2024–25 European Aquatics Women's Challenger Cup

European Aquatics Women's Challenger Cup
2024–25
Tournament information
SportWater polo
DatesQualification round I:
7–10 November 2024
Qualification round II:
7–8 December 2024
Final four:
22–23 February 2025
TeamsTotal: 17 (from 11 countries)
WebsiteOfficial website
Final positions
Champions Izmir BSB Spor (2nd title)
Runner-up Galatasaray Zena
Tournament statistics
Matches played44
Goals scored1,022 (23.23 per match)

The 2024–25 European Aquatics Women's Challenger Cup is the 2nd edition of the water polo competition organised by European Aquatics. It acted as the third tier, below the European Aquatics Women's Champions League and the European Aquatics Women's Euro Cup. Izmir BSB Spor are the defending champions.

This is the last season where the Challenger Cup is the third tier tournament in European water polo, with the Conference Cup taking its place.

Izmir BSB Spor successfully defended their title after triumphing over fellow Turkish side Galatasaray Zena in the final.[1]

Format

17 teams are separated into four groups of four or five. Each group is held at one club. The top 2 from each group advance to Qualification round II. The last eight teams are then drawn into two groups of four, with the top two from both groups advancing to the final four to decide the champion.[2]

Rankings

Only teams below the top 6 can enter the competition.

Teams

Only countries below the top 6 in the European Aquatics women's club rankings can enter teams into this competition.[4]

Participating teams
ŽAVK Mladost Jadran Split AJF Strakonice SSV Esslingen
SV Blau-Weiss Bochum Otter Swimming Club City Of Manchester WPC Hapoel Emek Hayarden
Sirens ASC Sliema ASC Sport Lisboa e Benfica CSM Unirea Alba Iulia
VK Vojvodina ZVK Crvena Zvezda Izmir BSB Spor Galatasaray Zena
Dalton Koleji SK

Schedule

Rounds and dates

Phase Round date
Qualification round I 7–10 November 2024
Qualification round II 7–8 December 2024
Final four 22–23 February 2025

Qualification round I

In the qualification round I, teams play in a round robin format. The top 2 in each group advance.

Draw

The draw was on 16 September 2024.[5] H indicates which club is hosting the groups. Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The seeding was decided by as follows:

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

Sirens ASC (H)
Izmir BSB Spor
ZVK Crvena Zvezda
ŽAVK Mladost

Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Jadran Split
VK Vojvodina (H)
AJF Strakonice (H)

City Of Manchester WPC
Otter Swimming Club
SSV Esslingen
SV Blau-Weiss Bochum

Sliema ASC
Galatasaray Zena
Dalton Koleji SK
Hapoel Emek Hayarden
CSM Unirea Alba Iulia (H)

Group A

Held in Novi Sad, Serbia

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification IZM VOJ MAN SLI
1 Izmir BSB Spor 3 3 0 0 0 48 16 +32 9 Qualification round II
2 VK Vojvodina (H) 3 2 0 0 1 42 27 +15 6 8–13 14–9 20–5
3 City Of Manchester WPC 3 1 0 0 2 33 35 −2 3 6–12 18–9
4 Sliema ASC 3 0 0 0 3 16 61 −45 0 2–23
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
8 November 2024
19:00
Report VK Vojvodina 20–5 Sliema ASC Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Nikolett Sajben (HUN), Karel Dvoracek (CZE)
Score by quarters: 5–0, 6–2, 7–0, 2–3
Radonjic 5 Goals Camilleri, Schembri 2
8 November 2024
21:00
Report City Of Manchester WPC 6–12 Izmir BSB Spor Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Sara Kontek (CRO), Luis Santos (POR)
Score by quarters: 2–4, 0–3, 0–4, 4–1
Cutler 3 Goals Louise Wright 5

9 November 2024
19:00
Report VK Vojvodina 14–9 City Of Manchester WPC Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Nikolett Sajben (HUN), Luis Santos (POR)
Score by quarters: 2–1, 4–4, 6–2, 2–2
Radonjic, Savchenko 4 Goals three players 2
9 November 2024
21:00
Report Sliema ASC 2–23 Izmir BSB Spor Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Sara Kontek (CRO), Karel Dvoracek (CZE)
Score by quarters: 0–7, 0–6, 1–4, 1–6
Camilleri, Schembri 1 Goals Kus 7

