LFH Division 1 Féminine, known for sponsorship reasons as Ligue Butagaz Énergie, is the premier women's handball league in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. It is overseen by the Ligue Féminine de Handball (LFH), the governing body of French women's professional handball, under delegation from the

French Handball Federation '' , abbrev= FFHB , logo= French Handball Federation logo.svg , logosize= 250px , countryflag= France , iocnation= French Republic (FRA) , url= https://ffhandball.fr/ , sport= Handball , othersport1= Beach Handball , othersport2= Wheelchair Handba ...

(FFHB). Founded in 1952, it is currently contested by twelve teams.

Metz Handball Metz Handball is a French handball club from Metz, France. Founded in 1965 under the name ASPTT Metz, the club has an exceptional track record with some 40 titles won, which is the all-time record for a French women's team sport. Chaired by Thierr ...

has dominated the championship in recent times with 24 titles between 1989 and 2022 including a 6-year winning streak, while US Ivry and Paris UC were the most successful teams in past decades with nine and five titles respectively. As of 2022: *

Brest Bretagne Handball Brest Bretagne Handball, also knows as BBH, is a French professional handball club from Brest, Brittany. This team currently competes in the French Women's Handball First League from 2016 and the 2021–22 Women's EHF Champions League. In th ...

is the french club that went the furthest in the

EHF Champions League The Men's EHF Champions League is the most important club handball competition for men's teams in Europe and involves the leading teams from the top European nations. The competition is organised every year by EHF. The official name for the men ...

: they were finalist in

2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October 2021 coup in Sudan; Crowd shortly after t ...

. * The

EHF European League The EHF European League is an annual men's handball club competition organised by the European Handball Federation (EHF) since 1981. It is the second-tier competition of European club handball, ranking only below the EHF Champions League. Previ ...

has been won by only one french club: Neptunes de Nantes in

Participating teams

2022–23 teams

Personnel and kits

Competition format

All 14 teams play each other twice during the season (home and away matches – 26 competition days). At the end of the season, the best ranked team is declared "Champion de France" and is granted a spot in the

's group stage.2011-12 results
in EHF's website The last ranked team (14th) is relegated to the lower echelon of women's handball

Division 2 Féminine The Division 2 Féminine, shortened as D2 Féminine, is the second division of women's football in France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas ...

(D2F) and replaced by the top-ranked D2F team that possesses the status. Teams receive three points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a loss.

European qualification

Currently the Champion of France is granted a spot in the

's group stage. Runner-up is qualified for the

but is able to apply for a ''wildcard'' (upgrade) to participate in the Champions League. The winner of the

Coupe de France The Coupe de France, formerly known as the Coupe Charles Simon, is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation (FFF). It was first held in 1917 and is open to all amateur and profession ...

is qualified for the EHF European League. If a qualified team declines to participate in the European League, the next best-ranked team in the league can apply to take their place. A number of the league's other top teams are eligible to participate in European competitions. The number of teams per national federation qualified for European competitions (

and

) is determined by a federation's EHF coefficient and EHF rank. Each year, the EHF publishes a ranking that announces the place attribution for the following season (number of teams for each Federation in the various competitions). For the 2023/24 season, the system changed. The coefficients and ranks were not determined by the overall performance of a federation, as it used to be. The performances are separated by competitions (e.g.: good performance by french teams in the Champions League would not allocate more places for french teams in the European League). Thus, the new system includes separate rankings for the Champions League and the European League. Place distribution for 2023/24 Women's EHF Club competitions -

's place attribution: *

(EHF CL): 1 place *

(EHF EL): 3 places The Champions League has 7 other spots open for clubs that are not national champions but have qualified for the European League (1 spot for the best seeded Federation of the EHF EL and 6 spots open for upgrades). The EHF European League has 8 spots open in for upgrades. A club needs to fulfill set technical and organizational or administrative requirements to be able to play in European competitions (finances, adequate playing hall, etc.).

