2018 WFTDA Playoff Bracket Releases to a Record Number of Declines
11 Teams Decline and 2 Ineligible Teams Re-Shape the Playoff Picture
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) released its 2018 Playoff bracket this afternoon to a record number of Playoff invitation declines, with 6 teams declining Division 1 Playoffs (Arizona, Minnesota, Tampa, Sacramento, Dallas and Naptown) and Houston, Toronto, Adelaide, Perth, Pirate City declining invites or extended invites to Cups. V-Town and Wasatch were ineligible. The previous record for declines or ineligibilities was 5, hit last year and in 2013 the inaugural season of the current ranking system. The previous high for Division 1 invite declines was 3, set last year. (Statements from declining teams are in the hyperlinks with their name.)
The declines signal challenges with the growth of the sport as shifting Playoff structures, this is the 3rd straight different structure, alongside an emphasis on European locations, has left North American teams unable to afford the cost of travel. Prior to 2017, only the Oly Rollers had declined a Division 1 invite, while the last two years have seen 11 declines. Australian teams, who still remain without a D1 Playoff location or a Continental Cup, continue to point out how unsustainable this current model is, even as Sun State made the decision to accept their invite this year after declining last year.
The sheer amount of declines are likely to send WFTDA back to the drawing board to create a 4th straight different Playoff structure. Although declines will seriously impact the Playoff structure this year, there are still lots of bouts to circle on your calendars and get excited about.
In Spain, the Battle of Buenos Aires is set up between 2x4 (7) and Sailor City (10). This long standing rivalry playing out at Playoffs will bring lots of intrigue to Spain. Philly (8) v Stockholm (9), on the other hand, will be a great battle of strong positional defense v fast European cycling and speed. Helsinki (5) with a shot at a Rainy City (4) rematch, if they can get through Detroit (12), will also be a great match up and any way to project the 3v4 bout for a shot at Champs Spain should deliver on some high drama. With 6 nationalities represented among 12 teams, Spain will lay claim to the most diverse representation at any Playoff this year.
Shifting to Atlanta, Master Blaster playing her former team as Bear City (12) will take on London (5) for the right to play the hosts Atlanta (4), should be a lot of fun. Queen City (10) will also be looking to avenge their regular season loss to BAD (7) at Boardwalk Empire. If they can’t pull it off, we will get BAD v the Skids at Playoffs for the 3rd straight year. The Skids and Jacksonville (3) are likely to renew their rivalry at some point in this bracket, while Texas will be looking to avenge a regular season loss this year to the Skids should they meet in the final or 3v4 match up.
With declines, Kallio shifts up to the 1 seed in the Euro Cup and Newcastle (7) and Middlesbrough (8) get extended invites. Tiger Bay (4) will be looking to avenge a late regular season collapse against Central City (5), while Dock City (3) will be looking to spoil hosts Birmingham’s (6) tournament early on and set up another Dock City v Dublin (2) battle (should Dublin beat Newcastle). The inaugural European Continental Cup — one of the big bright spots about this years format — is anyone’s for the taking.
NA East bracket shifts up with Boston taking the 1 seed and extended invites going out to Dub City (10), Ohio (11) and Grand Raggidy (12). For Grand Raggidy this will be their third all time extended invite, with beyond the cut off invites also coming in 2014 and 2016. Boston will be looking to add to their hardware after last years D2 Playoff Championship win, while the Dairyland Dolls and C-Ville are strong contenders to play spoiler and Team United remains a wildcard.
NA West bracket shifts up with Rocky taking the 1 seed and an extended invite going out to Boulder County (9), No Coast (10), Pikes Peak (11) an upstarts Crossroads (12). Calgary (5) and Terminal (4) will renew their rivalry if Calgary can get past a first round match up against Crossroads, while E-Ville (6) and Tucson (3) will meet again should E-Ville get past Pikes Peak. Canberra (2), the only Asia/Pacific team to accept the invite, will be looking to skate away with the Cup in hand.
