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Windy City Rollers is a women's flat-track roller derby league located in
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
, Illinois. Founded by Juanna Rumbel (Elizabeth Gomez) and Sister Sledgehammer (Kelly Simmons) 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 The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the international governing body for the sport of women's flat track roller derby, and association of leagues around the world. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Co ...
(WFTDA).


League history

Chicago residents Juanna Rumbel (Elizabeth Gomez) and Sister Sledgehammer (Kelly Simmons) were introduced to the roller derby revival on a trip to
Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
in April 2004, where they were served at a bar by a member of the
Texas Rollergirls 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 ...
. After their trip, Simmons and Gomez organized the four-team league, and at the initial practice 96 women appeared. Organizational fundraisers followed, along with open skates at locations such as the South Side's Martin Luther King skating rink to continue recruitment. The league engaged skater/speedskater Susan (Sabin) Schwartz to train and coach the 66 skaters and eventually Windy City began holding bouting events in July 2005, and by the end of the year was regularly drawing 2,000 fans to games at Chicago's
Congress Theater The Congress Theater is a historic movie palace in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Fridstein and Company designed it in 1926 for the movie theater operator Lubliner and Trinz. It features ornate exterior and interior design work in a ...
, attracting the largest audience flat-track derby had yet seen at the time. That first season the league used a smaller than regulation-sized track due to limitations at their venue - they literally skated in the orchestra pit at the Congress Theater - and moved to Cicero Stadium in early 2006 for a proper-sized space. The Windy City Rollers changed venues again in October 2008 and currently play at the
Credit Union 1 Arena Credit Union 1 Arena (previously known as UIC Pavilion) is a multi-purpose arena located at 525 S. Racine Avenue on the Near West Side in Chicago, Illinois, which opened in 1982. Description and history Credit Union 1 Arena is located on the cam ...
. On August 25, 2007, Chicago attorney Tahirah Johnson, skating as "Tequila Mockingbird" for The Fury, was injured in the most serious accident of the current roller derby revival. She injured her spinal cord during a bout, and was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. She has since moved to Oklahoma City, and through physical therapy has regained some movement in all of her limbs.


Member teams


Home teams

Windy City has a four-team home league, comprising the Double Crossers, the Fury, Hell's Belles and the Manic Attackers. These teams compete for an annual championship game named after Chicago roller derby legend, Ivy King. The Fury won the Ivy King Cup in 2005 and 2006. In 2007 the trophy was claimed by the Double Crossers. In 2008 the Ivy King Cup was won by the Hell's Belles. In 2009 the Manic Attackers beat out the Hell's Belles to win the Ivy King Cup. The Fury came back to claim the cup in 2010 and 2011. The Manic Attackers beat The Fury in 2012 to win the title. But The Fury won back the cup yet again in 2013. After seasons of defeat, the Double Crossers won it in 2014, before the Belles, after being shut out for seven years, won it in 2015 in a win over The Fury. In December 2015, the Windy City Rollers held their final home team "season", which was a single night, 30 minute game round-robin tournament to temporarily retire the home teams. A newly-minted Juanna Rumbel Cup, named after the league's co-founder, was presented to the winning Manic Attackers. The Haymarket Rioters are the Windy City Rollers'
farm team In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...
.


Travel teams

* Windy City Rollers All-Stars - The all star travel team for competition with other leagues in the
Women's Flat Track Derby Association The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the international governing body for the sport of women's flat track roller derby, and association of leagues around the world. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Co ...
. * Second Wind - Windy City Rollers' B Team * Third Coast - Windy City Rollers' C Team


