Just ‘cause we’re old, don’t mean we can’t com-pete,
–Joyce Kitson, from the song We Just Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore
And moving keeps us up u-pon our feet.
We still can pass and guard and shoot and we can e-ven score,
But we just don’t look good na-ked a-ny-more.
According to the official website of the Granny Basketball League, Inc., granny teams began forming in 2005. Now, there are “more than 450 players on 41 teams in 10 states: 14 teams in Iowa, 9 in Kansas, 5 in Texas, 3 each in Missouri and Oklahoma, 2 each in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and 1 each in Louisiana, Virginia and California. New teams are continuing to form.” My youngest sister plays on a championship Iowa team. I never knew granny basketball existed until she started playing.
A very good player in high school, my sister started playing granny basketball a few years ago in her 50’s. The team she plays on, the Cedar Rapids Sizzlers, won the 2022 National Granny Basketball Tournament.
From the League’s website:
Philosophy, Mission & Purpose
As empowered women of the 21st Century, we seek to promote a spirit of camaraderie, a model of sportsmanship and friendly competition. In doing so, we honor those women who came before us and set an example for those who will follow.
The Granny Basketball League was created to provide:
- Fun, competitive exercise for women over the age of 50.
- An avenue for charitable giving.
- Wholesome, nostalgic, and sometimes humorous entertainment.
- Recognition for mature women
- A method of preserving the history of six-on-six basketball.
Each team selects a charity or non-profit cause to which they give gate receipts. Granny players, referees, scorekeepers and other staff are volunteers and do not receive compensation for their time or expenses.
The first national tournament was held June 21, 2008 in Minneapolis, MN. Participating teams were the Golden Oldies, Abe’s Babes, NY Knickers and Wanamingo Bulldogs. The trademark uniform is uniquely characteristic of the costume worn in 1923 by girls and women who played basketball.
