rollergirls placed third. Eight teams competed in the tournament, four from the eastern regional division and four from the western regional division. These teams included Carolina Rollergirls, Gotham Girls Roller Derby, Tucson Roller Derby, Detroit Derby Girls, and Windy City Rollers.Several marketing materials as well as a statement from WFTDA President "Crackerjack" on page 5 of the program for this event confirms that at the time it was considered the "first WFTDA Championship Tournament."
2008 Northwest Knockdown
On November 16, 2008, the Gotham Girls Roller Derby beat the Windy City Rollers 134–66 in the championship bout. The Philly Rollergirls beat the Texas Rollergirls 114–95 in the consolation bout to take third place.2009 Declaration of Derby
Declaration of Derby, the 2009 WFTDA Championship tournament took place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA from November 13th through the 15th. The Denver Roller Dolls pioneered the "slow derby" style of play, utilizing slow and stopped packs and backwards skating, which proved effective against most opposition but was unpopular with crowds. They were finally defeated 178–91 in the semi-finals by the Oly Rollers who were regarded as a largely unknown force, though they had gone undefeated through the whole season.Rocky Mountain Rollergirls had unexpectedly sailed through their qualifying tournament, and beat Philly Roller Girls in an overtime jam in their quarter final, later losing to defending champions Texas Rollergirls 139–82 in the semi-final. The semi-final saw Rocky Mountain skater DeRanged ejected from the tournament after apparently punching Angie-Christ from Texas.
Denver defeated Rocky 151–103 in the third place bout, greatly aided by forty-four points to nil scored in the later section of the first half.
Oly dominated Texas in the championship bout, taking the title 178–100 and being named the 2009 WFTDA Champions.
| Date | Time | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
| November 13th | 3:30PM EST | Boston Derby Dames | 104 - 98 | Mad Rollin' Dolls |
| November 13th | 5:15PM EST | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls | 239 - 46 | Houston Roller Derby |
| November 13th | 7PM EST | Denver Roller Dolls | 175 - 89 | Kansas City Roller Warriors |
| November 13th | 8:45PM EST | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 187 - 38 | Detroit Derby Girls |
| November 14th | 10AM EST | Texas Rollergirls | 111 - 72 | Boston Derby Dames |
| November 14th | 11:45AM EST | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls | 128 - 121 | Philly Roller Girls |
| November 14th | 1:30PM EST | Denver Roller Dolls | 157 - 125 | Windy City Rollers |
| November 14th | 3:15PM EST | Oly Rollers | 136 - 105 | Gotham Girls Roller Derby |
| November 14th | 6PM EST | Texas Rollergirls | 139 - 82 | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls |
| November 14th | 7:45PM EST | Oly Rollers | 178 - 91 | Denver Roller Dolls |
| November 15th | 1:30PM | Denver Roller Dolls | 151 - 103 | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls |
| November 15th | 4PM | Oly Rollers | 178 - 100 | Texas Rollergirls |
2010 Uproar on the Lakeshore
Uproar on the Lakeshore took place in Chicago, IL at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion from November 5th through the 7th of 2010.The final was particularly hard-fought. The Oly Rollers built up a half-time lead, 84 points to the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls' 49, principally due to Atomatrix's power jams. Although she ultimately scored 101 points for Oly, Rocky Mountain were able to fight back in the second half. With one jam remaining, Oly retained an eight-point lead, but, jamming for the third time in a row, Rocky Mountain's Frida Beater scored nine unopposed points before calling off the jam, to secure a win by a single point.
