Economic downturn and its aftermath
HB Ludwigsburg, a prominent name in German handball, is currently grappling with a severe financial crisis that has led to the filing of an insolvency procedure and the release of all players. As a result, the club has withdrawn from major upcoming competitions, including the EHF Champions League Women 2025/26 and the 2025 Handball Super Cup.
The European Handball Federation (EHF) has replaced HB Ludwigsburg with Sola HK from Norway in the EHF Champions League Women 2025/26. Sola HK will take Ludwigsburg’s place in Group B, and legal procedures are being initiated against HB Ludwigsburg and the German Handball Federation regarding registration requirements violations.
HB Ludwigsburg was also withdrawn from the 2025 Handball Super Cup, and Thüringer HC, the reigning Women's European League champion, replaced them in the lineup to face HSG Blomberg-Lippe.
The financial situation of the club depends on the players' financial cooperation. The star ensemble is likely to scatter in all directions, even if most teams have already completed their squad planning. Xenia Smits, the captain of HB Ludwigsburg, expressed concern about the upcoming World Cup, as they have six to seven DHB players, and finding a club where they can all play together again will be difficult.
The club's annual budget is estimated at around three million euros, but it has not been able to plug the financial hole since then. The club chief, Köhle, stated that over 200 sponsors are still pending answers. The new Bundesliga season start for HB Ludwigsburg is still open but seems difficult to implement.
The distress of HB Ludwigsburg threatens their competitive future and damages their reputation in German and European women’s handball due to insolvency and failure to participate in key tournaments. For the EHF Champions League, Sola HK’s entry provides them a debut opportunity at the top European club competition, potentially altering group dynamics.
The German women’s handball leagues and federation face scrutiny from the EHF, which is taking legal action related to the case. This situation may affect player career trajectories from Ludwigsburg as all players were released, and the club is effectively non-competitive until financial stability is restored.
Despite the challenging situation, the DHB is convinced that, together with the Handball Bundesliga Women, they should gradually professionalize the economic environment for women's handball by increasing attention to it. The club, the current champion and cup winner, is facing a crisis with low hope for recovery and a short time frame. Several player contracts have already been signed before the sponsor's reduction, and the star team is on the brink of collapse due to financial issues. The main sponsor has announced a reduction of services from the 2025/2026 season.
Mark Schober, the managing director of the German Handball Association, stated that the Ludwigsburg case highlights the challenging market for professional women's sports in Germany and Europe. National coach Markus Gaugisch commented that it is important for all parties to find solutions quickly.
[1] European Handball Federation (EHF) press release, 2025. [2] German Handball Federation (DHB) press release, 2025. [3] Sola HK press release, 2025. [4] Thüringer HC press release, 2025. [5] Legal proceedings initiated against HB Ludwigsburg and the German Handball Federation, 2025.
- The financial crisis at HB Ludwigsburg has led to a significant shift in the EHF Champions League Women 2025/26, as Sola HK from Norway takes Ludwigsburg's place in Group B, potentially altering the dynamics of the top European club competition in the sports industry.
- The current financial predicament of HB Ludwigsburg in the business realm is affecting the career trajectories of their players, as all players were released, making the club non-competitive until financial stability is restored, potentially impacting the industry's professional handball scene.
