# Vipers Kristiansand

Vipers Kristiansand was a professional handball club from Kristiansand, Norway. The team competed in REMA 1000-ligaen, the top division in the country, since its promotion in 2001.
They claimed their first Norwegian championship in 2018, ending an 18 times streak for the champions from Larvik HK. Since then, they've shown strong dominance in Norway and claimed 7 consecutive league titles, 7 cup titles and 5 playoff titles.
For the first time in the club's history, they qualified for the 2018–19 Women's EHF Final 4 in Budapest, where they took the 3rd place and a historic bronze medal. On 30 May 2021, they won the 2020–21 Women's EHF Champions League and the following year they succeeded again, becoming the first Norwegian team to win EHF Champions League two years in a row. In 2023, they claimed another Women's EHF Final 4 title and secured the treble while the EHF FINAL4 Women in Budapest broke the world record for spectator attendance at women’s handball matches.
On 20 October 2024, the club announced they were going to seek bankruptcy. On 21 October 2024, it was reported that the club would not seek bankruptcy after all. A group of investors were interested in saving the club, in exchange that a new board of directors were elected and that the current one collectively stepped off.
However, on 13 January 2025, the club officially declared bankruptcy with all players being let go of their contracts.

## Achievements

REMA 1000-ligaen:
* Gold: 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2023/2024
* Silver: 2016/2017
* Bronze: 2002/2003
Norwegian Cup:
* Winner: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022/23, 2023/2024
* Silver: 2010
EHF Champions League:
* Winner: 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023
* Bronze: 2018/2019
EHF Cup:
* Finalist: 2017/2018

## Team
### Transfers

    Transfers for the 2024–25 season

#### Leaving

* Tomáš Hlavatý (Head coach) (to the Czech women's national team)
* Lene Rantala (Assistant coach)
* Dina Frisendal (GK) (to Fana)
* Silje Solberg-Østhassel (GK)
* Katrine Lunde (GK) (to Odense Håndbold)
* Tuva Høve (RW) (to Byåsen HE)
* Jana Knedlíková (RW) (to DHC Slavia Prague)
* Mia Emmenegger (RW) (to Team Esbjerg)
* Vilde Jonassen (LW)
* Mina Hesselberg (LW) (to Larvik HK)
* Sunniva Næs Andersen (LW) (pregnant)
* Merel Freriks (P) (to Team Esbjerg)
* Ana Debelić (P) (to RK Podravka Koprivnica)
* Jamina Roberts (LB) (to Ikast Håndbold)
* Paula Arcos (LB) (to Gloria Bistrița)
* Lois Abbingh (LB) (to Borussia Dortmund Handball)
* Marta Tomac (CB) (retires)
* Larissa Nüsser (CB) (to Gloria Bistrița)
* Carin Strömberg (CB) (to Chambray Touraine Handball)
* Nina Koppang (RB) (to Team Esbjerg)
* Silje Waade (RB) (to Byåsen HE)

### Notable former national team players

* Veronica Kristiansen
* Elise Alsand
* Kristine Lunde-Borgersen
* Kari Brattset Dale
* Pernille Wibe
* Linn Jørum Sulland
* Emilie Hegh Arntzen
* Malin Aune
* Henny Reistad
* Nora Mørk
* Heidi Løke
* Andrea Austmo Pedersen
* Ragnhild Valle Dahl
* Kjerstin Boge Solås
* Karine Dahlum
* Silje Solberg-Østhassel
* Katrine Lunde
* Sunniva Næs Andersen
* Silje Waade
* Marta Tomac
* Carolina Morais
* Katarina Ježić
* Ana Debelić
* Markéta Jeřábková
* Jana Knedlíková
* Louise Pedersen
* Annette Jensen
* Nerea Pena
* Lysa Tchaptchet
* Paula Arcos
* Océane Sercien-Ugolin
* Þórey Rósa Stefánsdóttir
* Angie Geschke
* Luisa Schulze
* Zsuzsanna Tomori
* Sakura Hauge
* Jessy Kramer
* Lynn Knippenborg
* Charris Rozemalen
* Annick Lipman
* Merel Freriks
* Lois Abbingh
* Larissa Nüsser
* Anna Vyakhireva
* Mia Emmenegger
* Isabelle Gulldén
* Evelina Eriksson
* Sofie Börjesson
* Jamina Roberts
* Nina Koppang
* Carin Strömberg

