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NWA Roller Derby (Northwest Arkansas Roller Derby) was a flat track roller derby league based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, (USA). Founded in early 2006, NWA Roller Derby was the first flat track league in Arkansas[1] to play a version of roller derby using new standardized rules and a track design that was based on the dimensions of the old banked tracks, made popular by the founders of modern roller derby, the Texas Rollergirls. NWA Roller Derby also became the first member league out of Arkansas of the national organization, the Women's Flat Track Derby Association,[1] announced by the WFTDA in December 2007.[2]

In July, 2018 NWA Roller Derby were accepted by the I.R.S. as a 501(c)3 charitable organization.[3] In late 2019, NWA Roller Derby merged with Benton County Roller Derby (est. 2010), forming what was announced as Natural State Roller Derby (NSRD) in early 2020.[4] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that year, NSRD paused practice and games until late 2021. NSRD resumed practice and game play in the 2022 season.

The league has been featured in reports on KNWA-TV,[5] and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.[6] By late 2010, NWA was one of three flat-track derby leagues in Arkansas.[7]

History

The early beginnings of NWA Roller Derby consisted of two home teams, the Twisted Sisters and the Hardwood Harlots.[8] Their first public bout, "Fright Night Fight", was held on October 18, 2006. A game in January 2007 drew over 1000 fans.[8] Over the course of 2007 NWA Roller Derby held home bouts between the two teams for the general public while also premiering their newly created all-star team, the Arkansas Killbillies, a combination of top players from both home teams. At the end of 2007 NWA Roller Derby dissolved their home teams in favor of a league format consisting of two travel teams, the Arkansas Killbillies (all-star team) and the Backwoods Betties.

NWA Roller Derby merged with Benton County Roller Derby (est. 2010) in late 2019. By early 2020, the new merged league was announced as Natural State Roller Derby (NSRD).[9] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that year, NSRD paused practice and games until late 2021. NSRD resumed practice and game play in the 2022 season. They practice at the Starlight Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas with home games hosted at The Jones Center in Springdale, Arkansas. WFTDA sanctioned games restarted in 2023 after a hiatus taking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WFTDA competition

NWA Roller Derby consisted of the All Star Team and a B Team; the All Star team competes for WFTDA Rankings.

Rankings

Season Final ranking[10] Playoffs Championship
2008 6 SC[11] DNQ DNQ
2009 10 SC[12] DNQ DNQ
2010 12 SC[13] DNQ DNQ
2011 20 SC[14] DNQ DNQ
2012 27 SC[15] DNQ DNQ
2013 89 WFTDA[16] DNQ DNQ
2014 71 WFTDA[17] DNQ DNQ
2015 93 WFTDA[18] DNQ DNQ
2016 91 WFTDA[19] DNQ DNQ
2017 154 WFTDA[20] DNQ DNQ
2018 282 WFTDA[21] DNQ DNQ

References

  1. ^ a b Banks, Jasmine (27 July 2015). "Northwest Arkansas Roller Derby". Only in Arkansas. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  2. ^ "The WFTDA Newsletter - December 2007". WFTDA. December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  3. ^ http://watchdog.net/ein/205101511/nwa-rollergirls-inc
  4. ^ https://www.naturalstaterollerderby.com/about<
  5. ^ "Roller Derby Takes NWA by Storm!", KNWA, October 12, 2009
  6. ^ "Anatomy of a rollergirl", Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, February 18, 2011
  7. ^ Celia Storey, "Arkansas skaters have three leagues", Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, October 18, 2010
  8. ^ a b Jackson, Kerri; Brantley, Max (26 April 2007). "They're on a roll, in fishnet". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  9. ^ https://www.naturalstaterollerderby.com/about<
  10. ^ "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  11. ^ "Rankings – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Rankings – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Rankings – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  14. ^ "Rankings – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Rankings – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2013 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Arkansas_Roller_Derby