The Texas Outlaws were one of Roller Games’ powerhouse teams of the 1960s and ’70s, consistently rivaling the Detroit Devils and Thunderbirds. Coached early by Lou Sanchez and later Jim Trotter, the Outlaws featured stars such as John Hall, Vinnie Gandolfo, Fletcher Sanders, Bill Gatchell, and a young Ronnie Rains. On the women’s side, Shirley Hardman became the face of the franchise, feared and respected for her toughness. She was joined by Adeline Hocker, Olympic medalist Earlene Brown, and later Diane Syverson.

The league attempted to base the Outlaws in El Paso in 1963, but poor attendance forced the idea to be abandoned. They were nevertheless fixtures in championship play, reaching the World Series seven times, equaled only by the Devils. The Outlaws also played a major role in expansion efforts, including the short-lived Arizona Raiders in 1963 and an extremely successful three-year run in Australia (1966–1968), where they and the T-Birds drew record crowds, even outselling the Beatles.

Hardman became central to one of the sport’s greatest rivalries—her battles with Joan Weston and later Judy Lynch thrilled fans until her career-ending injury in 1968. Reinventing herself, she later broke barriers as the first female manager in the sport with the T-Birds.

The Outlaws continued to be central players into the 1970s. They reached the 1971 finals against the Thunderbirds before a record-setting 15,250 fans at the L.A. Forum, and again in 1973 led by Judy Sowinski and Vicky Steppe. They toured Mexico in 1970 and 1980, drawing strong crowds at Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes.

The team remained a respected contender into the 1980s. The 1984 World Series pitted the Outlaws, featuring Leroy Gonzales, Harold and Bernie Jackson, and Ana Anaya, against the Thunderbirds, but the T-Birds once again prevailed. Despite these losses, the Outlaws’ legacy as fierce challengers, innovators in expansion, and the team most identified with the legendary Shirley Hardman endures.