Shared with everyone earlier in the week that The Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association National Championships are happening this weekend in Portland. (Also known as the Northwest Knockdown!)

If you are at all intrigued, I suggest you log-on to Derby News Network, who will be streaming live tournament action. The bouts kick-off tomorrow, at 6:30 p.m. EST.

Now, here’s a photo preview of what to look out for during Hell on Wheels culminating event of the year….

Carolina had an up and down close to the season going into Nat’l. There last four matches (finishing with a 2-2 record) had scores of 77-75, 66-106, 48-112, and 191-16. They take on Texas in the Tourney opener Friday night.

The NY All-Star team, The Gotham Girls come into Portland, not having dropped a match in 14 months! They take on Duke City, one of the dark horses of this year’s Nationals.

The Duke girls from Albuquerque shocked the Derby World when the upended the 2007 Champs from Kansas City at Regionals (where they were ranked #17!)

Saturday kicks-off with the second highest ranked team in the East, Chicago’s Windy City taking on the de facto home team Seattle’s Rat City, the team that came real close to ousting Texas in the Western Region finals.

Bay Area and Philly round out the first round action. Along with The Dukes, these two teams are both making their first Nationals appearances.

Derby News Network has a way more in-depth preview up on there site. Check it out!
You can at least count on a re-cap from me when all is said and done. (And NYC has been crowned victorious!)