Anna Nordqvist, the newly crowned Solheim Cup captain who steered Europe to a thrilling 15-13 triumph over the United States on home soil, has hinted that she might return to the captain’s chair in the future. The Swede’s leadership at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands was decisive: Europe claimed seven of the twelve singles matches, clinching the trophy in front of a jubilant home crowd. The victory capped a whirlwind few months for Nordqvist, who has been juggling the demands of a playing career on the LPGA Tour with the responsibilities of captaining a national team.
She has openly admitted that the dual role proved far more taxing than she had imagined, describing it as "a lot more" than she expected. In the weeks leading up to the Solheim Cup, Nordqvist announced her retirement from competitive play, opting to step away from the tour to assess her next steps. When reporters asked whether she would consider taking the helm again for the 2028 Solheim Cup, Nordqvist responded with a wry smile during her post‑victory press conference: "No, I’m retiring tomorrow!" She quickly added, "You're never going to say never, but I just need a little bit of time off.
I don’t know what my future holds. Obviously I just retired from playing two weeks ago." She reflected on the emotional challenge of not being able to hit a shot during the competition, noting, "It was hard at times this week to not hit a shot, but it’s really nice and rewarding to see that there are so many other ways in golf you can stay involved and get the same feeling." Nordqvist praised the depth of talent on the European side, saying, "Sometimes it’s even more nerve‑wracking watching these girls, but then you see how good they are and you just become really impressed." Looking ahead, she expressed a desire to stay connected to the sport in some capacity, while also acknowledging the need for a brief period of rest: "Hopefully I can stay involved in golf in one way or another, but I’m going to enjoy a little bit of time off in the next couple weeks and hopefully catch up a little bit of rest – there hasn’t been much lately." Nordqvist follows in the footsteps of former European captains such as Suzann Pettersen, who led the team to a tied 14‑14 result in 2023 and a loss in 2024, and Catriona Matthew, the only European captain to win back‑to‑back Solheim Cups. Matthew guided Europe to a dramatic 14.5‑13.5 home victory at Gleneagles in 2019 and an away win in Ohio two years later.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Matthew said, "Europe may give Anna [Nordqvist] the choice to carry on. An away match is so different, it requires a different type of captaincy. You don’t want to hog it too long, as others are waiting.
I think you need to let them cherish this one before you look too far ahead. The 2028 Solheim Cup will be hotly contested.
Europe have some rookies now who you have to think will be the backbone of the team for years to come." Nordqvist’s performance as captain earned praise from her American counterpart, Angela Stanford, who remarked that Nordqvist "seemed to handle everything very well" and called her "a great captain." The European players echoed that sentiment. Charley Hull, who led Europe in the final singles, said, "She’s been an awesome captain and I just think the whole week has just been really, really enjoyable." The leadership team also included vice‑captains Caroline Hedwall, Mel Reid and Anne van Dam, with former legend Laura Davies providing additional support in the team room.
While the official announcement of the 2028 captain will likely wait until next year, former LET player Sophie Walker told Sky Sports News, "A captain is somebody that you’d like to be on tour around players. I got the impression that, before this Solheim Cup started, it was one and done for Nordqvist.
But when you win, you just never know, do you? There were 12 players, three vice‑captains and all those helpers that would love Nordqvist to be captain again. I think she’s been really successful not only because she’s won the cup, but successful in the team room as well." The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, scheduled for September 8‑10.
As the calendar turns toward that future showdown, the conversation about whether Nordqvist will once again lead Team Europe remains open. Her recent retirement, combined with the admiration she has earned from teammates, opponents, and officials alike, suggests that the possibility is far from closed. For now, she appears content to savor a short break, reflect on her historic win, and consider how she might continue to shape European women’s golf—whether from the captain’s bench, a mentorship role, or another capacity within the sport.