Recent buzz on Instagram from athletes attending the USA Team Handball Women’s tryouts has been inspiring. Players shared how welcoming the handball community felt, how experienced athletes supported newcomers, and how fun it was to try a new sport for the first time. This culture of inclusion and support is exactly what Handball Futures was built to create.
Our Mission
Our mission is to foster the growth of handball in the United States by organizing world class competitive events and developmental programs. Through the Handball Futures Festival, we aim to inspire and train a new generation of athletes, offering them a platform to showcase their talent and build pathways towards international competition, including the Olympic Games. By creating an inclusive and supportive environment, we seek to elevate handball’s visibility, while empowering athletes to achieve excellence in sport.
Built by Olympians, For Female Athletes
Handball Futures was founded by Olympians, former national team players, and handball ambassadors who saw a critical gap in opportunities for women to access the sport. Their goal was clear: help USA Team Handball build a deeper, stronger pool of female athletes for the Women’s National Team.
“As an Olympian, I know how powerful opportunity can be. We created Handball Futures to make sure female athletes across the country have access to that same chance.”
— Lisa, Eagen, 1996 Olympian | Handball Futures Board Member
“Handball Futures was created to serve as a recruiting pipeline for USA Team Handball while helping grow the sport nationwide. There is so much untapped talent in the United States, and we wanted to create a pathway for women who may not even know handball exists but who have everything it takes to succeed.”
— Tracey Williams-Johnson, Former National Team Player & Handball Futures Board Member
“Handball Futures is about more than the game. It’s about connection, inspiration, and positive experiences for every athlete the moment they step onto the court.”
—Meg Sanders, 1988 Olympian I Handball Futures Board Member
How We’re Identifying the Next Generation
Handball Futures actively works to discover and develop athletes through:
- Recruitment initiatives
- Regional camps
- Development & skills camps
- National Tryouts for the Handball Futures Festival
- A mentorship program with Olympians/Former National Team Players as mentors
These initiatives help us identify talent and connect athletes directly to USA Team Handball women’s national team coaches, local clubs, and competitive opportunities.
The Handball Futures Festival
Our flagship event, the Handball Futures Festival, is modeled after the Olympic Festival (1978-1995). It brings together identified athletes, elite coaches, and evaluators in one place to:
• Showcase emerging talent
• Provide high-level training
• Build community
• Strengthen the national pipeline
The leadership of USA Team Handball will be in attendance to observe.
Supporting USA Team Handball
Handball Futures is proud to stand in partnership with USA Team Handball, supporting their efforts by creating new entry points, increasing access, and strengthening the development pathway for female athletes nationwide.
We view American handball as an ecosystem beyond our single institution as National Governing Body. USA Team Handball serves as the governing, structural and high-performance authority for the sport, including the development and fielding of National Teams, as well as the oversight of competitions nationally. Meanwhile, Handball Futures, working closely and in direct communication, is an organization designed to operate upstream: expanding access, development volume, and regional capacities for visibility and growth. Their coordination allows USA Team Handball to further focus on international competitiveness, while making strong contribution that the pipeline beneath it is broad, intentional, and sustainable.
Michael King, Chief Executive Officer, USA Team Handball
Looking Ahead
With LA28 approaching, the future of women’s handball in the U.S. has never been brighter. Handball Futures remains committed to growing the game, building community, and creating opportunity — one athlete at a time.
Glimpse of Handball Futures in Action
