Davenport Area Gets First Granny Basketball League Team

It may be the most iconic league to come to the QCA.

Believe it or not, the Granny Basketball League has a stronghold in Iowa.

Just last year, Iowa's own Sizzlin' Bees (a combination of players from Cedar Rapids Sizzlers and Ankeny Honey Bees) played at the Granny Basketball League's national championship and won.

Those Queens: Iowa Team Wins 2025 Granny Basketball Championship

Here are the teams that placed in Iowa's Senior Games last year:

Granny Basketball is 6-on-6 and pays homage to ladies sports in the 1920's. There's no jumping allowed and you can't grab the ball from someone else if they're holding it. All teams pick a charity/nonprofit to play for. And since it does honor old-school women's basketball, the ladies have to cover all skin up to their forearm area. If they show skin anywhere else, it's a technical foul.

The QCA's first Granny Basketball League team are the new Scarlet Swishers, who have been practicing in Bennett.

Teresa Paper, who helped start the Scarlet Swishers, told WHBF:

It’s a great thing to do to be active. Ya know, the game is supposed to be a little slower game. You may have watched us practice, but we do pick it up a little bit.

Granny basketball is for women 50 and older and is promoted as a great way to help older ladies stay active. Now, nationally, there are over 700 players on 54 teams in 11 U.S. states and 1 team in Toronto.

Cheryl VandeVoorde, who also helped start the Scarlet Swishers, summed up the sport like this:

What’s important about Granny Basketball is to raise money for charities. When people come to our games, they do have to pay an admission, and we will pick a charity and the money will go to the charity. So we’re all about giving back and having fun and staying healthy.

You can get more details about games and how to play on Granny Basketball League's website.