### Notable former club players

* Beate Bang Grimestad
* Bodil Flo Berge
* Janne Brox
* Susanne Fuglestad
* Hilde Kvifte
* Ingunn Birkeland
* Lindy Taraldsen
* Christin Høgaas Daland
* Katrine Høyland
* Helene Jørgensen Vinknes
* Gerd Elin Albert
* Susann Iren Hall
* Pernille Wang Skaug
* Kristin Nørstebø
* Jeanett Kristiansen
* June Andenæs
* Hanna Yttereng
* Tonje Refsnes
* Dina Frisendal
* Tuva Høve
* Vilde Jonassen
* Mina Hesselberg
* Therese Helgesson
* Emma Jonsson
* Sara Nirvander
* Ulrika Olsson
* Michelle Brandstrup
* Sanne Bak Pedersen
* Mathilde Kristensen
* Julie Stokkendal Poulsen
* Birgit Van Os
* Renáta Kári-Horváth
* Karin Weigelt

### Kit manufacturers

| Period | Kit manufacturer |
| –2016 | Playmaker |
| 2016–2023 | Umbro |
| 2023–2025 | Puma |

## European record

| Season | Competition | Round | Club | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Aggregate |
| 2003–04 | EHF Cup | Round 3 | OF Nea Ionia | 37–13 | 36–21 | 73–34 |
| 2003–04 | EHF Cup | Round of 16 | ESBF Besançon | 31–26 | 30–32 | 61–58 |
| 2003–04 | EHF Cup | QF | Eurostandard G.P. Skopje | 41–33 | 33–24 | 74–57 |
| 2003–04 | EHF Cup | SF | Győri Graboplast ETO | 29–26 | 20–29 | 49–55 |
| 2004–05 | EHF Cup | Round 3 | ZMC Amicitia Zürich | 19–27 | 34–25 | 53–52 |
| 2004–05 | EHF Cup | 1/8 | Győri Graboplast ETO | 28–38 | 25–33 | 53–71 |
| 2015–16 | EHF Cup Winners' Cup | Round 3 | Halden HK | 25–19 | 22–20 | 47–39 |
| 2015–16 | EHF Cup Winners' Cup | Last 16 | MKS Selgros Lublin | 28–22 | 22–25 | 50–47 |
| 2015–16 | EHF Cup Winners' Cup | Quarter-finals | RK Krim | 29–27 | 20–30 | 49–57 |
| 2016–17 | EHF Cup | R1 | Cassano Magnago | 52–10 | 37–12 | 89–22 |
| 2016–17 | EHF Cup | R2 | WHC Lada Togliatti | 23–29 | 32–26 | 55–55 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Cup Finalist | Group B | Issy Paris | 22–23 | 24–25 | 46–48 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Cup Finalist | Group B | København Håndbold | 30–23 | 25–30 | 55–53 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Cup Finalist | Group B | Handball Club Lada | 30–21 | 24–29 | 54–50 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Cup Finalist | QF | Brest Bretagne Handball | 26–17 | 29–34 | 55–51 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Cup Finalist | SF | Viborg HK | 31–34 | 29–23 | 60–57 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Cup Finalist | F | SCM Craiova | 26–22 | 25–30 | 51–52 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Champions League | QT1-SF | HC Gomel | 43–19 | 43–19 | 43–19 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Champions League | QT1-F | HC Podravka Vegeta | 42–14 | 42–14 | 42–14 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Champions League | Group D | Metz Handball | 22–30 | 22–25 | 44–55 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Champions League | Group D | ŽRK Budućnost | 29–19 | 23–26 | 52–45 |
| 2017–18 | EHF Champions League | Group D | SG BBM Bietigheim | 24–29 | 24–25 | 48–54 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | Group D | CSM București | 27–29 | 31–26 | 58–55 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | Group D | Ferencvárosi TC | 26–27 | 35–27 | 61–54 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | Group D | SG BBM Bietigheim | 27–27 | 34–26 | 61–53 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | Main Round Group 2 | Győri ETO KC | 26–33 | 29–33 | 55–66 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | Main Round Group 2 | RK Krim Ljubljana | 29–21 | 25–24 | 54–45 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | Main Round Group 2 | Thüringer HC | 31–24 | 29–21 | 60–46 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | QF | ŽRK Budućnost | 25–18 | 24–19 | 49–37 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | SF | Győri ETO KC | 22–31 |
| 2018–19 | EHF Champions League Third place | Bronze Match | Metz Handball | 31–30 |
| 2019–20 | EHF Champions League | Group A | Metz Handball | 38–38 | 17–26 | 55–64 |
| 2019–20 | EHF Champions League | Group A | RK Podravka Koprivnica | 24–25 | 34–28 | 58–53 |
| 2019–20 | EHF Champions League | Group A | Ferencvárosi TC | 31–22 | 34–29 | 65–51 |
| 2019–20 | EHF Champions League | Main Round Group 1 | Rostov-Don | 29–32 | 26–33 | 55–65 |
| 2019–20 | EHF Champions League | Main Round Group 1 | Team Esbjerg | 31–35 | 30–35 | 61–70 |