List of champions

Media coverage

Free

Sport en France Sport en France is a French free-to-air sports television channel. It was launched in 2019 and is headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris. In 2020, the channel signed on a content exchange program with France Televisions. History Spor ...

(national wide sport TV channel) usually broadcasts 2 matches per "competition day". * Moselle TV (local TV channel) broadcasts a few of

home matches. * NA TV (local TV channel) broadcasts a few of HBC Celles-sur-Belle home matches, since the 2022/23 season. * Tébéo (local TV channel) broadcasts a few of

home matches.

Pay-to-watch

''
Handball TV
: For the 2022-23 handball season, the French Federation of Handball launched its own subscription video on-demand

over-the-top An over-the-top (OTT) media service is a media service offered directly to viewers via the Internet. OTT bypasses cable, broadcast, and satellite television platforms: the types of companies that traditionally act as controllers or distributors ...

streaming service: * It re-broadcasts the live feeds of free TV channels (that broadcast matches). * it also broadcasts live some exclusive matches. * VODs (replays) of all broadcast matches.

Notable foreign players

:''List of foreign players who previously played or currently play in the LFH Division 1 Féminine. Bold indicate players currently playing in the league (2022/2023). ;Algeria * Nadia Belakhdar * Nabila Tizi ;Angola *

Stelvia de Jesus Pascoal Stelvia de Jesus Pascoal (born 20 October 2002) is an Angolan handball player. She plays left back for Atlético Petróleos de Luanda and the Angola women's handball team. Career Part of the Angolan team that won the 2021 African Women's Handba ...

* Isabel Guialo * Ruth João ;Argentina * Elke Karsten * Luciana Mendoza * Rosario Urban ;Australia * Catherine Kent * Manon Livingstone ;Austria * Gorica Aćimović * Petra Blazek * Sonja Frey ;Belarus *

Natallia Vasileuskaya Natallia Vasileuskaya (born 23 February 1991) is a Belarusian handballer who plays for Gloria Bistrița and the Belarus national team. Achievements * Romanian National League: **''Winner'': 2019 *Romanian Cup: **''Finalist'': 2018, 2019 ...

;Brazil * Moniky Bancilon * Ana Paula Belo * Adriana Cardoso de Castro * Deonise Cavaleiro *

Bruna de Paula Bruna de Paula (born 26 September 1996) is a Brazilian professional handball player for Győri ETO KC and the Brazilian national team. She previously played for Metz. She competed at the 2015 World Women's Handball Championship in Denmark. Indi ...

* Fabiana Diniz *

Alexandra do Nascimento Alexandra Priscila do Nascimento Martínez (born 16 September 1981) is a Brazilian former handball player. She played in the Brazilian national team. Career She was born in 1981 in Limeira (São Paulo) but she soon moved to Espírito Santo wher ...

* Elaine Gomes * Mayara Moura *

Gabriela Moreschi Gabriela Gonçalves Dias Moreschi (born 8 July 1994) is a Brazilian handballer for SG BBM Bietigheim and the Brazilian national team. Achievements * Norwegian League: **''Winner'': 2017 **''Silver Medalist'': 2018 *Norwegian Cup: **''Winner'': 2 ...

* Mayssa Pessoa * Silvia Pinheiro * Samira Rocha ;Cameroon * Lisa Atangana * ;Croatia *

Maida Arslanagić Maida Arslanagić (born 20 April 1984) is a retired Bosnian- Croatian handball player. She is daughter of the famous former handball goalkeeper Abaz Arslanagić. She played more than 100 games for the Croatia women's national handball team betw ...

* Sonja Bašić * Klaudija Bubalo *

Ivana Dežić Ivana Dežić (born 27 July 1994) is a Croatian handball player for ESBF Besançon ESBF Besançon is a French women's handball club based in Besançon. They play in the French Women's First League. Honours * French Women's First League: * ...

* Dragica Džono *

Kristina Elez Kristina Elez (born 22 May 1987 as Kristina Franić) is a Croatian handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a g ...

