Russian Cup Women 2025/26

The Russian Women's Handball Cup, officially known as the Natalia Anisimova Cup, serves as the primary national knockout tournament for women's handball clubs in Russia. Organised by the Handball Federation of Russia (FGR), the competition sits directly below the Russian Women's Handball Super League within the domestic pyramid. The event features between 14 and 17 teams, comprising top clubs from the Super League alongside qualifiers from lower divisions. The structure begins with a preliminary knockout stage played over home-and-away legs, typically starting from the round of 32. This phase leads to a "Final Four" stage held at a neutral venue, which includes semi-finals, a match for third place, and the final. Rostov-Don holds the record for success in this tournament, claiming 12 titles. This includes a streak of five consecutive victories spanning from 2015 to 2019. CSKA Moscow is the current champion, having secured the title in the 2025/26 season. The winner of the competition qualifies for the EHF European League, although Russian clubs have been suspended from European competitions since 2022. The cup is distinct from the men's equivalent, which operates on a larger scale with a more extensive preliminary zone stage. The competition is named after Natalia Anisimova, a prominent figure in Russian handball. Lada Togliatti won the inaugural final in the 2006/07 season, while the 2008/09 edition was decided by a penalty shootout. Teams such as Astrahanochka Women, Chernomorochka Women, and Zvezda 2 Zvenigorod Women participate in the current season. The tournament provides a pathway for domestic success independent of league performance.