Argentinian club Sedalo claimed the title at the 2026 SCA Women's Club Handball Championship following a dramatic final against Brazilian side EC Pinheiros, securing victory by 24:23. The decisive goal was scored with one minute and six seconds remaining on the clock, sealing a historic triumph for the Argentine club.

Since the competition was inaugurated in 2019, Sedalo became the first Argentinian side to be crowned champions of the tournament. The achievement carries additional significance given that, in the preceding edition, the club narrowly missed out on the title, falling to a last-gasp defeat against Uruguayan club Layva by 19:20 in the final.

The 12 participating clubs represented four nations — Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay — with Argentina fielding three sides: Sedalo, Jockey Club Córdoba and Municipalidad Vicente López. Paraguay, as host nation, had two teams in the competition: Club Deportivo Internacional and Cerro Porteño.

Brazilian giants EC Pinheiros, three-time champions in 2022, 2023 and 2024, returned to Asunción eager to reclaim the title that had slipped away the previous year and were joined by compatriots FMO Português, Maringá and Torrense, while Uruguay completed the entry list with Layva joined by Goes and Scuola Italiana.

The preliminary round saw four groups of three teams each, in a round-robin format, as the first-placed teams progressed to the semi-finals. In Group A, reigning champions Layva went two for two, with a clear win over Maringa, 27:21, but the second match was a very difficult one, as Layva scored the decisive goal with 27 seconds left, through Paula Eastman, to take a 22:21 win.

Pinheiros had their own share of issues, after drawing their opener, 25:25, with Goes, while Scuola Italiana also drew with Goes, 18:18, in the second matchday. However, the Brazilian side provided an excellent defensive display, which helped them win the group, with a 25:17 win over Scuola Italiana.

Two clear wins for Sedalo – 25:19 against Cerro Porteno and 34:16 against Torrense – saw them clinch the first place in Group C, while in Group D Jockey Club Cordoba managed to secure two wins, 38:17 against Internacional and 27:22 against FMO Português and progressed to the semi-finals.

The two semi-finals had two clear winners: Sedalo managed to clinch back-to-back tickets to the final, after a 28:22 win against fellow Argentinian side Jockey Club Cordoba, where Miranda Kruk scored six goals.

However, reigning champions Layva had an off day and conceded a 16:27 loss against Pinheiros, failing to defend their title. The Brazilian side took an early lead, 5:1, after 10 minutes, and never looked back, as Rebeca Gregorio and Luciana Rocio combined for 11 goals.

The final was thrilling and Sedalo eventually won it, 24:23. The Argentine side made a strong early statement, racing into a 3:0 lead, but Pinheiros stayed in the contest and even went ahead by one at half-time after a lively first period, 12:11. 

The second half was just as tight, with both teams trading goals in a tense battle that remained undecided until the closing seconds. Sedalo showed greater composure in the decisive moments, and Oriana Lezana’s winner with one minute left sealed a historic first title for an Argentine club in the competition.

Miranda Kruk was the top scorer of the final, with eight goals, while the top scorer of the competition was Maringa’s Maria Holtz, with 29 goals.

The podium was completed by Jockey Club Cordoba, after a 28:19 win against Layva in the bronze-medal match.

Photo credit: @handballsca / @olme_ac