WFTDA competition

In early 2006, the Windy City Rollers began interleague bouting. After finishing 18th out of 20 teams at the first
WFTDA Championships The International Women's Flat Track Derby Association Championships ("WFTDA Championships" or "Champs" for short) are the leading competition for roller derby leagues. The Championships are organised by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association ...
, the "Dust Devil" in February 2006, the league regrouped, moved to a new venue that allowed the space for a regulation sized track, and increased the number of league practices. After completing another season of intra-league bouting, the All-Stars team was reformed. In early 2007, the league resumed inter-league play. The Windy City Rollers All-Stars entered the competition at the 2007
WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament The WFTDA East Region Playoffs or WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament was one of four annual roller derby regional qualifying tournaments for the WFTDA Championships. The Tournament was organised by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). ...
in Columbus (the "Heartland Havoc") ranked 14th in the nation (7th in their region). After defeating
Atlanta Rollergirls Atlanta Roller Derby (ARD) is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. Founded in 2004, as Atlanta Rollergirls, the league finished their fourteenth season in November 2018. Atlanta Roller Derby is ...
on day one, they achieved what many considered a stunning victory on day 2, defeating Madison, Wisconsin's Mad Rollin' Dolls, ranked fourth nationally and first in the Eastern region. They went on to claim second place in the tournament, defeating the
Carolina Rollergirls 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 Associatio ...
before falling to New York's Gotham Girls. At the 2007 WFTDA National Championships (the "Texas Shootout") in Austin, Texas, the All-Stars were defeated 108-56 in the first round by the home favorite
Texas Rollergirls 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 ...
. At the 2008 WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament in Madison ("Derby in Dairyland") the Windy City Rollers All-Stars defeated Baltimore's Charm City Rollergirls and the Carolina Rollergirls to advance to the final match, which they lost to Gotham 133-92 to placed second in the region and advance them to the 2008 Championships in Portland. At Championships the All-Stars advanced to the final after defeating Seattle's
Rat City Rollergirls 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 ...
and the Texas Rollergirls, but lost the championship to Gotham, 134-66. In 2009, now part of the North Central Region, Windy City won the
WFTDA North Central Regional Tournament The WFTDA North Central Regional Tournament or WFTDA North Central Region Playoffs was one of four annual roller derby regional qualifying tournaments for the WFTDA Championships. The Tournament was organised by the Women's Flat Track Derby Assoc ...
in St. Paul, Minnesota (the "Brawl of America"), beating the
Minnesota RollerGirls Minnesota Roller Derby (MNRD) is a flat track roller derby league based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. Founded in August 2004 as Minnesota RollerGirls by the Donnelly sisters, MNRD was one of the first 30 members of the Women's Fl ...
(St. Paul), Cincinnati Rollergirls and Mad Rollin' Dolls. Windy had a bye past the preliminary round at the 2009 Championships but were defeated in the quarterfinals by
Denver Roller Dolls Denver Roller Derby (DRD) is a flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. The league was founded in December 2005. Denver Roller Derby is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), joining in December 2007 as De ...
157-125. Windy City repeated as North Central Regional champions in 2010, with wins against
North Star Rollergirls North Star Roller Derby (NSRD) is a non-profit women's flat track roller derby league based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. North Star plays its home games at the Warner Coliseum, and is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). ...
(Minneapolis),
Naptown Roller Girls 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 Associatio ...
(Indianapolis), Cincinnati and Minnesota. In November Windy City hosted the WFTDA Championships, dubbed the "Uproar on the Lakeshore", with a weekend attendance of 8,815 at the
UIC Pavilion Credit Union 1 Arena (previously known as UIC Pavilion) is a multi-purpose arena located at 525 S. Racine Avenue on the Near West Side in Chicago, Illinois, which opened in 1982. Description and history Credit Union 1 Arena is located on the cam ...
. Again with a bye past the first round, Windy City lost their quarterfinal game 174-76 to the
Oly Rollers 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 W ...
of Olympia, Washington. Windy won their third straight North Central Regional in 2011 by defeating Minnesota, 123-100, and again fell in the quarterfinals at Champs, this time 112-95 to the
Kansas City Roller Warriors 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 tha ...
. 2012 was the final year of regional play for the WFTDA, and Windy City again captured the regional title, defeating Minnesota 165-153 in Niagara Falls, New York. Windy City then lost their fourth consecutive Champs quarterfinal, 212-130 to Denver. Windy's long-standing rivalry with the Minnesota RollerGirls came to a head in June 2012 when the two teams played to a rare tie in WFTDA-sanctioned play. The tie (later upheld upon review by the WFTDA) resulted from a scorekeeping correction made well after the end of play, avoiding a potential overtime jam which ordinarily would have settled the score. In 2013, the WFTDA changed their playoff structure, and Windy City qualified for the WFTDA Division 1 International Playoff tournament in Asheville, North Carolina as the third seed, ultimately finishing in third with a 160-154 victory over old North Central rival Minnesota. After winning their opening round match against the
Philly Roller Girls 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). League history First organ ...
, Windy lost their quarterfinal to Bay Area Derby, 230-135. At the 2014 D1 Playoff in Evansville, Indiana, Windy upset higher-ranked Texas in the semifinals, dropping the final to
London Rollergirls London Roller Derby is a flat track roller derby league and a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The league were founding members of the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association (UKRDA). The league has four travel teams ...
226-131. Windy won their opening game at Champs over
Rocky Mountain Rollergirls 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 ...
, but lost their sixth straight Champs quarterfinal 241-133 to Rose City Rollers. Ahead of the 2015 season, a number of skaters, including some original members of Windy City, moved away and/or retired from roller derby, dropping Windy in the rankings as the team reorganized. In October Windy City missed WFTDA Championships for the first time with a ninth-place finish at the Omaha Division 1 Playoff, ending with a victory over Toronto Roller Derby. Seeded eighth for the 2016 Madison Division 1 Playoff, Windy City opened the weekend with a victory over
Ohio Roller Derby 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 membe ...
, but then dropped their remaining games to Gotham, Team United Roller Derby and hosts Mad Rollin' Dolls to finish in eighth place. At the 2017 Division 1 Playoff in
Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, Windy City lost their opening game to 2×4 Roller Derby 178-135, and also lost their consolation round game to
Tampa Bay Derby The Tampa Bay Derby is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in March at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse ...
222-150 to finish out of the medals. In 2018 at the WFTDA Playoff in
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, Windy City finished out of the medals, ending their weekend with a consolation round loss, 213-185 to Ann Arbor Roller Derby.


Rankings

* ''CR = consolation round''


References


External links


Women's Flat Track Derby Association
{{Illinois Sports 2004 establishments in Illinois Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 1 Roller derby leagues established in 2004 Roller derby leagues in Illinois Sports teams in Chicago Women's sports in the United States