EC Pinheiros clinched a historic third title in a row at the 2024 South and Central American Women's Club Handball Championship, sweeping their opponents in dominating fashion, to secure four wins out of four matches.

The Brazilian side had previously secured the titles in 2022, with a 19:17 win over fellow Brazilian side Clube Portugues and the 2023 title in a 29:26 extra-time win over Argentinian side River Plate, but this time around they had no issues in disposing of their opponents.

Nine teams entered the fray at the 2024 South and Central American Women's Club Handball Championship, with four from Argentina, two from Brazil and Uruguay each and one from Chile, which were divided into three groups of three teams each.

The winner of each group plus the best second-placed team made it into the semi-finals and it was the two Brazilian clubs, Nacional Handebol Clube and EC Pinheiros which won their groups, plus Argentinian side River Plate. The best second-placed side was Chilian side Ovalle Balonmano.

In Group A, Nacional Handebol Clube and Ovallo Balonmano each won against Scuola Italiana di Montevideo, as the two sides drew in their mutual match, 26:26, with Gabriela Belen Muller Ruiz scoring 13 goals for Ovalle.

Group B was a straightforward affair, with Pinheiros taking a clear 27:18 win against Jockey Club Cordoba, doubling down with a 28:18 win against fellow Argentinian side S.E.D.A.L.O. in taking the first place with the largest number of goals scored and the lowest number of goals conceded.

In Group C, all the three teams, River Plate, Club Atletico Goes and Ferro Carril Oeste won a match, with the head-to-head records deciding the group winner. It was River Plate, thanks to their 23:19 win against Atletico Goes, having finished with the same goal difference with the Uruguayan side, +3, but with one more goal scored, 50 to Goes’ 49.

The semi-finals provided exciting matches, with River Plate shining against Nacional Handebol Clube, dominating from start to finish, to make it to the final for the second consecutive year, with a 24:18 win.

On the other hand, Pinheiros pulled no punches and clinched their largest win against Ovalle Balonmano, 41:18, with an outstanding attacking display, that left the Chilean club without a single chance.

In the final, Pinheiros remembered that River Plate caused them huge issues in the final last season and took the lead from the start, yet the break saw the Brazilian side, the reigning champions, boast a 10:6 lead.

In the second half, Pinheiros pushed the pedal and outplayed River, clinching a 25:16 win, for their third consecutive title. In the bronze medal match, Ovalle Balonmano secured a clear 39:24 win over Nacional Handbol Clube, the first medal for a Chilean side in the history of the competition.

Pinheiros’ goalkeeper, Jessica Oliveira, was named as the All-Star goalkeeper of the competition, as well as three other Pinheiros players – left back Fernanda Couto, left wing Tayna Krausse and line player Livia Ventura.

Ovalle’s Gabriela Muller Ruiz was named the All-Star right wing, Scuola Italiana di Montevideo’s Iara Gonzalez was selected as the All-Star right back, while River’s Sofia Manzano was the All-Star centre back.