Danish Women's Handball League

The Kvindeligaen () is the top professional league for Danish women's handball clubs. It is administered by the Danish Handball Federation, and the winners are recognized as Danish champions. The league was previously called Bambusa Kvindeligaen for sponsorship reasons. It has previously been known as HTH GO Ligaen, Primo Tours Ligaen, Boxer Dameligaen, TOMS Ligaen and GuldBageren Ligaen. The current title holder is Team Esbjerg (2024). The European Handball Federation (EHF) ranks the Danish league 4th in the coefficients of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the past seasons.

Competition format

The Kvindeligaen shares the season style with the men's league. It consists of 14 teams, each playing 26 regular season games. The eight best teams of the regular season advance to further games, where they are divided into two groups of four teams each. No. 1 and 2 from the regular season start with 2 points. No. 3 and 4 start with 1 point, while no. 5-8 start with no points. After these six games the two top teams in each group will play semifinals. No. 1 from one group is up against no. 2 from the other. The winners will meet in finals, while the losers will play against each other for the bronze medal. Semifinals, finals, and bronze games are all played in best of 3.

The lowest placed team of the regular season is directly relegated to the second-best division, and replaced by the winner of this. The teams finishing as 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are put in a group where they will play against each other. In the second-best division, the teams that end up 2nd and 3rd will play against each other in best of 3. The winner of those games will get to meet the lowest placed team from the 9-13 group from the top league, yet again in best of 3. The winner will get to play in the top league next season, while the loser plays in the second-best division.

Seasons

Current teams (2024/25)

The fourteen teams of the 2023/24 season are:

Champions

The complete list of champions since 1936:

Medal table

The all-time medal table for the women's championship is as follows:

Top scorers

The following list shows the top scorers since 1965/66:
* 1965/66: Birthe Hansen, FIF (80)
* 1966/67: Jytte Skøtt Mikkelsen, Hjallese GF (63)
* 1967/68: Ingeborg Jensen, Randers Freja (93)
* 1968/69: Aase Jensen, Glostrup IC (86)
* 1969/70: Birthe Hansen, FIF (85)
* 1970/71: Karen Rasmussen, H.G. (94)
* 1971/72: Tove Nielsen, V.R.I (88)
* 1972/73: Karen Rasmussen, H.G. (98)
* 1973/74: Jette Madsen, Næstved IF (97)
* 1974/75: Anne Grete Enggård, Funder GF (78)
* 1975/76: Bente Lauridsen, AIA-Tranbjerg (84)
* 1976/77: Ann Andreasen, Svendborg HK (87)
* 1977/78: Bente Lauridsen, AIA-Tranbjerg (101)
* 1978/79: Bente Lauridsen, AIA-Tranbjerg (87)
* 1979/80: Karen Rask, Ejstrupholm GF (91)
* 1980/81: Birte Carlsen, Helsingør IF (104)
* 1981/82: Karen Frandsen, Lynge-Uggeløse IF (107)
* 1982/83: Tove Okkerstrøm, Holstebro KFUM (103)
* 1983/84: Conni Olesen, NNNfH (105)
* 1984/85: Hanne Green, NNNfH (108)
* 1985/86: Anette Rytter, IF Stjernen (115)
* 1986/87: Anette Rytter, IF Stjernen (129)
* 1987/88: Vibeke Nielsen, AIA Tranbjerg (105)
* 1988/89: Helle Petersen, Helsingør IF (92)
* 1989/90: Helle Petersen, Helsingør IF (93)
* 1990/91: Gitte Madsen, Horsens HK (119)
* 1991/92: Betina Nørager, Svendborg HK (136)
* 1992/93: Lise Lotte Lauridsen, Lyngså BK (139)
* 1993/94: Sisse Bruun Jørgensen Virum-Sorgenfri HK (141)
* 1994/95: Heidi Astrup, Viborg HK (157)
* 1995/96: Mette Vestergaard, FIF (172)
* 1996/97: Merete Møller, Vorup FB (163)
* 1997/98: Camilla Andersen, FIF (188)
* 1998/99: Camilla Andersen, FIF (180)
* 1999/2000: Camilla Andersen, FIF (163)
* 2000/01: Mette Vestergaard, FIF (133)
* 2001/02: Camilla Andersen, Slagelse FH (181)
* 2002/03: Camilla Andersen, Slagelse FH (215)
* 2003/04: Bojana Petrović, Slagelse FH (175)
* 2004/05: Bojana Popović, Slagelse FH (174)
* 2005/06: Tanja Milanović, Ikast-Bording EH (172)
* 2006/07: Mette Sjøberg, FCK Håndbold (167)
* 2007/08: Nadine Krause, FCK Håndbold (153)
* 2008/09: Grit Jurack, Viborg HK (125)
* 2011/12: Mette Gravholt, Team Tvis Holstebro (141)
* 2012/13: Estavana Polman, SønderjyskE Damer (138)
* 2013/14: Estavana Polman, Team Esbjerg (152)
* 2014/15: Jette Hansen, Silkeborg-Voel KFUM (157)
* 2015/16: Nathalie Hagman, Team Tvis Holstebro (191)
* 2016/17: Trine Troelsen, Silkeborg-Voel KFUM (199)
* 2017/18: Ida Bjørndalen Karlsson, Team Esbjerg (168)
* 2018/19: Laura Damgaard Lund, EH Aalborg (158)
* 2019/20: Mia Rej, København Håndbold (170)
* 2020/21: Kristina Jørgensen, Viborg HK (180)
* 2021/22: Mathilde Neesgaard, Aarhus United (179)
* 2022/23: Henny Reistad, Team Esbjerg (204)
* 2023/24: Line Gyldenløve, Bjerringbro FH (173)

Statistics

EHF coefficients

The following data indicates Danish coefficient rankings between European handball leagues.

;Country ranking:
EHF League Ranking for 2022/23 season:

*1.  (''1'') Nemzeti Bajnokság I (157.67)
*2.  (''5'') Ligue Butagaz Énergie (118.50)
*3.  (''2'') Russian Superleague (114.50)
*4.  (''3'') Bambusa Kvindeligaen (109.00)
*5.  (''6'') REMA 1000-ligaen (102.17)
*6.  (''4'') Liga Națională (94.50)

Broadcasting rights

* TV2 Danmark
* TV2 Sport

In European competitions

See also

* Women's sports
* Herreligaen

References

{{Women's Global Handball Leagues

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