10 November 2024
10:00
Report VK Vojvodina 8–13 Izmir BSB Spor Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Luis Santos (POR), Karel Dvoracek (CZE)
Score by quarters: 1–2, 2–4, 1–5, 4–2
Amliaeva 3 Goals Jackovich 5
10 November 2024
12:00
Report City Of Manchester WPC 18–9 Sliema ASC Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Nikolett Sajben (HUN), Sara Kontek (CRO)
Score by quarters: 6–2, 7–2, 3–3, 2–2
seven players 2 Goals Paolella 5

Group B

Held in Valletta, Malta

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JAD BOC SIR HAP
1 Jadran Split 3 3 0 0 0 47 20 +27 9 Qualification round II 15–10
2 SV Blau-Weiss Bochum 3 2 0 0 1 44 33 +11 6 19–11
3 Sirens ASC (H) 3 1 0 0 2 27 36 −9 3 6–11 7–15 14–10
4 Hapoel Emek Hayarden 3 0 0 0 3 25 54 −29 0 4–21
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
8 November 2024
18:00
Report Jadran Split 15–10 SV Blau-Weiss Bochum Cottonera Sports Complex, Valletta
Referees:
Ilkin Cakmakoglu (TUR), Manuel Manea (ROU)
Score by quarters: 4–5, 5–2, 4–1, 2–2
Butic 5 Goals Fry 3
8 November 2024
20:00
Report Sirens ASC 14–10 Hapoel Emek Hayarden Cottonera Sports Complex, Valletta
Referees:
Martina Kunikova (SVK), Damien Taylor (GBR)
Score by quarters: 6–2, 3–4, 1–2, 4–2
Perkins 8 Goals Markovsky 3

9 November 2024
17:00
Report Hapoel Emek Hayarden 4–21 Jadran Split Cottonera Sports Complex, Valletta
Referees:
Damien Taylor (GBR), Ilkin Cakmakoglu (TUR)
Score by quarters: 1–4, 2–5, 0–5, 1–7
Markovsky, Vaizberg 2 Goals Jankovic 4
9 November 2024
19:00
Report Sirens ASC 7–15 SV Blau-Weiss Bochum Cottonera Sports Complex, Valletta
Referees:
Manuel Manea (ROU), Martina Kunikova (SVK)
Score by quarters: 1–4, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5
Perkins 5 Goals four players 3

10 November 2024
10:00
Report SV Blau-Weiss Bochum 19–11 Hapoel Emek Hayarden Cottonera Sports Complex, Valletta
Referees:
Ilkin Cakmakoglu (TUR), Martina Kunikova (SVK)
Score by quarters: 5–2, 4–5, 6–2, 4–2
Fry 6 Goals Markovsky 4
10 November 2024
12:00
Report Sirens ASC 6–11 Jadran Split Cottonera Sports Complex, Valletta
Referees:
Manuel Manea (ROU), Damien Taylor (GBR)
Score by quarters: 1–1, 3–5, 1–4, 1–1
Perkins 3 Goals Jankovic 5

Group C

Held in Strakonice, Czech Republic

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MLA OTT DAL STR
1 ŽAVK Mladost 3 3 0 0 0 66 21 +45 9 Qualification round II 26–6 18–5
2 Otter Swimming Club 3 1 1 0 1 28 45 −17 5 13–10
3 Dalton Koleji SK 3 1 0 0 2 26 39 −13 3
4 AJF Strakonice (H) 3 0 0 1 2 27 42 −15 1 10–22 9–12[a] 8–11
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
  1. ^ Matched finished 9–9, Otter Swimming Club won 3–0 on penalties.
8 November 2024
17:00
Report Otter Swimming Club 13–10 Dalton Koleji SK Strakonice Pool, Strakonice
Referees:
Michaela Naneva (BUL), Massimo Angileri (MLT)
Score by quarters: 2–1, 4–1, 4–6, 3–2
Snyder 5 Goals Arik 4
8 November 2024
19:00
Report AJF Strakonice 10–22 ŽAVK Mladost Strakonice Pool, Strakonice
Referees:
Ivanka Rakovic Krstonosic (SRB), Ralf Mueller (GER)
Score by quarters: 1–5, 3–6, 3–6, 3–5
Hola 3 Goals Rozic 9

