Malta, May 2025 – A historic weekend of women’s water polo came to a close in Malta as ZV De Ham from the Netherlands lifted the trophy at the inaugural Women’s Nordic League Final 8. The Dutch club etched their name into the history books with a last-second goal in a dramatic final against City of Manchester, capping off a tournament packed with intensity, surprises, and elite-level performances.
The Road to the Final
Eleven teams from across Europe competed in the regular season, but only eight earned a ticket to the Final 8. The tournament featured clubs from Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Romania, Germany, UK, and hosts Malta, setting the stage for a diverse and competitive finale.
City of Manchester and ZV De Ham quickly emerged as tournament favorites, both showcasing depth, physicality, and tactical sharpness in the quarterfinals and semis. While Manchester looked composed and dominant in their run, De Ham stunned with standout offensive firepower — particularly from Lizette Rozeboom, who racked up 7 goals in a single match earlier in the tournament.
🥇 A Final to Remember
The championship game between ZV De Ham and City of Manchester delivered everything a final should: pace, grit, drama — and a finish for the ages. After multiple lead changes, the game was tied heading into the final seconds. That’s when Frederique Westerbroek stepped up and buried the winning goal with just two seconds remaining, handing ZV De Ham a thrilling 10–9 victory and the title of Nordic League Champions.
Manchester, despite the heartbreak, earned widespread respect for their resilience and high-level team play throughout the tournament.
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🥉 Bronze for Sori Pool Beach
The bronze medal match saw Italy’s Sori Pool Beach defeat Sweden’s Järfälla in a high-energy showdown. A dominant third quarter sealed the deal for the Italians, who showcased great structure and discipline on both ends of the pool.
Final Rankings:
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🥇 ZV De Ham (Netherlands)
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🥈 City of Manchester (UK)
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🥉 Sori Pool Beach (Italy)
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Jarfalla (Sweden)
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Rapid Bucharest (Romania)
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Cheltenham (UK)
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Hamburg (Germany)
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Sirens (Malta)
More Than Just a Tournament
Beyond the results, the Women’s Nordic League Final 8 demonstrated the growing strength and reach of women’s water polo across Europe. From professional squads to rising clubs, the event was a celebration of the sport’s next generation and a powerful signal of what’s to come.
With the success of this Final 8 format, organizers are already planning next season’s expansion, aiming to bring even more visibility, opportunity, and elite competition to women’s club water polo.
Check out the full results and standings.
