Yalıkavak Sports Club (), Armada Praxis Yalıkavak Spor for sponsorship reasons, is a women's handball club based in Yalıkavak, Bodrum of Muğla Province, Turkey. The team competes in the Turkish Super League.
History The club was founded under the name Yalıkavak Belediyesi Spor Kulübü by the local municipality at Yalıkavak neighborhood of Bodrum district in Muğla Province, southwestern Turkey on 19 October 1987. After the town municipality was abolished in 2014, the club continued its activities as Yalıkavak SK. The club has around 100 sportspeople in the football and handball sides. The women's handball team, nicknamed "Denizin kızları" ("The Mermaids"), was formed in 2008.
Starting to compete in the Turkish Women's Handball First League in the 2016–17 season, the team reached the quarterfinals of the Women's Handball Turkish Cup. The youth team consisting of girls aged 10–12 became the Turkish champion twice. The club became runners-up in the youth and juniors championships twice. Eight club members were called up to the national team, and one of the club member started to play in the national beach handball team.
The club is headquartered at the Türkan Saylan Sports Complex in Geriş, Bodrum. The club president is Mehmet Esen, and the team's head coach Özcan Kıvanç. The team is sponsored by Armada Praxis.
Yalıkavak became champion in the 2023–24 Turkish Women's Handball Super Lesgue after winning over Yenimahalle Bld. SK in the play-offs by 3–1. They won the Turkish Women's Handball Super Cup in 2024 defeating Yenimahalle Bld. SK by 37–24.
The team is nicknamed "Denizin Kızları" (literally: "Girls of the Sea").
Colors The club colors are blue and white.
Arena The team play their home matches at Binnaz Karakaya Sports Hall located in Gümbet, Bodrum.
Competitions Domestic 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons Yalıkavak finished the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons of the Turkish Women's Handball Super League seasons as runners-up.
2022–23 season Yalıkavak won the Women's Handball Turkish Cup in 2023 defeating Kastamonu Bld. GSK in the final. They won the 2023 Women's Handball Turkish Super Cup defeating the league-champion Kastamonu Bld. GSK in the final.
2023–24 season Yalıkavak became champion in the 2023–24 Turkish Women's Handball Super League after winning over Yenimahalle SK in the play-offs by 3–1. 2024–25 season Yalıkavak won the 2024 Turkish Women's Handball Super Cup defeating Yenimahalle Bld. SK by 37–24. They became again champion in the 2024–25 Turkish Women's Handball Super League after winning over Adasokağı SK in the play-offs by 3–1 (26–25, 29–33, 29–23, 28–18).
2025–26 season The team lost the final match of the 2025 Turkish Super Cup to Bursa Büyükşehir Bld. by 30–26, and became the runners-up.
International EHF European League
SeasonRoundClub1st leg2nd legAggregate2021–22Round 1 MTK Budapest 24–33 30–39 54–722022–23Round 1 Nykøbing Falster HK 21–29 24–37 45–662024–25Round 2 KPR Gminy Kobierzyce 27–36 26–27 53–63
EHF European Cup
Season ARoundClub1st leg2nd legAggregate2020–21Round 1 İzmir BB GSK 30–26 31–22 61–48Last 16 Muratpaşa Bld. SK 39–20 28–26 67–46QuarterfinalsRocasa Gran Canaria 28–25Semifinals RK Lokomotiva Zagreb 0–102023–24Round 1 ADA Sao Pedro do Sul 23–27 30–25 53–52Round 2 SSV Brixen Südtirol 36–27 28–19 64–46Last 16 Yenimahalle Bld. SK 27–23 36–23 63–46Quarterfinals SL Benfica 29–33 23–30 52–63
Current squad Team members at the 2025–26 Turkish Women's Handball Super League season.
1 Anca Mihaela Rombescu (GK) 2 Beyza Gedik (RB) 4 Reyhan Kaya (CB) 5 Buket Seven (CB) 7 Edanur Burhan (RB) 10 Gülcan Tügel (CB) 11 Sofiia Bezrukova (LB) 14 Nurceren Akgün Gökttepe (LP) 15 Betül Karaarslan (CB) 17 Ceylan Aydemir (LW) 18 Tuana Akman (LW) 22 Yağmur Bembeyaz (GK) 25 Hatice Özdemir (LP) 29 Živa Čopi (RW) 48 Merve Kaya (GK) 61 İlke Yıldız (LW) Gözde Seven (CB)
GK: Goalkeeper LW: Left winger RW: Right winger LP: Line player CB: Center back LB: Left back RB: Right back
Former notable players
Armina Isić Jaqueline Anastácio Elaine Gomes Sára Kovářová Isabelle Jongenelen Anca Mihaela Rombescu Valeria Baranik Mouna Chebbah Ümmügülsüm Bedel Ceyhan Coşkunsu Sevilay İmamoğlu Öcal Sude Karademir Yeliz Özel Fatma Gül Sakızcan Nurşah Sancak Kübra Sarıkaya Yasemin Şahin Perihan Topaloğlu Kübra Yılmaz
Kit history
Honours Turkish Women's Handball Super League Champions (2): 2023–24, 2024–25 Runners-up (2): 2020–21, 2021–22
Turkish Women's Handball Super Cup Winners (2) 2023, 2024 Runners-uo (1): 2025.
References