Team Europe bounced back to capture the Solheim Cup, edging Team USA 15‑13 after a dramatic singles showdown on a rain‑spattered Sunday at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. The competition had been deadlocked at 8‑8 heading into the final day, meaning Europe needed just 6.5 points from the remaining matches to clinch the trophy, a stark contrast to the disappointment of two years earlier when they fell short against the Americans. From the first tee, Charley Hull set the tone for the Europeans.
The English star opened her singles match against Megan Khang with a confident 3&2 victory, delivering an early point and a surge of optimism for the home crowd. Hull’s aggressive play and steady putting gave Europe the first blue on the scoreboard and underscored her role as one of the team’s leaders. The momentum continued as Anna Nordqvist’s side briefly held a lead in eight of the twelve singles contests. Linn Grant, who had already posted a flawless 4‑0‑0 record in the earlier sessions, added another point by defeating Angel Yin 4&3, completing a perfect week and cementing her place in Solheim Cup history as only the ninth player ever to finish unbeaten with four straight wins.
Grant’s composure on the back nine, especially on the two par‑fives, left no doubt about her dominance. Not all was smooth sailing for Europe, however. Alison Lee of the United States staged a remarkable comeback, erasing a four‑hole deficit to win her match against Esther Henseleit 1 up.
Lee’s resilience provided a glimmer of hope for the Americans and briefly shifted the tide in their favor. World No. 1 Nelly Korda answered with a decisive 4&3 win over rookie Mimi Rhodes, leveling the overall score and reminding everyone that the contest was still wide open. Yet Europe’s depth shone through as Nastasia Nadaud, Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Julia Lopez Ramirez each secured crucial points, pushing the Europeans ever closer to the winning total.
The host nation’s hopes were reignited when Lottie Woad defeated Auston Kim, taking the team to 14 points and sparking celebrations among the Dutch spectators. With the score now within reach, veteran Carlota Ciganda was guaranteed at least a half‑point. She delivered the decisive blow, beating Jennifer Kupcho to seal the victory for Europe on home soil.
The day’s drama was amplified by the weather. Kupcho’s spectacular birdies on Saturday night had convinced Team USA captain Angela Stanford that momentum was swinging their way. Yet the rain‑soaked Sunday saw Europe seize control, with Hull once again proving her mettle by thrashing Korda 6&4 in a match that highlighted her consistency and precision.
Hull’s ability to hit greens in regulation and avoid costly mistakes was evident when she said, "I've been giving myself so many chances, so that's been quite frustrating. Obviously didn't hole a lot today, but I was just very steady, hit a lot of greens." Grant’s flawless record placed her alongside the legends of the event, while Lee matched the Swede’s 4‑0‑0 achievement by rallying from four down with seven holes remaining to defeat Henseleit. Lee reflected on the challenge, noting, "I just did my best to stay consistent.
That front nine was pretty tough with the rain coming down. I couldn't give myself birdie chances and put myself in a good spot. Thankfully the weather turned around, and my golf game did as well." Europe’s younger players also shone.
Nadaud beat Andrea Lee 3&2 for her third win of the debut, and Lopez Ramirez capped an unbeaten start by overcoming Yealimi Noh. Madsen had previously bested Allisen Corpuz, and Woad recovered from losing three consecutive holes on the back nine to clinch her match against Kim, keeping Europe on the brink of triumph.
Ciganda, who had already secured a half‑point earlier, built an early lead against Kupcho and ultimately claimed the winning point, expressing her joy: "I'm so happy. I think we had a great team all week.
I think it's been one of the best teams that we've had in the last few years." The final day also featured notable moments for the United States. Rookie Lindy Duncan ended Maja Stark’s perfect record, while Lauren Coughlin handed Leona Maguire her first ever Solheim singles defeat, narrowing the margin.
Rose Zhang defeated Celine Boutier 2 up in the bottom match, leaving the Frenchwoman without a point for the week. Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist praised the collective effort: "There's just been so much hard work this week and in the last two years leading up to this from not only me, but all the background team.
The helpers have been amazing this week, making it easy for the players just to play. We just had a really good vibe all week. Everyone's been really good teammates.
We talked a lot about the fast starts this week with the way the golf course was. I'm just really, really proud of the players for starting strong and even finishing strong." USA captain Angela Stanford acknowledged the Europeans’ performance: "I think that we did a lot of things right leading up to it and I know we did. They fought hard and we seemed to always be on the same page.
The Europeans played great today and that's the way it goes. Their backs were against the wall, they had nothing to lose, and that's exactly what they did.
They came out and played well, so good for them." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, while the LPGA Tour takes a brief pause before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship in late September. The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, scheduled for September 8‑10.
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