Ludwigsburg's Smith expresses frustration: They're tampering with our very identities - Artisans in Ludwigsburg express discontent.
The financial crisis at HB Ludwigsburg, a prominent team in the German Women's Handball Bundesliga, has been making headlines across the German Press Agency. This crisis, primarily due to the sudden collapse of sponsorship negotiations, has left the club without its economic foundation[1].
The team, which reached the final of the Champions League in the 2023/24 season, is now facing an uncertain future. HB Ludwigsburg has filed an application for the opening of an insolvency procedure, and until 2024, the team played under the name SG BBM Bietigheim[4].
The financial predicament has caused concern among players, including Xenia Smits, a key player for both HB Ludwigsburg and the German national team. Smits, who has significantly shaped the German handball scene with her team, winning four consecutive championship titles, cup victories, Supercup successes, and European League wins between 2022 and 2025, is expressing anger over the situation[2].
Smits believes the current situation at HB Ludwigsburg is a hopeless project and has accused responsible persons of leaving many questions unanswered regarding the financial predicament[3]. She is particularly worried about the impact of the crisis on the team's ability to play together, specifically in the context of the World Cup in December, which Germany is co-hosting with the Netherlands.
The World Cup in December is a significant event for the German handball team, with several DHB players being part of the team[5]. However, the financial crisis at HB Ludwigsburg may result in lost training time and playing time for the team, as the club has informed players that financing for the upcoming Bundesliga season is not secured[1].
The crisis has also led to the players' contracts with HB Ludwigsburg becoming non-binding, allowing them to look for new clubs. Smits has expressed concern about the search for new clubs by HB Ludwigsburg players, stating that it will be difficult, with limited choices and not everyone getting their desired club[3].
Smits is frustrated because a clear future plan was never presented to the team, and she is concerned about the potential disbanding of HB Ludwigsburg due to the financial crisis. She is angry about the potential disbanding of the team due to the financial crisis and has expressed concern about the high costs of hall rental and salaries at HB Ludwigsburg[3].
The European Handball Federation (EHF) has demanded detailed information regarding the club’s financial situation and has announced that HB Ludwigsburg will lose its place in Group B of the competition, with a Norwegian team, Sola HK, taking their spot[1][4]. This regulatory response from the EHF underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential impact on the German women's handball scene.
[1] German Press Agency [2] Sport Bild [3] Handball Magazin [4] EHF
- Despite the ongoing financial crisis, Xenia Smits, a prominent German handball player and key member of HB Ludwigsburg, is considering options in the NBA, WNBA, or NCAA basketball, or pursuing vocational training in EC countries, as her contract with the handball club has become non-binding.
- The financial predicament at HB Ludwigsburg has put the future of the German women's handball team in jeopardy, as the team faces potential lost training time and playing time ahead of the World Cup in December, due to uncertain financing for the upcoming Bundesliga season.
- The European Handball Federation (EHF) has reacted to the financial crisis at HB Ludwigsburg by demanding detailed information about the club's financial situation and replacing them with Sola HK in Group B of the competition, signaling the impact this crisis might have on the broader women's handball scene across Europe.
