Things are getting serious for HC Leipzig: “The DHB Cup, the derby – what more could you want?”

Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar: Zum deutschen Artikel.

It all kicks off this Friday evening! The HC Leipzig women’s handball team are kicking off the new competitive season with a cup derby against the Rödertal-Bienen. It’s a real litmus test for the newly promoted Bundesliga side before they make their top-flight debut next week. “We can only speculate at this stage about what the top flight is really like,” says HCL coach Erik Töpfer, who is still facing a bit of a mystery. That’s why he sees the upcoming Rödertal derby as “the perfect warm-up in terms of intensity”.

On Tuesday this week, HC Leipzig celebrated their traditional season opener together. All the club’s youth teams were individually introduced and honoured at the Brüderhalle, with a total of 140 players in attendance. The team presentations culminated in a rousing reception for the women’s team, which is finally back in the 1st Handball Bundesliga after a nine-year absence. HCL fans will see three new faces in the 16-strong squad.

Alongside goalkeeper Aleksandra Orowicz (29), who joined from Mainz, and pivot Jasmin Eckart (25), who moved to Leipzig from their current cup opponents Rödertal, Emma Niemann (20) is also a new addition to the Blue and Yellows. The backcourt player previously played for third-division side TV Hannover-Badenstedt and featured for second-division side HL Buchholz 08-Rosengarten under a dual registration agreement – meaning she has already faced the Leipzig side on the court. And, almost ‘as an aside’, she – alongside four other HCL players – helped bring the U20 World Championship title home a few weeks ago.

The three new HCL signings (from left): Jasmin Eckart, goalkeeper Aleksandra Orowicz and Emma Niemann. Photo: Jan Kaefer

This has probably also made it easier for her to settle into her new team. “I’ve certainly settled in very well and am really very happy here,” confirms the 1.83-metre-tall talent, who has signed a two-year contract in Leipzig. “I get on well with the team and the coaches. It’s great fun. The surroundings and the city too – it’s simply the whole package that really wins me over.”

She is looking forward to today’s cup derby in Großröhrsdorf with particular excitement: “I don’t think there could be a better way to get off to a good start – straight into the DHB Cup, a derby – what more could you want? You just have to give it your all – and hopefully win as well.” Her new head coach, Erik Töpfer, sees it in much the same way, although he actually wanted “for once not to be playing against the same teams as last year”, as he revealed with a smile.

Nevertheless, he’s looking forward to the derby: “There’s a certain atmosphere right from the start and you have to be fully prepared for it. For us, every hall will have a bit of a derby atmosphere and be noisier than in the other second-division halls. That’s why, in terms of intensity, Rödertal is the perfect warm-up – because the derby is always played a bit harder, which is just as well.” Apart from Alina Gaubatz, who is still on sick leave, the 29-year-old has a full squad at his disposal. Nothing now stands in the way of an intense start to the match today at 7.30 pm.

Full HCL power: All the teams celebrated the start of the 2026/27 season together. Photo: Jan Kaefer