| 2019–20 | EHF Champions League | Main Round Group 1 | CSM București | 23–25 | 22–28 | 45–53 |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | Rostov-Don | 23–24 | 0–10 | 5th place |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | Metz Handball | 29–28 | 0–10 | 5th place |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | Team Esbjerg | 28–28 | 27–27 | 5th place |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | Ferencvárosi TC | 26–31 | 28–30 | 5th place |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | CSM București | 30–25 | 29–22 | 5th place |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | SG BBM Bietigheim | 10–0 | 33–29 | 5th place |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | RK Krim | 37–30 | 27–26 | 5th place |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Round of 16 | Odense Håndbold | 35–36 | 30–26 | 65–62 |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | QF | Rostov-Don | 34–27 | 23–23 | 57–50 |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | SF | CSKA Moscow | 33–30 |
| 2020–21 | EHF Champions League Winner | Final | Brest Bretagne Handball | 34–28 |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | Group B | CSKA Moscow | 24–27 | 32–28 | 2nd place |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | Group B | RK Krim Mercator | 27–26 | 37–20 | 2nd place |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | Group B | Odense Håndbold | 31–27 | 32–27 | 2nd place |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | Group B | Győri Audi ETO KC | 29–35 | 30–29 | 2nd place |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | Group B | Metz Handball | 18–23 | 25–31 | 2nd place |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | Group B | Kastamonu Bld. GSK | 39–25 | 35–24 | 2nd place |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | Group B | IK Sävehof | 34–25 | 42–23 | 2nd place |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | QF | RK Krim Mercator | 33–24 | 32–25 | 65–49 |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | SF | Metz Handball | 33–27 |
| 2021–22 | Champions League Winner | Final | Győri Audi ETO KC | 33–31 |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | Odense Håndbold | 34–27 | 34–24 | 1st place |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | RK Krim Mercator | 27–21 | 36–31 | 1st place |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | SG BBM Bietigheim | 30–32 | 34–32 | 1st place |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | Brest Bretagne Handball | 31–24 | 36–29 | 1st place |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 26–26 | 27–26 | 1st place |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | DHK Baník Most | 43–21 | 39–24 | 1st place |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | Group A | CSM București | 35–29 | 24–27 | 1st place |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | QF | CS Rapid București | 31–25 | 40–31 | 71–56 |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | SF | Győri Audi ETO KC | 37–35 |
| 2022–23 | EHF Champions League Winner | Final | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 28–24 |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | Group B | Team Esbjerg | 37–38 | 37–32 | 4th place |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | Group B | Metz Handball | 34–36 | 29–31 | 4th place |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | Group B | CS Rapid București | 29–30 | 35–30 | 4th place |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | Group B | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 37–26 | 35–27 | 4th place |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | Group B | Zagłębie Lubin | 34–20 | 28–24 | 4th place |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | Group B | RK Krim Mercator | 24–24 | 29–23 | 4th place |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | Group B | Ikast Håndbold | 26–30 | 31–32 | 4th place |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | Playoffs | DVSC Schaeffler | 29–28 | 27–27 | 56–55 |
| 2023–24 | EHF Champions League | QF | Győri ETO KC | 23–30 | 26–24 | 49–54 |
| 2024–25 | EHF Champions League | Group B | Team Esbjerg | 29–30 | 0–10 | Withdrawn |
| 2024–25 | EHF Champions League | Group B | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | 32–23 | 20–26 | Withdrawn |
| 2024–25 | EHF Champions League | Group B | HB Ludwigsburg | 30–23 | 29–33 | Withdrawn |
| 2024–25 | EHF Champions League | Group B | Győri ETO KC | 22–27 | 0–10 | Withdrawn |
| 2024–25 | EHF Champions League | Group B | Brest Bretagne Handball | 27–30 | 0–10 | Withdrawn |
| 2024–25 | EHF Champions League | Group B | CS Rapid București | 30–30 | 0–10 | Withdrawn |
| 2024–25 | EHF Champions League | Group B | Odense Håndbold | 26–24 | 0–10 | Withdrawn |