Sport-Union Neckarsulm is the women's handball team of the sports club Sport-Union Neckarsulm, from the town of Neckarsulm in the southwest of Germany. The team competes domestically in the Handball-Bundesliga and the DHB-Pokal. They play their home matches at the Ballei-Sporthalle and usually wear dark navy shirts and shorts.

History

Early years Sport-Union Neckarsulm was founded on New Year's Day in 2009 as Neckarsulmer Sport-Union (NSU) through the merger of Sportvereinigung Neckarsulm 1946 and Sportfreunde Neckarsulm. The name alludes to the NSU Motorenwerke, the predecessor of Audi, which was located in the city of Neckarsulm until 1985. The multi sports club consists of 17 different sections of which the women's handball section is one of the best known because of their multi-year participation in the Bundesliga, Germany's most important handball league.

Climbing up the league pyramid After two championship titles in regional fifth and fourth tier leagues, coach Emir Hadzimuhamedović led the team also to promotion to the 2. Bundesliga in the summer of 2013. In the following years, the team established itself there and gained promotion to the Bundesliga as second division champions in 2016. A big part in the various promotions from regional amateur levels to professional tiers played the successful under-17 team, which won the German championship in 2011. Talented players of this youth team formed an integral part of the first team in later years.

In addition to its sporting successes in league competitions, Sport-Union also won the HVW-Pokal, the regional cup competition in the region of Württemberg, twice in its first four years of existence. In 2011, the team defeated TV Großbottwar, which was then playing two leagues higher than themselves, 34:24 in the final at the SCHARRena Stuttgart. Two years later they crowned themselves cup champion of 2013 at the same venue after a commanding win against third division rivals TG Nürtingen (33:24).

New name and establishment in the Bundesliga After promotion to the Bundesliga Neckarsulmer Sport-Union was fighting against relegation for their first three years in Germany's top tier but eventually managed to stay in the league. With coaches Pascal Morgant and Tanja Logvin at the helm, the team established itself in the following years as a solid force in the Bundesliga with a sixth-place finish in the 2020–21 season, the best result to date.

In 2021 Neckarsulmer Sport-Union was forced to change its name and crest due to unwanted associations with the right-wing extremist organization National Socialist Underground, although the abbreviation NSU has a long regional tradition in and around the city of Neckarsulm. Now playing as Sport-Union Neckarsulm the club produced players like Selina Kalmbach or Sarah Wachter who went on to become internationals for Germany.

On August 12, 2025, Sport-Union Neckarsulm announced that Germany's national team captain Antje Döll would be joining the club on a free transfer from HB Ludwigsburg with immediate effect, after the then-acting champions of Germany filed for bankruptcy, making her the club's most prominent signing to date. Playing for Sport-Union Neckarsulm domestically, Döll went on to captain Germany to the final at the 2025 World Women's Handball Championship, scoring 49 goals during the course of the tournament and was also chosen to be part of the tournament's All-star Team.

Season to season SeasonTierLeaguePositionGamesGoalsPointsDHB-Pokal2009–10VWürttembergliga (Nord)9th/1222559:602-4319:25−2010–11VWürttembergliga (Nord)1st/1222802:507+29544:0−Württembergliga playoffs1st/46223:140+8312:02011–12IVBW-Oberliga1st/1426967:700+26750:2Round of 322012–13III3. Liga (Süd)1st/1426881:665+21648:4−2013–14II2. Bundesliga7th/1428799:796+327:29Round of 162014–15II2. Bundesliga4th/1426761:686+7534:18First round2015–16II2. Bundesliga1st/1630937:726+21153:7Quarterfinals2016–17IBundesliga12th/1426624:725-10113:39Round of 162017–18IBundesliga13th/1426619:795-17610:42Round of 322018–19IBundesliga12th/1426652:763-11113:39Quarterfinals2019–20IBundesliga9th/1418458:527-6912:24Quarterfinals2020–21IBundesliga6th/1630872:845+2737:23Round of 162021–22IBundesliga7th/1426797:813-1626:26Round of 162022–23IBundesliga12th/1426681:786-10515:37Round of 162023–24IBundesliga10th/1426703:772-6914:38Round of 162024–25IBundesliga9th/1222603:641-3816:28Round of 16Bundesliga playdownssemifinals268:43+254:02025–26IBundesliga6th/1220577:588-1117:23QuarterfinalsBundesliga playoffs 5–115th/76171:196-259:92026–27IBundesligaSecond round