Lidija Horvat Lidija Horvat (born 5 May 1982) is a Croatian handball player, who currently plays for the Romanian club Rapid Bucuresti and for the Croatia women's national handball team. She played on the Croatian team at the 2008 European Women's Handball C ...

* Ivana Kapitanović *

Ćamila Mičijević Ćamila Mičijević (born 8 September 1994) is a Croatian handball player for Metz Handball and the Croatia women's national handball team, Croatian national team. Career Mičijević was born in Heidenheim an der Brenz, Heidenheim, Germany to Bo ...

* Ivana Lovrić ;Cuba * Eyatne Rizo ;Czech Republic * Klára Černá * Lenka Černá * Kamila Kordovská *

Petra Kudláčková Petra Kudláčková (born 17 October 1994) is a Czech handballer for DHC Slavia Prague and the Czech national team. She participated at the 2018 European Women's Handball Championship The 2018 European Women's Handball Championship was held i ...

Iveta Luzumová Iveta is a given name. Notable people with the name include: People *Iveta Apkalna (born 1976), Latvian organist *Iveta Bartošová (1966–2014) was a Czech singer, actress and celebrity *Iveta Benešová (born 1983), Czech tennis player * Iveta ...

Veronika Malá Veronika Malá (born 6 May 1994) is a Czech handballer for SG BBM Bietigheim and the Czech national team. She participated at the 2018 European Women's Handball Championship. Achievements *EHF European League: **''Winner'': 2022 *Bundesliga ...

* Pavla Poznarová * Helena Ryšánková * Barbora Raníková * Lucie Satrapová * Helena Štěrbová ;Democratic Republic of the Congo * Luisa Makubanza * Estel Memana *

Christianne Mwasesa Christianne Mwasesa Mwange (born 23 March 1985) is a Congolese handball player for Primeiro de Agosto and the DR Congo national team. She competed at the 2013 World Women's Handball Championship The 2013 World Women's Handball Championship, t ...

* Simone Thiero ;Denmark *

Melanie Bak Melanie Mie Bak (born 30 January 1994) is a Danish handball player who plays for SCM Craiova and the Danish national team. She made her debut on the Danish national team on 28 September 2018, against Norway in a friendly match. Achievements ...

* Louise Burgaard * Stine Bodholt Nielsen *

Lotte Grigel Lotte Grigel (born 5 April 1991) is a Danish handball player for Nantes Loire Atlantique Handball and the Danish national team. She made her debut on the Danish national team on 14 October 2008, against Russia. On 1 February 2019, it was annou ...

* Kristina Jørgensen * Mai Kragballe Nielsen * * *

Mia Møldrup Mia Marie Tarp Møldrup (born 6 April 1991) is a Danish former handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goal ...

* Nadia Offendal * Julie Pontoppidan * Jane Schumacher * Sandra Toft * Line Uno * Ditte Vind *

Anna Wierzba Anna Wierzba (born 19 July 2000) is a Danish handball player for Toulon Saint-Cyr Var Handball and the Danish national junior team. She also represented Denmark in the 2017 European Women's U-17 Handball Championship, 2018 Women's Youth Worl ...

* Fie Woller ;Egypt * Ehsan Abdelmalek ;Germany * Dinah Eckerle * Isabell Klein * Ewgenija Minevskaja * Maike Schirmer * Xenia Smits * Aimée von Pereira ;Hungary *

Viktória Csáki Viktória Csáki (; born 3 March 1986) is a retired Hungarian handballer. She got acquainted with handball in the school at the age of ten, and two years later she was already playing for local club TVSE. She was signed by Debreceni VSC at th ...

* Andrea Farkas *

Ágnes Hornyák Ágnes Hornyák (formerly Ágnes Boczkó-Hornyák; born 2 September 1982 in Mátészalka) is a retired Hungarian team handball player. She mader her international debut against Norway on 2 March 2005. She participated on the World Championship ...

