POWERGRAMS

G abby Brown is "hell on wheels," at least when she's skating for the Tragic City Rollers, Birmingham's only women's roller derby team. Brown, aptly known as "Capital Funishment" on the oval track, thrives on the rough-and-tumble sport. "It's an acceptable way to let off steam," said Brown, who grew up roughhousing with her brothers and cousins. "I can knock the fire out of you, and you're not going to be mad at me. You'll be proud of me." Brown normally practices with her team two nights a week at Skates 280 in Birmingham. The team competes once a month from February through November, alternating between home and away games. But this year has been quite different, with the team playing only their opening game. After the coronavirus outbreak in March, the remainder of the roller derby season was canceled. This past summer, Brown and some of her teammates once again donned their skates and headed into the community where they handed out masks, water, snacks, fruit and other items to the homeless. They also hosted clinics for beginning skaters and held a rally on skates aimed at promoting justice and equality across Birmingham. "Most of us had been staying home, so hanging out with my friends and my community felt good," Brown said. "With everything that has been going on, it has made me appreciate being able to do something positive in my community even more." Rolling on This year, the Tragic City Rollers were set to play their home games for the first time at Boutwell Auditorium. During the season, Brown spends a lot of time on the road, and has competed across Alabama and the Southeast, including in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina. Roller derby is a competition between two teams on skates. As they speed around the track, the skaters work to prevent their team's "jammer" from being blocked by the opponents. The team racks up points each time the jammer laps an opponent. "I tell people it's like combining football with skating," said Brown, a blocker. "The jammer is like the human football. She has to fight her way past the hips of as many opposing teammates as possible. My job as blocker is to keep the jammer from scoring by getting past me." Despite the roughness of the sport, Brown is undaunted. She counts any bruises she receives as trophies and features photos of them on Instagram. "Everybody keeps bruise diaries because we're proud of them," said Brown, bragging that her largest bruise covered half her thigh. Derby newbie Brown joined the team three years ago to make new friends. She had taken a job at Alabama Power and was the new kid on the block. "I didn't believe people when they said it's hard to make friends as an adult. But it's true," said the Alabama Power market specialist. "I was the youngest 26 Brown goes by 'Capital Funishment'

• Cover