2026 is a banner year for Queen City Roller Derby! It is our 20th Anniversary year and we are excited to take a few laps around memory lane! To that end, we’ve decided to bring you Alumni interviews to share with you, our fans, QCRD Legends and Lore (hmmm, that would be a catchy Podcast title) throughout 2026! Our first interview is with League Founder Sissy Fit, whom you might remember from our recent podcast episode in December.
Sissy: I remember back to a phone conversation I had with my Mom and I was telling her how desperate I was for some sort of female camaraderie. I was a stay at home mom of two little girls at the time that I was home schooling and found that I was feeling rather isolated. My mom suggested I start a Girl Scout troop but I knew it had to be more than that. Then a short time later I got a phone call from my best friend at the time, Flo, telling me I have to turn on A&E to watch the show ‘Roller Girls’. This was in 2006, so it was before streaming, so I had to actually wait for the program to air the following week and as soon I saw it I knew instantly that this is what I was looking for the whole time… a Roller Derby League!
When we first started rolling, we would hope for at least a couple of women to show up at Rainbow Rink’s open skate to join our league. A couple of women showed up and the following week, they brought 3 more people, then the following week, we had double that! We couldn’t believe how many women in Buffalo also had the common passion of strapping on skates and hitting each other with our bodies. And here we are 20 years later! Not only is our league thriving but we also have an amazing Jr Roller Derby league, to boot. I’m so truly grateful for every member of this league who helped make us what we are today.
Box: With Queens Court, three house teams, two travel teams, the junior league AND the Herd, we have quite the derby community! What do you think is something that makes QCRD different from other nearby derby leagues?
Sissy: That’s a great question! The first thing that comes to mind is our amazing venue. I’m pretty certain we are the only league in the US that has a state of the art sports facility/ restaurant/ bar that was designed around our track to be our new “home”. From the very beginning, we were involved with the design and layout of RiverWorks which was amazing. It’s so great to see other leagues not only willing but wanting to travel to our venue because of how awesome it is.
What are some things that from the Rainbow days that you miss that were foundational to the early days of QCRD?
Sissy: We didn’t know at the time they would be considered “foundational” to the early days of our league but the top ones that pop out in my head immediately were our track rope lights, for starters. Our alumni and OG fans will never forget those! Then of course, our rye bread toss during half time. It was so much fun seeing people get so excited to catch a loaf. And it was so niche to our league. There was also the “Crash Couch” that was donated to us by one of our sponsors back then, FWS (remember them?) It was placed on turn 3, I believe? And was raffled off after every bout. And of course there was the crowd. Because we were in a rink, it was such a different environment. When the fans cheered, the place became electric! We packed so many in to such a small venue, that you literally rubbed elbows with the people next to you and then would inevitably end up spilling your beer when a skater landed on you. It was a real feeling of comradeship. LOL So many great memories that I know we’ll never forget.
Sissy: You are absolutely correct—this sport has evolved rapidly, both athletically and culturally. In the beginning, it truly was an all-hands-on-deck effort. Roller derby was new, full of potential, and built by a very small collective of people. We shared a deep passion and excitement for bringing a sport to Buffalo that showcased intense female athleticism through full-body contact—something many women never had the opportunity to experience through school sports, if at all.
Because of that, everyone wore multiple hats to get things off the ground. As the league grew and became more established, I was able to step back from many of the roles that had been consuming so much of my time and energy.
Each role I’ve held has allowed me to contribute to the league’s longevity and growth, and I’m proud to continue supporting its future because in the end it’s always been about building something bigger than myself, on the track, within the league, and throughout our community.
Box: I think I can safely say that this has been an absolutely enlightening, eye-opening, and fascinating ride from start to present! I want to thank you for your time and for allowing me the opportunity to get your perspective on everything that this league has endured to this point. Do you have any final thoughts for what you’d like to see in this 20th anniversary season or for the future of QCRD?
Sissy: First of all, thank you so much for choosing me to be Alumni of the Month. This has been so much fun and such a great opportunity for me to look back and truly appreciate how far we’ve come over the span of two decades. As we roll into the 20th anniversary season, my hope is that we continue to honor the foundation this league was built on while looking confidently and excitedly toward the future. When I helped start the league, and later the Juniors program, my motivation was deeply personal. I was raising two daughters, now 26 and 28, and watching them grow into incredibly strong, talented roller derby athletes showed me just how powerful it is for women to have spaces that celebrate athleticism, grit, and leadership. I wanted them, and the next generation, to know they belonged in a sport that values strength and resilience. Looking ahead, I hope QCRD continues to support skaters at every level, and remain a community built on passion and perseverance. If we stay true to that, the future of QCRD is very bright!
~ Box Cutta