* Szabina Mayer *

Krisztina Pigniczki Krisztina Pigniczki (born 18 September 1975) is a Hungarian former handball player and Olympic medalist. She received a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney,Szimonetta Planéta * Szabina Tápai ;Iceland * Karen Knútsdóttir * Arna Sif Pálsdóttir * Ramune Pekarskyte *

Hrafnhildur Hanna Þrastardóttir Hrafnhildur Hanna Þrastardóttir (born 14 May 1995) is an Icelandic handballer who plays for Icelandic top division side ÍBV and the Icelandic national team as a central back. Career Club career In 2015, Hrafnhildur was the top goal scorer ...

;Ivory Coast * Paula Gondo-Bredou ;Japan * Sakura Hauge ;Montenegro * Jasna Boljević * Tatjana Brnović *

Itana Grbić Itana Grbić, (born 1 September 1996) is a Montenegrin handball player who plays for Brest Bretagne Handball and the Montenegrin national team. Itana is the younger sister of Montenegrin footballer Petar Grbić. International honours *EHF Cha ...

Đurđina Jauković Đurđina Jauković (born 24 February 1997) is a Montenegrin handball player for Brest Bretagne Handball and the Montenegrin national team. Achievements National team * European Championship: **''Bronze Medalist'': 2022 European *EHF Champions ...

Marija Jovanović Marija Jovanović (born 26 December 1985) is a retired Montenegrin handball player. She played for the Montenegrin national team. She competed at the 2010 European Women's Handball Championship, where the Montenegrin team placed sixth, and Jova ...

* Đurđina Malović * Jasna Tošković *

Dijana Ujkić Dijana Ujkić (in Albanian: Diana Ujkaj ,born 5 July 1996) is a Montenegrin handball player for Minaur Baia Mare and the Montenegrin national team. International honours *EHF Champions League The Men's EHF Champions League is the most imp ...

* Marina Vukčević ;Netherlands *

Lois Abbingh Lois Abbingh (born 13 August 1992) is a Dutch female professional handballer who plays as a left back for Odense Håndbold and the Dutch national team. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Career In 2011, she was a key player of the Dutc ...

* Debbie Bont *

Yvette Broch Yvette Broch (born 23 December 1990) is a Dutch professional handball player, who plays for Győri ETO KC and the Dutch national team. She is also known for being a runner up on the fourth season of '' Holland's Next Top Model''. She completed i ...

* Merel Freriks * Jasmina Janković * Isabelle Jongenelen * Jessy Kramer * Jurswailly Luciano *

Anouk Nieuwenweg Anouk Nieuwenweg (born 20 August 1996) is a Dutch handballer who plays for Neckarsulmer SU and the Netherlands national team. She arrived this summer (2019), from Germany, in the club of Chambray Touraine Handball Chambray Touraine Handball ...

* Charris Rozemalen * Esther Schop *

Martine Smeets Martine Smeets (born 5 May 1990) is a Dutch handballer who plays as a left wing for Liga Națională club CSM București and previously the Dutch national team. International honours *EHF Cup: **''Finalist'': 2017 *World Championship: **''Gol ...

* Laura van der Heijden * Sanne van Olphen * Marieke van der Wal *

Pearl van der Wissel Pearl van der Wissel (born 14 April 1984) is a former Dutch handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkee ...

* ;North Macedonia * Dragica Kresoja * Jovana Micevska *

Julija Portjanko Julija Portjanko ( mk, Јулија Портјанко; born Yuliya Ihorivna Portyanko, uk, Юлія Ігорівна Портянко; 20 April 1983 – 12 October 2021), also known as Julija Nikolić ( mk, Јулија Николиќ; uk, Ю ...

;Norway * Mari Finstad Bergum * Camilla Carstens * Helene Gigstad Fauske * Rikke Marie Granlund *

Anette Helene Hansen Anette Helene Hansen (born 12 February 1992) is a former Norwegian handball player who last played for Fredrikstad BK. She also represented Norway in the 2012 Women's Junior World Handball Championship, placing 8th. Career In 2015, Hansen p ...

