Team Europe Reclaims the Solheim Cup, 15-13

Team Europe reclaimed the Solheim Cup with a 15-13 victory over the United States at Bernardus Golf, sealed deep into the Sunday singles amid heavy rain in the Netherlands.

A blue wave that never receded

The teams stood level at 8-8 heading into the 12 singles matches. Europe surged out fast, winning six of the first eight contests. Charley Hull and Linn Grant built the platform early, and the momentum never truly shifted back.

English rookie Lottie Woad delivered the clinching point on the 17th green, holing a putt from two feet to beat Auston Kim 2 and 1. Carlota Ciganda then landed the decisive blow, completing a 4-and-2 win over Jennifer Kupcho — the same opponent who had roared "Vamos!" at her on Saturday after sinking a 93-foot putt.

Ciganda’s revenge, rookies’ revelation

Ciganda, the player who secured the retention point in 2023, left no doubt this time. "Today I knew she had no chance. I was like, I want to kill you," she told reporters afterwards. The result lifted her to 5.5 points in Solheim singles across her career, third on Europe's all-time list.

Europe's rookies were instrumental. Woad, Nastasia Nadaud and Julia Lopez Ramirez each won their singles matches. Nadaud, a 21-year-old Frenchwoman, collected three points across the week, while Sweden's Linn Grant went 4-0-0 to match Alison Lee as the only players to earn four points.

The only American rally that punctured the blue wave was historic: Alison Lee came from four down after 11 holes to beat Esther Henseleit 1 up, the greatest comeback in Solheim Cup history. But it was not enough to stop Europe.

A captain’s farewell on Dutch soil

Captain Anna Nordqvist, who had announced her playing retirement only two weeks earlier, hoisted the crystal trophy before a grandstand packed with European supporters. "This feels so good," she said. "There's just been so much hard work this week and in the last two years leading up to this."

Europe has now won three of the last five editions. The United States, still without a victory on foreign soil since 2015, lead the all-time series 11-8 with one draw. The next chapter awaits at Valhalla in 2028.