# Montenegrin First League of Women's Handball

The Montenegrin First League of Women's Handball is the top women's team handball league in Montenegro. It is organised by the Handball Federation of Montenegro.

## History
### Before independence

Since 2006, Montenegrin women's handball clubs played in the competitions of SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro. Most successful was ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica, who gained 18 champion titles in Yugoslav championship, with three European trophies (1985, 1986, 2006). Budućnost was most successful Yugoslav handball club, and except them, in the Yugoslav First League played ŽRK Danilovgrad. ŽRK Budućnost was the first Montenegrin team which participated in Yugoslav handball competitions for women. They debuted in the top-tier on season 1981-82 and soon after that begun era of their huge successes. After hard struggle with RK Radnički from Belgrade, ŽRK Budućnost won their first ever title on season 1984–85. Four years later, they won another title, defended next season. After the 1990-91 edition, finished with sensational trophy winning by ŽRK Lokomotiva Zagreb, team from Podgorica was the title holder in the last season of SFR Yugoslavia league (1991–92). Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in the First League of SFR Yugoslavia.
| Club | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 |
| Budućnost | 9 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Danilovgrad | - | - | - | 12 | - | 12 | - | - | - | - | - |
In FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro, ŽRK Budućnost dominated during the every single season, so they won 14 consecutive titles (1992–93, 1993-1994, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999-00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06).

### After independence

Soon after the Montenegrin independence referendum, Handball Federation of Montenegro founded its own competitions, with the First League as a top-tier competition for women. The league have two phases. In the first (regular season) participate six teams. Best three squads from regular season are qualifying for the final phase, together with ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica, who's not participant of the first phase. During the history, ŽRK Budućnost was strongly dominant side, won every single trophy of national champion. Except all domestic competitions, ŽRK Budućnost won the EHF Champions League on seasons 2011–12 and 2014–15, and EHF Cup Winners' Cup 2009-10.

## EHF league ranking

EHF League Ranking for 2022/23 season:
* 5. (6) REMA 1000-ligaen (102.17)
* 6. (4) Liga Națională (94.50)
* 7. (7) Prva Liga (61.33)
* 8. (9) 1. HRL (57.00)
* 9. (8) Handball Bundesliga Frauen (56.33)

## Champions

From the inaugural season (2006/07), ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica won all the champion titles in Montenegrin First League of Women's Handball.

### Titles by season

| Season | Champion | Runner up |
| 2006–07 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Nikšić |
| 2007–08 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Nikšić |
| 2008–09 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Biseri Pljevlja |
| 2009–10 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Biseri Pljevlja |
| 2010–11 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Biseri Pljevlja |
| 2011–12 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Biseri Pljevlja |
| 2012–13 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Danilovgrad |
| 2013–14 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Danilovgrad |
| 2014–15 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Danilovgrad |
| 2015–16 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Danilovgrad |
| 2016–17 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Danilovgrad |
| 2017–18 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Levalea Nikšić |
| 2018–19 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Levalea Nikšić |
| 2019–20 | Canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic | Canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic |
| 2020–21 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Levalea Nikšić |
| 2021–22 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Rudar Pljevlja |
| 2022–23 | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | ŽRK Rudar Pljevlja |

### Titles by Club

| Club | Titles / Montenegro | Years Won | Titles / Yugoslavia | Years Won |
| ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | 16 | 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 | 18 | 1984–85, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993-1994, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999-00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06 |

## Current season

Season 2023–24 is 17th edition of Montenegrin women's volley league. League have nine participants. In the first phase, eight teams are playing 14 legs and, after that, first placed team is advancing in the playoff finals against ŽRK Budućnost.
| Team | Arena | Capacity | City |
| ŽRK Budućnost | Bemax Arena | 2,500 | Podgorica |
| ŽRK Budućnost 'B' | University Hall | 1,000 | Podgorica |
| ŽRK Levalea | Nikšić SC | 4,000 | Nikšić |
| ŽRK Mornar | Topolica | 3,000 | Bar |
| ŽRK Nikšić | Nikšić SC | 4,000 | Nikšić |
| ŽRK Rudar | Ada SC | 3,000 | Pljevlja |
| ŽRK Tivat | Župa | 900 | Tivat |
| ŽRK Ulcinj | Sports Hall Ulcinj | 1,500 | Golubovci |
| ŽRK Zeta | Golubovci Hall | 600 | Golubovci |

## Montenegrin women's handball clubs in WRH League

Women Regional Handball League (WRHL) is founded on 2009, and Montenegrin clubs are participating from its inaugural season. As one of strongest European clubs, ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica dominated in the history of competition, often playing seasons without any defeat. So, ŽRK Budućnost won five titles during the six seasons of WRHL. Below is list of participation of Montenegrin clubs by every season of WRHL.
| Club | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| Budućnost | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Biseri | - | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Danilovgrad | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 2 | - | - | - |
| Rudar | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 |

## Montenegrin women's handball clubs in European competitions

Montenegrin women's handball clubs are participating in the EHF competitions since the season 1984/85.

### Honours

Montenegrin side ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica was extremely successful in the European Cups and today is among the best and most-trophied European and global women's handball teams. They are most successful Montenegrin sports team in European Cups, too. ŽRK Budućnost won six European titles, and among them are:
* EHF Women's Champions League:
** Winners: 2012, 2015
* Women's EHF Cup Winners' Cup:
** Winners: 1985, 2006, 2010
* Women's EHF Cup:
** Winners: 1987

### All time list

Except ŽRK Budućnost, until today, representatives of Montenegro in women's EHF competitions were ŽRK Rudar Pljevlja, ŽRK Biseri Pljevlja, ŽRK Danilovgrad, ŽRK Nikšić and ŽRK Petrol Bonus Podgorica. Majority of matches are played by ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica.
| Team | Seasons | G | W | D | L |
| ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica | 35 | 377 | 208 | 29 | 140 |
| ŽRK Biseri Pljevlja | 5 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| ŽRK Danilovgrad | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| ŽRK Petrol Bonus Podgorica | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| ŽRK Nikšić | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| ŽRK Rudar Pljevlja | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
As of the end of EHF competitions 2022–23 season.