* Malin Holta * Tonje Haug Lerstad *

Tonje Løseth Tonje Løseth (born 1 January 1991) is a Norwegian handball player. She plays for the club Brest Bretagne Handball. Achievements *Danish Cup: **''Gold'': 2019 * French Women's First League Championship: **''Gold:'' 2021 * French Women's Cup Ch ...

* Karoline Lund * Hanna Bredal Oftedal * Stine Bredal Oftedal * Siv Heim Sæbøe * * Celine Sivertsen * Silje Solberg * Pernille Wibe ;Poland * Marta Gęga *

Katarzyna Janiszewska Katarzyna is a Polish given name, equivalent to English "Catherine". Its diminutive forms include Kasia, Katarzynka, Kasieńka, Kasiunia, Kasiulka; augmentative – Kaśka, Kacha, Kachna. Individuals named Katarzyna may choose their name day f ...

* Monika Kobylińska * Aneta Łabuda * Natalia Nosek * Adrianna Płaczek * Aleksandra Rosiak * Monika Stachowska * Karolina Siódmiak * Ewa Urtnowska * Paulina Uścinowicz * Joanna Wołoszyk * Karolina Zalewska *

Aleksandra Zych Aleksandra Zych (born 28 July 1993) is a Polish professional handballer who plays as a right back for Zagłębie Lubin and the Polish national team. International honours * Championnat de France : **''Winner'': 2019 * Polish Superliga: **''Win ...

;Portugal * Joana Resende ;Republic of Congo * Joséphine Nkou ;Romania *

Carmen Amariei Carmen Andreea Amariei (formerly Lungu; born September 3rd 1978) was a retired Romanian handballer. She participated at the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, where the Romanian national team placed seventh. Personal life Amariei was born in Cluj ...

* Melinda Geiger *

Ionica Munteanu Ionica Munteanu (born 7 January 1979) is a Romanian female handballer. International honours *EHF Cup Winners' Cup: **''Finalist'': 2008 *EHF Cup: **''Semifinalist'': 2005, 2009 * EHF Challenge Cup: **''Winner'': 2006 Individual awards *Champio ...

* Elena Napăr * Crina Pintea *

Ionela Stanca Ionela Stanca (née Gâlcă; born 9 January 1981) is a Romanian professional team handball, handballer who plays for Chambray Touraine Handball. She was voted into the ''All-Star Team'' in the 2007 World Women's Handball Championship.

;Russia * Ekaterina Andryushina * Yulia Khavronina * Valeriia Maslova ;Senegal *

Doungou Camara Doungou Camara (born 7 January 1995) is a French born-Senegalese handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a go ...

* Raïssa Dapina * Laura Kamdop * Hawa N'Diaye * Amina Sankharé * Dienaba Sy ;Serbia *

Marija Čolić Marija Colic (born 12 April 1990) is a Serbian handball player for Nice Handball and the Serbian national team. She was part of the team at the 2016 European Women's Handball Championship The 2016 European Women's Handball Championship was ...

* Biljana Filipović * * Kristina Liščević *

Tatjana Medved Tatjana Medved (née Popov; born 13 March 1974) is a Serbian former handball player. She was captain of the Serbian national team. She has been a member of the National Assembly of Serbia since 2022, as a member of the Together We Can Do Everyt ...

* Svetlana Ognjenović * Slađana Pop-Lazić * Jelena Popović *

Dijana Radojević Dijana Radojević (born 2 April 1990) is a Serbian handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass ...

Dijana Števin Dijana Števin (born 23 October 1986) is a Serbian handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass ...

Jovana Stoiljković Jovana Stoiljković ( sr-cyr, Јована Стоиљковић; born 30 September 1988) is a Serbian handball player for Chambray Touraine Handball Chambray Touraine Handball is the name of a French handball club from Chambray-lès-Tours. Thi ...

