Women's Handball Semifinals Kick Off Israeli Cup Season

The first titles of the 2026/27 Israeli women's and men's handball season will be decided this weekend with the semifinals of the Athena Cup and Winner Cup. The women's semifinals began Thursday evening, with Maccabi Ha'Arzim Ramat Gan facing Bnot Ironi Herzliya, followed by a men's match between M.K. Holon and Maccabi Rishon LeZion. The winners of the women's final will receive a NIS 10,000 prize and a spot in a European competition.

Bnot Ironi Herzliya, last season's champions, enter the match with a slightly altered roster, having lost Shir Vakeret to Hapoel Ashdod and Liran Zaguri to M.K. Holon. Maccabi Ha'Arzim Ramat Gan has largely retained its core team but will be without captain Shir Gabay and corner player Keren Teplitzky. Jasny Clementina from Angola will play on the right corner, and Nigerian national team goalkeeper Kahinde Titilope will share duties with Gaia Ben Zikri.

A notable rivalry has developed between Herzliya and Ramat Gan, who met in all finals last season. This year, their clash in the semifinal is seen as a statement of intent for both teams. Herzliya is coached by Zivoyan Maksic, while Ramat Gan is led by Niv Vintrov and Vika Grozovsky. Herzliya reached the semis by defeating A.S. Ramat Hasharon, and Ramat Gan beat Maccabi Petah Tikva.

In the men's competition, M.K. Holon, with five consecutive wins across all competitions, faces Maccabi Rishon LeZion, who also boasts a strong start to the season. The second men's semifinal will feature A.S. Ramat Hasharon against Maccabi Tel Aviv.