Arena

Sport-Union Neckarsulm play their home matches at the Ballei-Sporthalle, a multi-purpose arena which hosts up to 1,500 spectators (1,125 seated and 375 standing). The arena complex also includes a hall for cultural events for up to 1,000 people as well as a restaurant and a bowling alley. The men's handball team of the club plays selected matches at the Ballei as well. The arena is among the most visited in the Bundesliga and hosted, among others, a friendly match of the Soviet Union men's national handball team in 1989 as well as an international fixture between the women's teams of Germany and Romania in March 2009 (37:24).

Name: Ballei-Sporthalle Location: Neckarsulm, Germany Capacity: 1,500 spectators Address: Deutschordensplatz 1, 74172 Neckarsulm

The club's most prominent supporters' group is Blaue Wand ("Blue wall"), which is located in sector K of Ballei's Audi-Tribüne since the 2025–26 season. Until then the group was situated in sector B. Blaue Wand arranges away day travels as well as meet-and-greets with players and staff and is also heavily involved in the organisation of home matches.

+Bundesliga attendances at Ballei-SporthalleSeasonOverallAverageRankNotes2016–1714,3051,1004th/14» Zuschauer handball-world, Spectator figures 2016–17. Retrieved 06 June 20242017–1813,5411,0417th/14» Zuschauer handball-world, Spectator figures 2017–18. Retrieved 06 June 20242018–1913,5501,0426th/142019–207,5119389th/14Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, several matches were played behind closed doors.» Zuschauer handball-world, Spectator figures 2019–20. Retrieved 06 June 20242020–211,2173045th/16Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, the majority of matches were played behind closed doors.» Zuschauer handball-world, Spectator figures 2020–21. Retrieved 06 June 20242021–229,3787211st/14Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, some matches were played behind closed doors.» Zuschauer handball-world, Spectator figures 2021–22. Retrieved 06 June 20242022–2311,8789145th/14» Zuschauer Handball Bundesliga Frauen, Spectator figures 2022–23. Retrieved 06 June 20242023–2412,8659905th/14» Zuschauer Handball Bundesliga Frauen, Spectator figures 2023–24. Retrieved 06 June 20242024–2512,0751,0068th/12» Zuschauer Handball Bundesliga Frauen, Spectator figures 2024–25. Retrieved 26 April 20252025–2614,0031,0779th/12» Zuschauer Handball Bundesliga Frauen, Spectator figures 2025–26. Retrieved 1 June 20262026–27

A. Including playoff/playdown matches.

Team

Current squad Squad for the 2026–27 season. No. Position Player Nationality Date of birth (age) Height Year signed Signed from End of contract Goalkeepers 30 GK Annie Linder 1,79m 2026 Buxtehuder SV 2028 54 GK Barbara Győri 1,80m 2026 BSV Sachsen Zwickau 2029 Wingers 21 LW Alessia Riner 1,70m 2023 LK Zug 2028 22 RW Meret Ossenkopp 1,75m 2025 HL Buchholz 08-Rosengarten 2027 42 RW Amber Verbraeken 1,80m 2026 HSG Blomberg-Lippe 2028 59 LW Antje Döll 1,70m 2025 HB Ludwigsburg 2028 Line players 5 P Kim Hinkelmann 1,83m 2023 Holstebro Håndbold 2027 39 P Merle Albers 1,83m 2025 Palente Besançon Handball 2028 Backcourt players 9 LB Fanny Elovson 1,81m 2026 Molde Elite 2028 10 RB Lisa Vlug 1,79m 2026 Strasbourg ATH 2028 11 CB Annefleur Bruggeman 1,81m 2022 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2028 13 LB Alicia Soffel 1,76m 2025 HSG Bensheim/Auerbach 2027 14 LB Kamila Březinová 1,79m 2025 Handball Plan-de-Cuques 2027 23 LB Munia Smits 1,78m 2022 HSG Bad Wildungen 2028 26 RB Karolain Lewandowski 1,77m 2026 Le Havre AC 2028 27 LB Sina Ehmann 1,78m 2026 Frisch Auf Göppingen 2029 78 LB Paulina Uścinowicz 1,83m 2025 HSV Solingen-Gräfrath 2027