| Date | Time | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
| November 5th | 2PM CDT | Texas Rollergirls | 72 - 59 | B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls |
| November 5th | 3:45PM CDT | Charm City Roller Girls | 249 - 118 | Minnesota RollerGirls |
| November 5th | 5:30PM CDT | Philly Roller Girls | 213 - 53 | Mad Rollin' Dolls |
| November 5th | 7:15PM CDT | Oly Rollers | 214 - 53 | Nashville Rollergirls |
| November 6th | 9:30AM CDT | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 151 - 52 | Texas Rollergirls |
| November 6th | 11:15AM CDT | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls | 165 - 103 | Charm City Roller Girls |
| November 6th | 1PM CDT | Philly Roller Girls | 147 - 126 | Kansas City Roller Warriors |
| November 6th | 2:45PM CDT | Oly Rollers | 178 - 76 | Windy City Rollers |
| November 6th | 5:30PM CDT | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls | 113 - 79 | Gotham Girls Roller Derby |
| November 6th | 7:15PM CDT | Oly Rollers | 106 - 81 | Philly Roller Girls |
| November 7th | 2PM CDT | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 162 - 51 | Philly Roller Girls |
| November 7th | 4PM CDT | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls | 147 - 146 | Oly Rollers |
2011 Continental Divide and Conquer
The 2011 WFTDA championship tournament, Continental Divide and Conquer, was held at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, CO hosted by the Denver Derby Dolls. This year marked the first time a team had taken the two-time championship title, with Gotham Girls Roller Derby taking the 2011 championship title alongside their 2008 title win.| Date | Time | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
| November 11th | 2PM MDT | Minnesota Rollergirls | 160 - 121 | Charm City Roller Girls |
| November 11th | 3:45PM MDT | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls | 198 - 58 | Nashville Rollergirls |
| November 11th | 5:30PM MDT | Kansas City Roller Warriors | 143 - 135 | Rose City Rollers |
| November 11th | 7:15PM MDT | Philly Roller Girls | 225 - 68 | Naptown Roller Girls |
| November 12th | 9:30AM MDT | Texas Rollergirls | 141 - 108 | Minnesota Rollergirls |
| November 12th | 11:15AM MDT | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 187 - 134 | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls |
| November 12th | 1PM MDT | Kansas City Roller Warriors | 112 - 95 | Windy City Rollers |
| November 12th | 2:45PM MDT | Oly Rollers | 181 - 95 | Philly Roller Girls |
| November 12th | 5:30PM MDT | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 195 - 113 | Texas Rollergirls |
| November 12th | 7:15PM MDT | Oly Rollers | 124 - 104 | Kansas City Roller Warriors |
| November 13th | 2PM MDT | Texas Rollergirls | 136 - 112 | Kansas City Roller Warriors |
| November 13th | 4PM MDT | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 140 - 97 | Oly Rollers |
2012 Grits and Glory
The 2012 Grits and Glory WFTDA Championships were held from November 2nd-4th in Atlanta, GA hosted by the Atlanta Rollergirls. Gotham Girls Roller Derby dominated the title again this year, taking the championship for the third time overall and for the second year in a row.| Date | Time | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
| November 2nd | 2PM EST | Denver Roller Dolls | 268 - 141 | Charm City Roller Girls |
| November 2nd | 4PM EST | Minnesota Rollergirls | 244 - 148 | Kansas City Roller Warriors |
| November 2nd | 6PM EST | B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls | 169 - 119 | Philly Roller Girls |
| November 2nd | 8PM EST | Naptown Roller Girls | 169 - 153 | Atlanta Rollergirls |
| November 3rd | 10AM EST | Texas Rollergirls | 216 - 161 | B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls |
| November 3rd | 12PM EST | Oly Rollers | 218 - 125 | Minnesota Rollergirls |
| November 3rd | 2PM EST | Denver Roller Dolls | 212 - 130 | Windy City Rollers |
| November 3rd | 4PM EST | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 316 - 111 | Naptown Roller Girls |
| November 3rd | 6:30PM EST | Oly Rollers | 224 - 147 | Texas Rollergirls |
| November 3rd | 8:30PM EST | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 221 - 120 | Denver Roller Dolls |
| November 4th | 1PM EST | Denver Roller Dolls | 210 - 199 | Texas Rollergirls |
| November 4th | 3PM EST | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 233 - 130 | Oly Rollers |
2013 WFTDA Championships
The 2013 championship tournament was held from November 8-10 in Milwaukee, WI at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena hosted by the Brewcity Bruisers. Gotham Girls Roller Derby brought home the title for the third consecutive year. In the Gotham Girls vs. Ohio Roller Girls bout, Gotham walked away with over 500 points scored in a single bout.This was also the first Champs to declare different divisions' champions, with Jet City Rollergirls walking away with the D2 title.
2014 WFTDA Championships
hosted the 2014 WFTDA Championships in their home city, Nashville, TN at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The tournament was held from October 31st to November 2nd.Gotham Girls Roller Derby defended their title, claiming their fourth consecutive win. Their season record of 6-0, 2008 win, and holding the title since 2011 preluded their 2014 win making it their fifth championship title.
For the Division 2 championships, Detroit Derby Girls came out on top with the D2 title.
2015 WFTDA Championships
The 2015 WFTDA Championships were held in Saint Paul, MN from November 6-8 hosted by the Minnesota Rollergirls at The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium.Upsetting Gotham Girls Roller Derby from their spot at number one, Rose City Rollers took home the WFTDA championship title for their first time ever.
