Captain is headed towards Neckarsulm.
German Handball Champions HB Ludwigsburg Excluded from Super Cup and Champions League
In a surprising turn of events, reigning Women's Handball Bundesliga champions HB Ludwigsburg have been excluded from the 2025/26 EHF Champions League and the German Handball Super Cup. This decision comes as a result of the club's financial difficulties and insolvency, which have made it impossible for them to secure funding and maintain player contracts [1][4][5].
The European Handball Federation has replaced HB Ludwigsburg with Norway's Solar HK in the Champions League, while the German Women's Handball Bundesliga (HBF) has excluded them from domestic tournaments such as the Super Cup, where Thüringer HC will take their place [1][2][3].
The insolvency filing, which took place on July 21, 2025, has effectively suspended or excluded HB Ludwigsburg from top-tier competition for the 2025/26 season. The German Handball Federation and leagues are currently involved in legal proceedings linked to this issue [1].
The future of HB Ludwigsburg in the upcoming Bundesliga season is uncertain. The re-licensing review by the Handball Bundesliga for HB Ludwigsburg is ongoing, but the league has announced a re-licensing review, leaving the door open for the club [6].
Meanwhile, several national team players, including Jenny Behrend who currently plays for VFL Oldenburg, and Antje Döll, who has signed with Sport-Union Neckarsulm, have already found new clubs. Döll, who was initially "very sad and angry" about the situation, stated that the financial collapse of HB Ludwigsburg is difficult for players [7].
Sport-Union Neckarsulm finished ninth out of twelve teams last season in the Handball Bundesliga, providing a challenging start for Döll as she aims to make the home World Cup as successful as possible for Germany, which will take place in Germany and the Netherlands from late November [8].
Metz Handball is the current club of national team player Xenia Smits, who is also navigating the challenges of a transfer in the midst of HB Ludwigsburg's financial troubles.
As a result of the insolvency, the players, including many national team members, are no longer bound by their contracts with HB Ludwigsburg [9]. The situation is a significant blow to the handball community, particularly for fans of HB Ludwigsburg, who have seen their team rise to the top of the Bundesliga only to face this unexpected setback.
[1] Handball-Bundesliga: Ludwigsburg insolvent [2] Thüringer HC nimmt den Platz von Ludwigsburg in der Supercup-Ausgabe ein [3] Solar HK ersetzt Ludwigsburg in der Champions League [4] HB Ludwigsburg wird aus der Champions League ausgeschlossen [5] Ludwigsburg: Insolvenzverfahren beim Handball-Bundesligisten [6] Handball-Bundesliga: HB Ludwigsburg droht Ausfall [7] Antje Döll: 'Es ist schwer, die Situation zu verarbeiten' [8] Antje Döll wechselt zu Sport-Union Neckarsulm [9] Die Situation in HB Ludwigsburg: 'Es ist sehr schwer für uns Spieler', sagt Antje Döll
The insolvency of HB Ludwigsburg has left several national team players, such as Jenny Behrend and Antje Döll, searching for new clubs in the handball community.Sport-Union Neckarsulm, a team that finished ninth in the Handball Bundesliga last season, will provide a challenging start for Döll as she pursues a successful home World Cup for Germany.
