HARMAR TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Roller derby first came about in the 1930s, and it was huge in the 1950s and into the 1970s before it simply dropped off. But now it's back.

The Steel City Derby Demons, an aggressive all-female league in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, plays its games at Bladerunners in Harmar Township.

Pittsburgh's only all-female league consists of four teams -- Hot Metal Hellions, Slumber Party Slashers, Bitch Doctors and Wrecking Dolls.

WTAE Channel 4 Action News reporter Marcie Cipriani got a close-up look at the intensity and the explosive action when she skated with the Derby Demons at a recent practice.

"When you're in the game, it's mental. Your adrenaline is going. It gets really crazy," said Busty Brawler, of the Slumber Party Slashers.

Roller derby is exciting, challenging and physical. These women have the wounds to prove it.

"We've had a broken ankle. We've had a broken hand. Somebody lost a tooth," said Busty Brawler.

Plenty of bruises, too, although those are expected.

"It was really black for a while, but now it's turning yellow. Soon, it will be green," said Sugar Plum Scary, of the Hot Metal Hellions.

And this didn't happen in a fast-paced bout. It happened at practice.

"I went to check someone. I hit them, but then I wiped out, but it was the best practice ever," said Sugar Plum Scary.

All four teams join together in a league practice, where they say they go from fierce competitors to girlfriends.

"People are like, 'Oh, girls, we can bond,' and that's pretty much what we've been doing is bonding, and the athleticism has been developing out of it," said Busty Brawler.

That's the new roller derby.

Back when it was created, roller derby was not just for girls. It wasn't even a contact sport.

But as the popularity grew, promoters realized crowds were cheering for those accidental hits, and they became part of the bouts. That made roller derby so hot, it was featured on network television for a time.

Today, it's trying to come back. But the current players make no money. In fact, they run the leagues themselves, and the Steel City Derby Demons are a nonprofit organization.

These face-painted, fishnet-wearing girls are also career women.

"I am a glorified graphic designer. We have schoolteachers, we have videographers, we have everything on our league," said Busty Brawler.

Twice a week at practice and once a month during a bout, this is their escape. The hits are popular with the fans, but the performances are half the fun.

With crowds at Bladerunners now in the hundreds, the Steel City Derby Demons are hoping to make roller derby big again. By next year, the women say they plan to travel to Philadelphia and Ohio for games.

The final two games of the season are coming up soon -- Wrecking Dolls vs. Hot Metal Hellions on Aug. 18, and the championship bout on Sept. 8.

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More: steelcityderbydemons.com

Rules Explainer: Roller Derby page on Wikipedia

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