A BRIEF HISTORY

Rat City Roller Derby got rolling in April 2004, as Rat City Rollergirls. Our name was inspired by  the nickname for the south Seattle neighborhood of White Center “Rat City”, where RCRD started playing at the Southgate Roller Rink.

Within months Rat City Rollergirls had grown to four teams and 80-plus skater-members. Our skaters also formed one of the first all-star teams to represent RCRD on the national and international level.

Rat City values growing the local derby community, whether by hosting training camps, coaching junior derby, informally scrimmaging with teams from nearby leagues, or hosting tournaments like the first Bumberbout at Bumbershoot (2006), or WFTDA playoffs showcasing the best international teams in the sport.

In 2019 Rat City Roller Derby took the steps to fully transition to a non-profit organization. We are excited about the opportunity this gives us to more fully participate with other community organizations, while also being eligible for grants and monetary donations.

Rat City Roller Derby (RCRD) is Seattle’s premier flat-track roller derby league. RCRD was formed in 2004 and has grown into a league of ~120 active members, with hundreds more retired and alumni skaters. We provide skating opportunities and training for skaters 18+, from beginner level through our All-Star team which is currently in the top 20 teams in the WFTDA. We have four home teams –Derby Liberation Front, Grave Danger, Sockit Wenches, and Throttle Rockets – as well as a development team, the Mischief. Our skaters are active in the Seattle derby community, with many coaching juniors ages 8-18.

Roller derby is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and is a symbol of empowerment and diversity. At RCRD, we are proud to grow and represent the sport in Seattle and beyond. In the fall of 2017 we changed our name from Rat City Rollergirls to Rat City Roller Derby. We rebranded to create a more inclusive and empowering environment for skaters and fans. 

Mission Statement
“As Seattle’s premier, member-owned roller derby league, it is our mission to maintain a competitive athletic program, promote the sport of roller derby, provide quality sports entertainment for our fans, and make a positive impact in our community.”