WFTDA Championships

File:Scald Eagle Rose City MVP 2015.JPG with the Hydra Trophy after the 2015 WFTDA Championships]]

In 2007, Western and Eastern Region Tournaments were held in order to determine qualifiers for the "Texas Shootout" National Championship, held in Austin, Texas."[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07018/754552-51.stm Steel City Derby Demons put their bodies on the line for the thrill of the game]", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 18 January 2007Molly Yanity, "[http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Roller-derby-enjoys-rollicking-resurgence-1246860.php Roller derby enjoys rollicking resurgence]", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 16 August 2007 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 (2007–2012), North Central (2009–2012), South Central (2009–2012) and Western (2007–2012) 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"."[http://wftda.com/news/2011-touranment-schedule-released WFTDA 2011 Big 5 Tournament Schedule Announced] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005162635/http://wftda.com/news/2011-touranment-schedule-released |date=2011-10-05 }}", WFTDA, 9 November 2010

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 (10 per tournament) 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.{{cite web|title=WFTDA Releases Tournament Locations and New Playoffs and Championships Structure – WFTDA|url=https://wftda.com/wftda-releases-tournament-locations-and-new-playoffs-and-championships-structure/|website=wftda.com|publisher=WFTDA|access-date=31 January 2017|date=30 January 2017}} 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."[http://wftda.com/hydra-trophy The Hydra] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114074147/http://wftda.com/hydra-trophy |date=2010-11-14 }}", WFTDA

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.{{cite web|last1=Swiatecki|first1=Chad|title=ESPN hooks up with Austinites to bring roller derby back|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/creative/2015/08/espn-hooks-up-with-austinites-to-bring-roller.html|publisher=Austin Business Journal|access-date=12 August 2015|date=11 August 2015}}{{cite web|title=WFTDA Signs Deal to Stream 2015 Championships with ESPN3|url=http://wftda.com/news/wftda-signs-deal-to-stream-2015-championships-with-espn3|publisher=WFTDA|access-date=12 August 2015|date=7 August 2015}} 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.{{cite web|title=WFTDA Brings Roller Derby Back to Network Television, Signs Deal with ESPN2 to Televise 2017 WFTDA Championship Game – WFTDA|url=https://wftda.com/wftda-signs-deal-with-espn2-to-televise-2017-wftda-championship-game/|website=wftda.com|publisher=WFTDA|access-date=30 September 2017|date=24 September 2017}}

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.Catherine Mabe, Roller Derby: The History and All-Girl Revival of the Greatest Sport on Wheels, p.80

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 (Texas Rollergirls Texecutioners, Tucson Roller Derby Saddletramps, Minnesota Rollergirls All-Stars and Arizona Roller Derby Tent City Terrors) 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 Saddletramps 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.

On September 30, 2007, the Kansas City Roller Warriors beat[https://archive.today/20130814002120/http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/298252.html Kansas City Star] the Rat City Rollergirls{{cite web|url=http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/122777.asp|title=Rat City Rollergirls lose championship bout|work=Seattle's Big Blog|access-date=23 November 2015}} 89–85 in the final match of the Texas Shootout to become the first WFTDA National Champions.{{cite web|last1=Whittaker|first1=Richard|title=Kansas, the Wheeled Giant Killers and More on the Texas Shootout|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/sports/2007-10-01/545019/|publisher=Austin Chronicle|access-date=4 December 2016|date=1 October 2007}} The Texas Rollergirls placed third.{{cite web|url=http://leadjammer.com/#|title=LeadJammer.com|access-date=23 November 2015}} Eight teams competed in the tournament, four from the eastern regional division and four from the western regional division. These teams included Carolina Rollergirls (fourth place), Gotham Girls Roller Derby, Tucson Roller Derby, Detroit Derby Girls, and Windy City Rollers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.txrollergirls.com/2007wftda/schedule.htm |title=Texas Shootout – 2007 Women's Flat Track Derby Association Championship Tournament |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017215257/http://txrollergirls.com/2007wftda/schedule.htm |archive-date=2007-10-17 |url-status=dead }}

Several marketing materials as well as a statement from WFTDA President "Crackerjack" on page 5 of the program{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/punkrockphil/docs/wftdaprogram|title=WFTDA National Roller Derby Program|author=Phil Davis|work=Issuu|date=15 January 2009 |access-date=23 November 2015}} for this event confirms that at the time it was considered the "first WFTDA Championship Tournament."

On November 16, 2008, the Gotham Girls Roller Derby (GGRD All-Stars) beat the Windy City Rollers 134–66 in the championship bout. The Philly Rollergirls (Liberty Belles) beat the Texas Rollergirls (Texecutioners) 114–95 in the consolation bout to take third place.{{cite web|url=http://www.derbynews.net/2008/11/20/2008_wftda_nationals_complete_recaps|title=2008 WFTDA Nationals: Complete Recaps – Derby News Network|work=derbynews.net|access-date=23 November 2015}}

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 unpopular with crowds. They were finally defeated 178–91 in the semi-finals by the Oly Rollers were regarded as a largely unknown force, although they had gone undefeated through the whole season. Rocky Mountain Rollergirls had unexpectedly sailed through their qualifying tournament, and beat Philly Rollergirls in an overtime jam in their quarter final, but they lost to defending champions Texas Rollergirls 139–82 in the semi-final, in a bout which saw Rocky skater DeRanged ejected from the tournament after apparently punching Angie-Christ from Texas.Matt Costa, "Declaration of Derby: The 2009 WFTDA National Tournament", Blood and Thunder #15, pp.40–47

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.