9 November 2024
17:00
Report ŽAVK Mladost 26–6 Otter Swimming Club Strakonice Pool, Strakonice
Referees:
Massimo Angileri (MLT), Ralf Mueller (GER)
Score by quarters: 7–1, 8–0, 7–4, 4–1
Rozic 9 Goals Mulcahy, Williams 2
9 November 2024
19:00
Report AJF Strakonice 8–11 Dalton Koleji SK Strakonice Pool, Strakonice
Referees:
Michaela Naneva (BUL), Ivanka Rakovic Krstonosic (SRB)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 1–2, 3–4, 1–4
Hola 3 Goals Altiparmak 6

10 November 2024
09:00
Report ŽAVK Mladost 18–5 Dalton Koleji SK Strakonice Pool, Strakonice
Referees:
Ivanka Rakovic Krstonosic (SRB), Massimo Angileri (MLT)
Score by quarters: 5–2, 3–0, 5–1, 5–2
Glas 6 Goals Altiparmak 3
10 November 2024
12:00
Report AJF Strakonice 9–12 Otter Swimming Club Strakonice Pool, Strakonice
Referees:
Michaela Naneva (BUL), Ralf Mueller (GER)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 2–1, 1–5, 3–1  PSO: 0–3
Hola 6 Goals Snyder 3

Group D

Held in Alba Iulia, Romania

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BEN GAL UNI ESS CRV
1 Sport Lisboa e Benfica 4 3 1 0 0 59 33 +26 11 Qualification round II 13–11[a] 11–10
2 Galatasaray Zena 4 3 0 0 1 43 38 +5 9 8–12 10–8 10–8
3 CSM Unirea Alba Iulia (H) 4 2 0 1 1 50 31 +19 7 12–9 22–4
4 SSV Esslingen 4 1 0 0 3 53 36 +17 3 26–3
5 ZVK Crvena Zvezda 4 0 0 0 4 24 91 −67 0 7–28 10–15
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
  1. ^ Matched finished 8–8, Sport Lisboa e Benfica won 5–3 on penalties.
7 November 2024
17:00
Report ZVK Crvena Zvezda 7–28 Sport Lisboa e Benfica Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Peden Jeremie (FRA), Jakub Necas (CZE)
Score by quarters: 1–8, 3–6, 1–6, 2–8
Milenkovic, Marinkovic 2 Goals Macleod 7
7 November 2024
19:00
Report CSM Unirea Alba Iulia 12–9 SSV Esslingen Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Soma Kovacs (HUN), Carla Martin (ESP)
Score by quarters: 5–1, 4–5, 1–1, 2–2
Yanisbel Victoria 3 Goals Dzaja 4

8 November 2024
10:00
Report Galatasaray Zena 8–12 Sport Lisboa e Benfica Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Peden Jeremie (FRA), Jakub Necas (CZE)
Score by quarters: 0–2, 3–1, 2–4, 3–5
Mihailovic 3 Goals Silva Lousa 6
8 November 2024
12:00
Report SSV Esslingen 26–3 ZVK Crvena Zvezda Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Carla Martin (ESP), Soma Kovacs (HUN)
Score by quarters: 6–0, 4–2, 8–1, 8–0
Haas 6 Goals Trbanos 2

8 November 2024
17:00
Report Galatasaray Zena 10–8 CSM Unirea Alba Iulia Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Soma Kovacs (HUN), Peden Jeremie (FRA)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 3–3, 4–2, 0–0
Burali 5 Goals Cecilia, Virtosu 3
8 November 2024
19:00
Report Sport Lisboa e Benfica 11–10 SSV Esslingen Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Jakub Necas (CZE), Carla Martin (ESP)
Score by quarters: 2–0, 4–2, 1–4, 4–4
Macleod 6 Goals Haas, Sopiadou 3

9 November 2024
17:00
Report ZVK Crvena Zvezda 10–15 Galatasaray Zena Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Peden Jeremie (FRA), Carla Martin (ESP)
Score by quarters: 1–4, 4–4, 2–2, 3–5
Ribic 3 Goals Benekou 6
9 November 2024
19:00
Report Sport Lisboa e Benfica 13–11 CSM Unirea Alba Iulia Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Jakub Necas (CZE), Soma Kovacs (HUN)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 3–1, 3–4, 0–1  PSO: 5–3
Macleod 5 Goals Cecilia 3

10 November 2024
10:00
Report Galatasaray Zena 10–8 SSV Esslingen Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Soma Kovacs (HUN), Carla Martin (ESP)
Score by quarters: 3–0, 2–1, 4–4, 1–3
Benekou 4 Goals Petiki 3
10 November 2024
12:00
Report CSM Unirea Alba Iulia 22–4 ZVK Crvena Zvezda Olympic Pool, Alba Iulia
Referees:
Peden Jeremie (FRA), Jakub Necas (CZE)
Score by quarters: 5–2, 5–0, 5–1, 7–1
Novacean 4 Goals Jankovic 2

Qualification round II

In the qualification round II, teams play in a round robin format. The top 2 in each group advance to the final four.

