The Crimson Tide are in the midst of a new season in which they'll be competing in three events.

The Slovenian women’s handball club Krim OTP Group Mercator will compete in three tournaments during the new season, including the revamped regional league WRHL, which has returned after several years of silence. The team's first match is scheduled for August 4th, when they will host Zagreb-based Lokomotiva at the Stožice Hall. This marks the beginning of a challenging season for the reigning champions, who aim to maintain their dominance while adapting to the new format of competition. The new season will see ten clubs competing in the women’s category, divided into two groups. In Group A, Krim will face Podravka, Lokomotiva Zagreb, and Crvena Zvezda, while Group B includes Jagodina, Bor, Naisa Niš, Stars-Lavice UDG, Đorče Petrov, and Čair Skopje. The tournament structure has been slightly adjusted, with teams advancing through group stages before facing off in quarter-finals on a single matchday. The top four finishers will qualify for the final round featuring the best quartets. The regional league, organized by the women’s handball federations of Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, under the coordination of the European Handball Federation (EHF), aims to become a key developmental platform for women’s handball in the region. Its primary goals include improving the quality of play, increasing competitiveness, enhancing media visibility, and boosting the commercial value of the competition. According to officials at Krim, these objectives align well with the club’s ambitions and could benefit the broader regional sport landscape. The competition is welcomed by the club’s management, who view it as a significant step forward for both the clubs and the regional handball scene. “We are very pleased with this opportunity,” said club director Deja Ivanović. “It represents an important development for clubs and the entire regional handball community. We believe that in future seasons, another Slovenian club might join the competition.” For Krim, the new league offers more high-quality international matches throughout the season, thereby adding greater value to their competitive calendar. The development is also seen as crucial for the growth of young players. Ivanović emphasized that the league is not just about results but also serves as a platform for nurturing emerging talent. Drawing from previous experiences with the earlier version of the competition, which concluded during the COVID-19 pandemic, she noted that the league proved to be an effective tool for gradually integrating younger players into senior competitions and gaining valuable international experience. Given the club’s updated squad and strategic focus, this aspect is particularly important for Krim. Similarly, head coach Rasmus Poulsen believes the regional league will contribute significantly to the team’s development. “Our goal has always been victory,” he stated. “This time will be no different. We understand that we face a demanding competition, but we are prepared for the challenge. This tournament will add a new dimension to our season. Our young team will gain additional international experience, which will be beneficial for both individual players and the team as a whole.” While this year’s edition will serve as a transitional phase, the regional league is set to operate fully in the 2027/28 season with a stabilized league system in place. This transition underscores the growing importance of such platforms in fostering long-term development within the sport.