Transfers Transfers for the 2026–27 season.

Joining Sina Ehmann (LB), from Frisch Auf Göppingen Fanny Elovson (LB), from Molde Elite Barbara Győri (GK), from BSV Sachsen Zwickau Karolain Lewandowski (RB), from Le Havre AC Annie Linder (GK), from Buxtehuder SV Amber Verbraeken (RW), from HSG Blomberg-Lippe Lisa Vlug (RB), from ATH Strasbourg

Leaving Johanna Fossum (GK), to Sola HK Angunn Gudmestad (LB), to Sola HK Lilli Holste (RB), to HC Rödertal Lynn Holtman (CB), to SV Union Halle-Neustadt Lena Ivančok (GK), to Jeanne d'Arc Dijon Handball Iva van der Linden (RW), retired

Technical staff Technical staff for the 2026–27 season.

Head coach: Thomas Zeitz Assistant coach: Gernot Drossel Goalkeeping coach: Oliver Rieth Sporting director: Thomas Zeitz Team coach: Mike Vogelgesang Team coach: Jutta Perger

Physiotherapist: Sergi García Physiotherapist: Nikolay Popovski Team doctor: Dr. Boris Brand Team doctor: Dr. Urs Riemann Neuro performance coach: Patrick Keicher

Personnel

Notable former players

Maike Daniels Nina Engel Ann-Cathrin Giegerich Selina Kalmbach Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar Nele Reimer Nicole Roth Luisa Schulze Johanna Stockschläder Sarah Wachter Melanie Herrmann Lena Ivančok Stefanie Kaiser Daphne Gautschi Seline Ineichen Celia Schneider Chantal Wick Veronika Andrýsková Alena Vojtíšková Mette Gravholt Mia Møldrup Irene Espínola Pérez Birna Berg Haraldsdóttir Mirjana Milenković Michelle Goos Nathalie Hendrikse Lynn Knippenborg Anouk Nieuwenweg Sharon Nooitmeer Emilia Galińska Isabel de Góis Valeria Gorelova Nives Ahlin

Squad history

+ 2009–10 Württembergliga (Nord) (9th/12) No. Position Player Nationality Date of birth Year signed Signed from 2 P Ulrike Arnold 1979 2003 SV Leingarten 4 LW Madeleine Haug 15 June 1990 2009 SG BBM Bietigheim 6 LB Sara Kauth 2009 TSV Bönnigheim 7 CB Katrin Nachbar 2008 VfL Waiblingen 8 LW Nadine Diemer 2005 TV Mosbach 10 RW Jasmin Fimiani 2009 TSG Schwäbisch Hall 10 LB Lena Schäfer 24 January 1992 2009 Sport-Union Neckarsulm U19 10 RB Dorothea Rebber 10 September 1980 2010 SG H2Ku Herrenberg 13 RW Ninette Gruhl 2005 TV Mosbach 19 RW Julia Perger 19 October 1987 2007 Sport-Union Neckarsulm II 20 CB Sandra Benkner 20 May 1990 2009 SG Böckingen-Leingarten 21 P Larissa Vogt 1 March 1992 2009 Sport-Union Neckarsulm U19 33 GK Anja Balbach 31 July 1989 2009 SG Böckingen-Leingarten ?? GK Franziska Pfeffer 28 November 1992 2009 Sport-Union Neckarsulm U19