Draw

The draw was on 11 November 2024. The seeded and unseeded clubs consist of the teams that finished first and second in the previous round respectively. The only restriction was that clubs from the same group in the previous round could not be drawn against each other. H indicates which club is hosting the groups. Teams in bold advanced to the final four.

Pot 1 Pot 2

Izmir BSB Spor
Jadran Split
ŽAVK Mladost
Sport Lisboa e Benfica

VK Vojvodina (H)
SV Blau-Weiss Bochum
Otter Swimming Club
Galatasaray Zena (H)

Group A

Held in Istanbul, Turkey

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification IZM GAL JAD OTT
1 Izmir BSB Spor 3 3 0 0 0 43 23 +20 9 Final four 12–9 19–4
2 Galatasaray Zena (H) 3 2 0 0 1 50 24 +26 6 10–12 14–9 26–3
3 Jadran Split 3 1 0 0 2 34 33 +1 3 16–7
4 Otter Swimming Club 3 0 0 0 3 14 61 −47 0
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
6 December 2024
18:30
Report Galatasaray Zena 10–12 Izmir BSB Spor Galatasaray Kalamış Facilities, Istanbul
Referees:
Eurico Silva (POR), Ivanka Krstonosic Rakovic (SRB)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 2–3, 3–3, 3–4
Mihailovic, Benekou 3 Goals Jackovich 5
6 December 2024
20:30
Report Jadran Split 16–7 Otter Swimming Club Galatasaray Kalamış Facilities, Istanbul
Referees:
Nikolett Sajben (HUN), Anne Grandin (FRA)
Score by quarters: 4–1, 2–1, 8–2, 2–3
Butic 6 Goals three players 2

7 December 2024
18:00
Report Galatasaray Zena 26–3 Otter Swimming Club Galatasaray Kalamış Facilities, Istanbul
Referees:
Ivanka Krstonosic Rakovic (SRB), Anne Grandin (FRA)
Score by quarters: 9–1, 10–0, 4–1, 3–1
Benekou 6 Goals Dean 3
7 December 2024
20:00
Report Izmir BSB Spor 12–9 Jadran Split Galatasaray Kalamış Facilities, Istanbul
Referees:
Nikolett Sajben (HUN), Eurico Silva (POR)
Score by quarters: 1–3, 4–0, 2–2, 5–4
Kus 5 Goals Butic 5

8 December 2024
10:00
Report Izmir BSB Spor 19–4 Otter Swimming Club Galatasaray Kalamış Facilities, Istanbul
Referees:
Anne Grandin (FRA), Eurico Silva (POR)
Score by quarters: 6–1, 6–0, 4–1, 3–2
Kus 7 Goals Day 2
8 December 2024
12:00
Report Galatasaray Zena 14–9 Jadran Split Galatasaray Kalamış Facilities, Istanbul
Referees:
Ivan Rakovic (SRB), Nikolett Sajben (HUN)
Score by quarters: 6–0, 3–6, 3–2, 2–1
Burali, Mihailovic 4 Goals Butic 5

Group B

Held in Vojvodina, Serbia

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VOJ MLA BOC BEN
1 VK Vojvodina (H) 3 3 0 0 0 43 25 +18 9 Final four 11–6 19–8 13–11
2 ŽAVK Mladost 3 1 1 0 1 30 33 −3 5 15–14[a] 12–10
3 SV Blau-Weiss Bochum 3 1 0 1 1 35 41 −6 4 15–10
4 Sport Lisboa e Benfica 3 0 0 0 3 31 40 −9 0
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
  1. ^ Match ended 12–12. ŽAVK Mladost won 3–2 on penalties.
6 December 2024
18:00
Report VK Vojvodina 19–8 SV Blau-Weiss Bochum Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Martina Kunikova (SVK), Maxim Gerasimov (GBR)
Score by quarters: 7–1, 4–2, 5–3, 3–2
Amliaeva 6 Goals three players 2
6 December 2024
20:00
Report ŽAVK Mladost 12–10 Sport Lisboa e Benfica Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Maria Daskalopoulou (GRE), Ilkin Cakmakoglu (TUR)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 1–0, 5–3, 3–4
Rozic 4 Goals Macleod 4