* Katarina Tomašević ;Slovakia * Monika Rajnohová * Martina Školková ;Slovenia * Aneja Beganovič * Ana Gros * Nina Jeriček * Lina Krhlikar *

Amra Pandžić Amra Pandžić (born 20 September 1989) is a Slovenian handball player for CS Minaur Baia Mare and the Slovenian national team. She was selected to represent Slovenia at the 2017 World Women's Handball Championship The 2017 IHF World Women's ...

* Tjaša Stanko * Maja Vojnović ;South Korea *

Ryu Eun-hee Ryu Eun-hee (; born 24 February 1990 in Incheon) is a South Korean handball player for Győri Audi ETO KC and the South Korean national team. Professional career Ryu played for Busan Infrastructure Corporation in 2019. That year Busan won it ...

;Spain * Nely Carla Alberto * Jessica Alonso * Alexandrina Cabral * Carmen Campos * Mercedes Castellanos * Elisabet Cesáreo * Elisabeth Chávez * Darly de Paula * Patricia Elorza *

Beatriz Escribano Beatriz Escribano (born 4 May 1990) is a Spanish handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ...

* Beatriz Fernández * Paula García Ávila *

Kaba Gassama Kaba Gassama Cissokho (born 16 August 1997) is a Spanish handball player for Fleury Loiret and the Spanish national team. Gassama's older brother Mamadou Gassama is also a handball player, and her other brother, Sekou Gassama, is a football ...

* Lara González Ortega * Mireya González * Marta López * Marta Mangué * Carmen Martín * María Muñoz Juan * María Núñez * Paula Valdivia Monserrat ;Sweden * Hanna Åhlén * Jenny Carlson * * Kristina Flognman * Tina Flognman * Hanna Fogelström * Cecilia Grubbström *

Isabelle Gulldén Isabelle Therese Gulldén (born 29 June 1989) is a Swedish handball player for Lugi HF and former national team player for the Swedish National Team. Career In 2008, 2012, and 2016 she was part of the Swedish team competing at the Summer Ol ...

* Nathalie Hagman * Filippa Idéhn * Therese Islas Helgesson * Anna Lagerquist * Clara Monti Danielsson * Louise Sand * Carin Strömberg * Frida Tegstedt * Ulrika Toft Hansen * Cassandra Tollbring * Linnea Torstenson *

Angelica Wallén Angelica Wallén (born 11 April 1986) is a former Swedish handball player for the Swedish women's national handball team. At the 2010 European Women's Handball Championship she reached the final and won a silver medal with the Swedish team. S ...

;Switzerland * Daphne Gautschi * Lea Schüpbach ;Tunisia * Haifa Abdelhak * Noura Ben Slama * Takoua Chabchoub * Mouna Chebbah * Maroua Dhaouadi * Asma Elghaoui * Ines Khouildi * Ouided Kilani * Rafika Marzouk * Faten Yahiaoui ;Ukraine * Liliia Gorilska * Olha Nikolayenko * Olga Perederiy * Anastasiia Pidpalova * Yuliya Snopova

EHF league ranking

EHF League Ranking for 2022/23 season: * 1. Disc Plain yellow dark

(''1'')

Nemzeti Bajnokság I The Nemzeti Bajnokság (, "National Championship"), also known as NB I, is the top level of the Hungarian football league system. The league is officially named OTP Bank Liga after its title sponsor OTP Bank. UEFA currently ranks the league 28th ...

(157.67) * 2. (''5'') Ligue Butagaz Énergie (118.50) * 3. RedDownArrow

(''2'')

Russian Superleague The Russian Superleague (russian: Чемпионат России Суперлига, ''Russian Championship Superleague''), commonly abbreviated as RSL, was the highest division of the main professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was consi ...

(114.50) * 4. RedDownArrow

(''3'') Bambusa Kvindeligaen (109.00) * 5. (''6'') REMA 1000-ligaen (102.77) * 6. RedDownArrow

(''4'') Liga Națională (94.50)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:French Championship

women A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...

Women's handball in France Women's sports leagues in France Professional sports leagues in France