Economic downturn and its aftermath effects
The German women's handball champions, HB Ludwigsburg, are facing an uncertain future as they grapple with a significant financial crisis. The team, currently the reigning champions of the 2025 Bundesliga season [1][2], and a top contender in both domestic and European competitions [3][4], is on the brink of collapse due to a large financial hole that has gone unfilled since the main sponsor announced a reduction of services from the 2025/2026 season.
Captain Xenia Smits, a key player and national team member, has expressed her concerns about the upcoming World Cup, as there may not be a club where the six to seven DHB players can play together again [5]. The current statements from Swabia suggest that the club may participate in the Bundesliga with a potentially changed squad, but no decision has been made yet [6].
The league (HBF) has withdrawn Ludwigsburg's hope of participating in the Supercup, and instead, the Thuringian HC will play against HSG Blomberg-Lippe [7]. Most teams have already completed their squad planning, making it likely that the star ensemble will scatter in all directions [8].
The German Handball Association (DHB) is actively engaged in addressing the situation at HB Ludwigsburg. CEO Mark Schober stated that the Ludwigsburg case shows the challenges in the market for professional women's sports [9]. However, he is convinced that, together with the Handball Bundesliga Women, they can gradually improve the economic environment for women's handball by increasing attention to it [10].
The crisis at HB Ludwigsburg is not only affecting the team but also the national players, including Xenia Smits, who are close to the home World Cup. Markus Gaugisch, the national coach, has commented that it is important to find solutions quickly for the situation at HB Ludwigsburg, as it is difficult to find adequate replacements shortly before the season starts [11].
The situation has left Xenia Smits feeling angry, stating that such a team will never exist again and that her team has been harmed [12]. Two weeks ago, the club filed an application for the opening of an insolvency proceeding, and on Monday evening, they informed their team that the financing for the upcoming season was not secured, releasing the players from their contracts [13].
The crisis at HB Ludwigsburg underscores the challenges faced by professional women's sports teams. The team's strong performance, both nationally and internationally, has provided valuable competitive experience for players ahead of the World Cup [1][2][3][4]. However, the increased pressure and expectations as defending national champions and key contributors to Germany's World Cup ambitions, coupled with the potential for heightened team cohesion and confidence from recent successes, could be lost if the team disbands.
[1] [Link to source 1] [2] [Link to source 2] [3] [Link to source 3] [4] [Link to source 4] [5] [Link to source 5] [6] [Link to source 6] [7] [Link to source 7] [8] [Link to source 8] [9] [Link to source 9] [10] [Link to source 10] [11] [Link to source 11] [12] [Link to source 12] [13] [Link to source 13]
- The financial crisis in the handball industry is causing concerns for sports-analysis experts, as the future of HB Ludwigsburg, a top business venture in both domestic and European handball competition, remains uncertain.
- The crisis in the finance sector is putting a strain on the sports world, particularly the handball business, with key players like Xenia Smits at risk of being impacted by the potential disbandment of HB Ludwigsburg, a premier team in German handball.
- The handball business, like other sports industries, is grappling with challenges in the market, as seen in the case of HB Ludwigsburg, a once prosperous club now teetering on the edge of collapse, a situation that highlights the difficulties faced by professional women's sports teams in terms of finance and business sustainability.
