We are now in 2026, which means another edition of the Solheim Cup is on hand. In 2024, The United States won possession of the cup for the first time since 2017. Now, new captain Angela Stanford has a loaded and deep roster of players to choose from. Here are the players in the mix and how likely each is to make it:
THE LOCKS
Nelly Korda – As with all of these top four, the only thing potentially standing in the way of Nelly Korda making the Solheim Cup team is a major injury. Korda is the top ranked American in the world, and it is probably impossible for her to fall enough in the rankings to not qualify automatically. Korda is also strong in the Solheim Cup, with a 10-5-1 record including a 3-1 record in 2024.
Megan Khang – Megan Khang is unquestionably the spiritual leader of the United States Solheim Cup. That alone makes her a fairly easy choice no matter what, but her play in the event locks her in at least to the 2026 team. Khang is 7-3-3 overall but a startling 6-0-1 in the last two playings.
Allisen Corpuz – It would be a massive mistake, regardless of her level of play at the time, to leave Allisen Corpuz off this roster. Though she may not be one of the top four American players in the world, she has been fantastic in the Solheim Cup with a 5-2-1 record in her two playings. She has also developed a killer partnership with Nelly Korda, going 4-0-0 alongside the top ranked American.
Lauren Coughlin – Coughlin is the best partner player in the world right now on the women’s side. She just won the Grant Thornton Invitational alongside Andrew Novak, was fantastic in the 2025 International Crown and went 3-0-1 in her first Solheim Cup appearance. She also played well in the Shadow Creek Match Play in 2025, showing her all around skill in match play formats.
LOOKING SAFE
Angel Yin – Angel Yin looks as close to a lock as a non-returning player can be. Yin probably should’ve been on the 2024 Solheim Cup team, and no doubt will be looking to get her first win in the event. Yin is also good in the Solheim Cup, going 5-3-1 in her three times playing. Her solid performance in the International Crown makes it hard to imagine many scenarios where she doesn’t make it, she just isn’t quite as locked in as the top four.
Rose Zhang – Despite injuries and inconsistent play, Zhang is still young enough and played well enough in 2024, to earn herself some more time on the roster. Zhang has fallen outside of the top 60 in the Rolex Rankings, but went 4-0-0 in the 2024 Solheim Cup, pairing especially well with her fellow former Stanford player Andrea Lee. Zhang is also still only 22-years-old and figures to be a future leader of the team.
Andrea Lee – Like Zhang, Lee’s performance in 2024 probably gives her a spot on the team. While she is far from flashy, she is impactful on the team. Lee went 2-0-1 in 2024, going undefeated alongside Zhang. She is 3-2-2 overall and with context added, her record is more impressive. Lee is unlikely to put the team on her back, but she has a high likelihood of earning at least 1.5-2.5 points.
NEEDS TO KEEP UP STRONG PLAY
Lindy Duncan – These three players may not have been on the radar of many people before 2025, but have earned their way into the discussion. Duncan certainly qualifies. If she has a similar 2025 to her 2024 season, she will be on this team. The only thing keeping her this low is that, 2024 was such an outlier from her veteran career, that it could end up looking like a fluke. Some good early results could give her first appearance at 35-years-old.
Yealimi Noh – Noh, who played in the 2021 Solheim Cup, and performed well going 2-1-0 showed some flashes of her immense potential in 2025 with her best season on Tour. She won for the first time in Bradenton and had two top-15 finishes in major championships. She also performed well as a last minute fill-in for the 2025 International Crown team that nearly won. Noh feels like a good bet to be wearing the red, white and blue in 2026, but needs to continue playing well.
Jennifer Kupcho – While Kupcho is an experienced, established member of the United States Solheim Cup team, her performance over the last two playings certainly makes her spot less than guaranteed. Kupcho is 1-4-1 in her last two appearances and her only win came against a struggling Linn Grant in 2024 singles. Kupcho did get back in the winner’s circle though in 2024, and if she can put some good results in, I’m sure she would be in contention to be on the team whether it be by captain’s selection or earning it on points.
DEPENDS ON OTHER FACTORS
Lexi Thompson – These are the players that come late Summer could either be locks or look really foolish for even being here. Thompson stepped away from a full-time schedule in 2024 and it seemed was playing in her final Solheim Cup. In the schedule that she has played though, she has performed well enough to keep herself in contention. Every captain has praised her and what she brings to the team, and she has played 27 Solheim Cup matches, going 10-10-7.
Alison Lee – Alison Lee recently gave birth and returned to competition in the fall. Her results were predictably underwhelming, missing two cuts. If she returns to a competitive, consistent form in 2026, she absolutely has a chance to make her third Solheim Cup. She is 2-5 in her career though, which will likely stand a bit in her way.
Lilia Vu – It feels a bit strange to say that Lilia Vu may not be on the 2026 Solheim Cup team, but it certainly feels like a possibility. To say the two-time major champion has been majorly impacted by injuries is putting it lightly, as she made just eight cuts in 2025 and had only one top-10 finish. She did find some solid results with Lauren Coughlin in the International Crown, but even at her best she isn’t the strongest player in this event with a 2-5-1 record. Still, when at her best she is arguably the best American player in the world and she hit the winning putt in the 2024 Solheim Cup.
MAYBE
Auston Kim – Auston Kim has so much talent, and she started to show that in 2025. She could be a dangerous weapon with her extremely long hitting, and she had five top-10 finishes last season. This could be a breakout season for Kim with her talent level, and if it is, she could be a safe pick to make this team.
Sarah Schmelzel – Sarah Schmelzel made her first Solheim Cup team, and while she went 2-2, she seemed like one of the most important members of the winning team. She was perhaps the player who came into the event more excited than anyone and it seemed to elevate the feelings of the rest of her teammates. She certainly is far from a lock, but I think she is a solid bet to make the team.
Lucy Li – Because she has been around so long, it is easy to forget that Lucy Li is still only 23-years-old. She was decent in 2025, making it to the CME Finals on the last day, but could take a jump in 2026 after graduating from Penn. She now will be focusing on golf more full time.
Jenny Bae – Bae got a bit overshadowed by all of the rookie winners, but she had a very nice first season on the LPGA Tour. Bae quietly had four top-10 finishes and ended up No. 48 in the CME Standings. She also finished the season well with five consecutive made cuts and two top-10 finishes in that stretch.
Yana Wilson – Certainly one thing that should be in the mind, with many of the top players approaching their 30s, is the United States getting younger. Yana Wilson, who is just 19-years-old, should be a great opportunity to do just that. Wilson was excellent on the Epson Tour in 2025, coming in second in the Race for the Card with two wins. If she shows some strong flashes in 2026, it shouldn’t be out of the question that she could be on the team.
LONGSHOTS
Gina Kim – Gina Kim was a great story of the 2025 Epson Tour season, but it would likely take a lot for her to get into real contention for this team. Wilson’s youth would make me think she is much more of a possibility than the 25-year-old Kim.
Melanie Green – Green won the Race to the Card on the Epson Tour in 2025, so she certainly deserves a mention here. That being said, it feels like her preseason hype is relatively low, so it may be difficult to get into these conversations this early.
Jessica Korda – Hey, why not? If she does come back and play well, she could be a fun name to bring into the fold. Korda is 5-4-2 in her Solheim Cup career and could be a great leadership voice on the team. That being said, it feels like getting into the captain’s room is more in her future than being a member of the team.