The Division 2 championship title was taken by Sacred City Derby Girls from Sacramento, CA in a hard-fought bout versus the Nashville Rollergirls who were no stranger to the championship tournaments.
2016 WFTDA Championships
The championship tournament was held at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR from November 4-6, with defending champions Rose City Rollers hosting the event. Rose City successfully defended their title and took home the championship for the second year in a row, with Blue Ridge Rollergirls taking the Division 2 title.2017 WFTDA Championships
The 2017 WFTDA Championships were held November 3-5 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA with Philly Roller Derby hosting.Victorian Roller Derby League took home their first championship title, having upset Rose City Rollers from their two-time domination.
2018 WFTDA Championships
2018's WFTDA championships were held at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA from November 9-11 hosted by Big Easy Rollergirls.With Victorian Roller Derby League holding the 2017 title and two-time winners Rose City Rollers having been bumped down to the second seed, the tournament was an intense one. In the end, Rose City took home a third championship title and upset Victorian to second place.
| Date | Time | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
| November 9 | 10AM CDT | Montreal Roller Derby | 184 - 180 | Crime City Rollers |
| November 9 | 12PM CDT | Angel City Derby | 248 - 85 | Jacksonville Roller Derby |
| November 9 | 2PM CDT | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 143 - 79 | Texas Rollergirls |
| November 9 | 4PM CDT | Denver Roller Derby | 204 - 134 | Arch Rival Roller Derby |
| November 9 | 6PM CDT | Rose City Rollers | 222 - 107 | Montreal Roller Derby |
| November 9 | 8PM CDT | Victorian Roller Derby League | 170 - 95 | Angel City Derby |
| November 10 | 12PM CDT | Crime City Rollers | 173 - 160 | Jacksonville Roller Derby |
| November 10 | 2PM CDT | Arch Rival Roller Derby | 122 - 92 | Texas Rollergirls |
| November 10 | 4PM CDT | Angel City Derby | 199 - 118 | Montreal Roller Derby |
| November 10 | 6PM CDT | Rose City Rollers | 150 - 124 | Gotham Girls Roller Derby |
| November 10 | 8PM CDT | Victorian Roller Derby League | 202 - 129 | Denver Roller Derby |
| November 11 | 2PM CDT | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | 164 - 151 | Denver Roller Derby |
| November 11 | 4PM CDT | Rose City Rollers | 144 - 121 | Victorian Roller Derby League |
2019 WFTDA Championships
2019 marked the first WFTDA championships to be held outside of the United States with the tournament taking place at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and hosted by Montreal Roller Derby. The tournament took place from November 15-17.Rose City Rollers takes first place, once again taking home the Hydra trophy for their fourth time.
This tournament featured a groundbreaking expo game with two borderless teams, at the time a new concept for the roller derby community. Team Indigenous Roller Derby and Jewish Roller Derby took the track Saturday morning in a bout titled "WE ARE NATION: A GAME WITHOUT BORDERS."
2020
The 2020 International WFTDA Championships were canceled in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, joining the previously-announced cancellation of the season's Playoffs and Continental Cups.2024 WFTDA Championships
The 2024 WFTDA Championships took place from November 1-3 2024 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. Rose City took the championship title in their home city.| Date | Time | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
| November 1st | 10AM PDT | Gotham All Stars | 171 - 132 | Jacksonville New Jax City |
| November 1st | 12PM PDT | Angel City Hollywood Scarlets | 171 - 127 | Nothing Toulouse |
| November 1st | 2PM PDT | Crime City Rollers | 248 - 66 | Adelaide Ads |
| November 1st | 4PM PDT | VRDL All Stars | 242 - 64 | Nantes Les Duch.esse.s |
| November 1st | 6PM PDT | Montreal New Skids on the Block | 238 - 70 | Atlanta Dirty South Derby |
| November 1st | 8PM PDT | Rose City Wheels of Justice | 241 - 30 | Gotham All Stars |
| November 2nd | 10AM PDT | VRDL All Stars | 179 - 122 | Montreal New Skids on the Block |
| November 2nd | 12PM PDT | Arch Rival All Stars | 151 - 130 | Angel City Hollywood Scarlets |
| November 2nd | 2PM PDT | Denver Mile High Club | 191 - 138 | Crime City Rollers |
| November 2nd | 6PM PDT | Rose City Wheels of Justice | 192 - 84 | VRDL All Stars |
| November 2nd | 8PM PDT | Arch Rival All Stars | 156 - 83 | Denver Mile High Club |
| November 3rd | 6PM PST | Rose City Wheels of Justice | 141 - 104 | Arch Rival All Stars |