Carlota Ciganda stood before reporters at Bernardus Golf on Wednesday, a veteran pillar on a European Solheim Cup squad experiencing a generational shift.
Alongside European captain Anna Nordqvist’s trio of debuts — Mimi Rhodes, Julia Lopez Ramirez, and Nastasia Nadaud — Ciganda represents the foundational bridge between Team Europe’s past triumphs and its future ambitions.
Making her eighth consecutive appearance in the Solheim Cup, Ciganda now shares the mark as Europe’s most experienced player alongside Charley Hull. Since debuting in 2013, the Spaniard has accumulated 14 points across 27 career matches, lifted the trophy three times, and helped retain it in 2023.
Yet, when asked how much wisdom she feels compelled to pass on to the team’s fresh faces, Ciganda offered a modest perspective.
“I mean, I remember when I was a rookie, and I think they are a lot more prepared than when I was a rookie, so I don’t think they need that much help from me,” Ciganda said. “I’m always here, they know that, for any help they need.
“But I think, the rookies nowadays are fearless. They come, they are ready, they play, they are ready to compete. And I’m very happy to have them here with us. I like the energy. I feel younger next to them. So, yeah, it’s a pleasure to have them here and very happy to share the week with them.”
Beneath her modest attitude lies crucial leadership for a European squad whose newcomers, despite the week’s mounting match-play pressure, arrive with stellar credentials of their own.
Lopez Ramirez, the Spanish standout, made history as the first golfer from her country to reach No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2024 before making her Solheim Cup debut.
“Oh, definitely I’m bringing the energy, as she said. I think it’s more of bringing that energy out of me, try to get everyone good vibes and good mood to it. I feel like that’s my role for the week,” Lopez Ramirez said. “I think it’s a good team. We’ll bond with each other, so I think it’s going to be really fun to bring the energy and the golf as well. It will be fun.”
While Mimi Rhodes was selected as one of Nordqvist’s captain’s picks, the Englishwoman secured the 2025 Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year title after winning three times in her breakout season on the LET.
“It’s nothing like I ever imagined. It’s kind of like the Curtis Cup on steroids,” Rhodes said. “It’s incredible the amount of support that we have, obviously, on home soil and the amount of help I’m getting from everyone on the team and just feeling like I’m at home within the team and I’m able to be myself and no one else.
“I’ve just been enjoying the week, playing with everyone and, just vibing together in the team room, especially playing the ping-pong.”
Nadaud, the young French player, climbed the professional ranks after earning her LET spot in 2023, following up with an LPGA Tour card earned for 2026. She certainly wasn’t expecting this at the start of the year to be sitting here ahead of the 2026 Solheim Cup.
“It’s been amazing. I’ve been very warmly welcomed by everyone on the team,” Nadaud said. “I was getting along with the rookies pretty well before that, and the veterans were really nice to us as well. So, yeah, really enjoying my time here.
“The atmosphere is amazing. We’ve got the Spaniards that are bringing the energy. So, yeah, it’s been really amazing and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Despite their swift ascents, competing on match play’s biggest stage carries a unique psychological weight. For rookies adjusting to the atmosphere, Ciganda’s presence offers a steadying blueprint.
Ciganda’s career demonstrates that modern tactical preparation must be paired with competitive composure under pressure. Having contributed to European victories across a variety of golf course styles and formats, her game shows how to handle shifting momentum and maintain focus through standard alternate-shot and fourball setups.
As competition approaches, Team Europe relies on a mix of experienced leadership and young talent. While Ciganda trusts the technical capabilities of the new roster, her open-door approach provides a valuable resource as they step into match play.
