September 2025 : 20 Years of Derby – Dallas Derby Devils Celebrate Their Anniversary!
This year marks 20 years of hard hits, fast jams, and unforgettable memories for the Dallas Derby Devils (DDD)! Since 2005, the Devils have been a driving force in Texas roller derby, building not only fierce competitors but also a community that has grown stronger with every whistle.
How It All Began
In the early 2000s, roller derby was being reborn across the country, and Dallas wasn’t about to be left out. The Dallas Derby Devils were founded in 2005 by a passionate group of skaters who wanted to bring the sport’s mix of speed, grit, and spectacle to the DFW area. What started with a handful of women skating at local rinks quickly snowballed into a full-fledged league with teams, officials, and a growing fan base.
Derby Fact: The very first recorded flat-track roller derby game happened in 2001 in Austin, TX. Dallas jumped on the track just a few years later making DDD one of the earlier leagues in the WFTDA era.
The Home Teams
The heart of DDD beats through its home teams, each with their own fierce identity and loyal fans:
High Seas Haughties – a crew of ruthless pirates ready to sink any opponent.
Death Row Rumblers – a team that always brings intensity to the track.
Wrecking Crew – known for smashing through walls (and defenses).
Slaughterers – bringing pure power, intimidation, and skill.
The Shifters – a beloved retired home team that helped shape DDD’s early history.
Every home season ends with the epic Battle for the Golden Skate, where bragging rights (and glittering hardware) are on the line.
Derby Fact: The Golden Skate trophy isn’t just symbolic it’s literally a roller skate painted in gold!
The Travel Teams: All-Stars on the Rise
Beyond their home season, DDD skaters represent Dallas across the country on their women’s travel teams, the Dallas Derby Devils All-Stars:
Army of Darkness (A Team) Back-to-back Clover Cup Champions, bringing the trophy home in both 2024 and 2025! This powerhouse squad has proven themselves against some of the toughest competition in the sport.
Battalion of Doom (B Team) Winners of the Governor’s Cup 2025, a tournament revived this year with the help of DDD after a short hiatus. Governor’s Cup showcases Texas pride, featuring teams from across the state and all skill levels.
These travel teams are a testament to DDD’s depth of talent, grit, and relentless drive.
Beyond the Women’s Travel Teams
The Devils proudly field more than just home and All-Star squads:
Y’allhalla DDD’s men’s team, headed to Oregon this October to compete in the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) Championships.
Rolling Rebellion DDD’s junior league, training the next generation of derby stars. Their own travel team, the Dallas Derby Devils Junior All-Stars, has been making waves and showing the derby world that the future is bright (and tough).
Notable Skaters & WFTDA Success
Over two decades, DDD has produced skaters who became household names in derby. From hard-hitting blockers who could hold a wall like concrete to lightning-fast jammers who made the crowd roar, DDD skaters have always made their mark. Some even went on to skate for Team Texas, Team USA, and international tournaments, representing Dallas on the global stage.
The Dallas Derby Devils are not just hometown heroes, they’ve made their presence felt in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). DDD has proudly hosted and competed in WFTDA Regionals and fought their way through the intensity of WFTDA Playoffs, earning national respect along the way. These opportunities gave the league a chance to showcase their skill against some of the best in the world and prove that Dallas derby is always a force to be reckoned with.
Derby Fact: In a single jam, a jammer can score an unlimited number of points; five points at a time for each opposing blocker they pass!
More Than Just a Game
While the wins and trophies are exciting, the Devils have always been about more than what happens on the track. The league has created a space for empowerment, athleticism, and community for women, men, and gender-expansive skaters alike. Over the past 20 years, DDD has raised thousands of dollars for local charities, introduced roller derby to new generations through junior programs, and created lifelong friendships in the process.
Derby Fact: Non-Skating Officials (lovingly called “NSOs”) keep the games running smoothly, tracking penalties, points, timing, and more. In Dallas, they proudly call themselves the Charred Flamingos!
Looking Back, Skating Forward
From the early days of duct-taped pads and DIY uniforms to today’s polished tournaments and international competition, the Dallas Derby Devils have blazed a path in roller derby history. As they celebrate their 20th anniversary, they honor the skaters, officials, volunteers, and fans who made it all possible. And if the past two decades are any indication, the next 20 years promise even bigger hits, higher scores, and louder cheers.
Here’s to the Dallas Derby Devils, 20 years strong, and still rolling!