7 December 2024
18:00
Report VK Vojvodina 11–6 ŽAVK Mladost Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Maria Daskalopoulou (GRE), Martina Kunikova (SVK)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 2–1, 3–3, 3–1
Savchenko 5 Goals Rozic 5
7 December 2024
20:00
Report SV Blau-Weiss Bochum 15–10 Sport Lisboa e Benfica Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Maxim Gerasimov (GBR), Ilkin Cakmakoglu (TUR)
Score by quarters: 4–3, 4–1, 4–0, 3–6
Fry 6 Goals Pereira Da Mata De B 4

8 December 2024
10:00
Report ŽAVK Mladost 15–14 SV Blau-Weiss Bochum Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Martina Kunikova (SVK), Ilkin Cakmakoglu (TUR)
Score by quarters: 4–0, 4–4, 3–3, 1–5  PSO: 3–2
Rozic 6 Goals Fry 10
8 December 2024
12:00
Report VK Vojvodina 13–11 Sport Lisboa e Benfica Slana Bara Sports Center, Novi Sad
Referees:
Maria Daskalopoulou (GRE), Maxim Gerasimov (GBR)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 3–3, 5–2, 2–4
three players 3 Goals Silva Lousa 4

Final four

On 18 January 2025, European Aquatics announced that Galatasaray Zena would be the hosting club for the final four. The final was at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Cemal Kamaci Sports Complex in Istanbul.[9][10]

 
SemifinalsFinal
 
      
 
 
 
 
Izmir BSB Spor14
 
 
 
ŽAVK Mladost8
 
Izmir BSB Spor9
 
 
 
Galatasaray Zena8
 
VK Vojvodina8
 
 
Galatasaray Zena13
 
Third place
 
 
 
 
 
ŽAVK Mladost15
 
 
VK Vojvodina9

Semifinals

22 February 2025
18:00
Report Izmir BSB Spor 14–8 ŽAVK Mladost Cemal Kamaci Sports Complex, Istanbul
Referees:
Alessia Ferrari (ITA), Marieke Van Der Berg (NED)
Score by quarters: 5–2, 3–1, 3–2, 3–3
Jackovich, Kus 3 Goals three players 2
22 February 2025
16:00
Report VK Vojvodina 8–13 Galatasaray Zena Cemal Kamaci Sports Complex, Istanbul
Referees:
Marta Cabanas (ESP), Nikolett Sajben (HUN)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 2–3, 2–5, 2–3
Trmcic 3 Goals Ivanova 6

Third place game

23 February 2025
10:00
Report ŽAVK Mladost 15–9 VK Vojvodina Cemal Kamaci Sports Complex, Istanbul
Referees:
Marieke Van Der Berg (NED), Nikolett Sajben (HUN)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–4, 6–2, 4–0
Glas 5 Goals Trmcic, Amliaeva 2

Final

23 February 2025
12:00
Report Izmir BSB Spor 9–8 Galatasaray Zena Cemal Kamaci Sports Complex, Istanbul
Referees:
Alessia Ferrari (ITA), Marta Cabanas (ESP)
Score by quarters: 0–2, 5–2, 1–1, 3–3
Jackovich 4 Goals Benekou 3


2024–25 European Aquatics Women's Challenger Cup Champions

Izmir BSB Spor
Second title

See also

References

  1. ^ "Izmir crowned women's Challenger Cup champions for second successive season - European Aquatics®". europeanaquatics.org. February 23, 2025.
  2. ^ Renato Zivkovic (2024-07-29). "EUROPEAN AQUATICS WATER POLO CLUB COMPETITIONS" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  3. ^ "Women Clubs Country Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. February 20, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-08-14.
  4. ^ "Big changes in European water polo club competitions - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. June 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "Several Exciting Clashes Confirmed For Euro Cup and Challenger Cup Qualifiers - European Aquatics®". len.eu. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  6. ^ "Women Club Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. October 1, 2024.
  7. ^ "Women Clubs Country Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. October 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "Women Country Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. October 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "Women's Challenger Cup Final Four to be contested in Istanbul - European Aquatics®". europeanaquatics.org. January 18, 2025.
  10. ^ "Stage is set in Istanbul for women's Challenger Cup Final Four - European Aquatics®". europeanaquatics.org. February 20, 2025.