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.Justice Feelgood Marshall, "[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/rocky_mountain_rollergirls_take_it_all Rocky Mountain Rollergirls Take It All]", Derby News Network, 27 May 2011

Quarter-finals:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=6 November 2010|time= |team1=Charm City|team2=Rocky Mountain|score=103–165|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/2010_wftda_championships_recaps?page=0,1 Report]|HT=52–67}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=6 November 2010|time= |team1=Kansas City|team2=Philly|score=126–147|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/2010_wftda_championships_recaps?page=0,1 Report]|HT=55–78}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=6 November 2010|time= |team1=Oly|team2=Windy City|score=178–76|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/2010_wftda_championships_recaps?page=0,1 Report]|HT=74–31}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=7 November 2010|time= |team1=Gotham|team2=Texas|score=151–52|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/2010_wftda_championships_recaps?page=0,1 Report]|HT=65–39}}

Semi-finals:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=7 November 2010|time= |team1=Gotham|team2=Rocky Mountain|score=79–113|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/2010_wftda_championships_recaps?page=0,1 Report]|HT=31–75}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=7 November 2010|time= |team1=Oly|team2=Philly|score=106–81|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/2010_wftda_championships_recaps?page=0,1 Report]|HT=52–34}}

Third place play-off:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=7 November 2010|time= |team1=Gotham|team2=Philly|score=162–51|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/2010_wftda_championships_recaps Report]|HT=74–26}}

Final:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=7 November 2010|time= |team1=Oly|team2=Rocky Mountain|score=146–147|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/11/rocky_mountain_rollergirls_take_it_all Report]|HT=84–49}}

First round:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=11 November 2011|time=14:00|team1=Charm City|team2=Minnesota|score=121–160|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_opening_round_2nc_minnesota_upends_3e_charm_city_160_121 Report]|HT=42–94}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=11 November 2011|time=15:45|team1=Nashville|team2=Rocky Mountain|score=58–198|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_opening_round_2w_rocky_mountain_eliminates_3sc_nashville_198_58 Report]|HT=41–101}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=11 November 2011|time=17:30|team1=Kansas City|team2=Rose City|score=143–135|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_opening_round_2sc_kansas_city_knocks_out_3w_rose_city_143_135 Report]|HT=42–29}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=11 November 2011|time=19:15|team1=Naptown|team2=Philly|score=68–225|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_opening_round_2e_philly_bashes_3nc_naptown_225_68 Report]|HT=20–104}}

Quarter finals:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=12 November 2011|time=09:30|team1=Minnesota|team2=Texas|score=108–141|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_quarterfinal_1sc_texas_comes_back_2nc_minnesota_141_108 Report]|HT=67–56}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=12 November 2011|time=11:15|team1=Gotham|team2=Rocky Mountain|score=187–134|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_quarterfinal_1e_gotham_fends_2w_rocky_mountain_187_134 Report]|HT=75–53}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=12 November 2011|time=13:00|team1=Kansas City|team2=Windy City|score=112–95|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_quarterfinal_2sc_kansas_city_overcomes_1nc_windy_city_112_95 Report]|HT=42–29}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=12 November 2011|time=14:45|team1=Oly|team2=Philly|score=181–95|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_quarterfinal_1w_oly_bounces_2e_philly_181_95 Report]|HT=89–36}}

Semi finals:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=12 November 2011|time=17:30|team1=Gotham|team2=Texas|score=195–113|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_semifinal_1e_gotham_ejects_1sc_texas_195_113 Report]|HT=75–48}}

{{Rollerderbybox|date=12 November 2011|time=19:15|team1=Kansas City|team2=Oly|score=104–124|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_semifinal_1w_oly_fends_determined_challenge_2sc_kansas_city_124_104 Report]|HT=36–60}}

Third place play-off:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=13 November 2011|time=14:00|team1=Kansas City|team2=Texas|score=112–136|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_third_place_1sc_texas_staves_2sc_kansas_city_136_112 Report]|HT=62–50}}

Final:

{{Rollerderbybox|date=13 November 2011|time=16:00|team1=Gotham|team2=Oly|score=197–140|report=[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/11/championships_final_1e_gotham_controls_1w_oly_win_2011_wftda_championship_140_97 Report]|HT=59–38}}

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.{{cite web |title=3/30/20 - COVID-19 Statement and Update » WFTDA Roller Derby Resources |url=https://resources.wftda.org/3-30-20-covid-19-statement-and-update/ |website=WFTDA Roller Derby Resources |publisher=WFTDA |access-date=23 May 2020 |date=30 March 2020}}

{{reflist}}

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2006

Category:Roller derby competitions

Category:Women's Flat Track Derby Association