The U.S. Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis has made her final three selections for the upcoming competition against Europe. She announced her captain’s picks of Jennifer Kupcho, Sarah Schmelzel, and Lexi Thompson to complete the 12-player roster. The Americans are looking to end their longest-ever victory drought in the competition, having not won in three consecutive matches. This year’s American roster is more experienced, with only two players making their Solheim debuts compared to five American rookies last time.
Lewis feels that there is unfinished business from their last match in Spain, where the teams tied and Europe held onto the Cup. The competition is being played in even-numbered years, which has led to a quick turnaround for the players. Kupcho’s stock rose after a strong performance in the Dow Championship, where she finished runner-up with Ally Ewing. Schmelzel earned her spot on the team with a steady season, highlighted by being in the top 10 on the LPGA in bogey avoidance.
Thompson, a six-time Solheim veteran, was selected for her experience. The 29-year-old has rebounded from a challenging 2023 season and has shown improvement this year. This will be the second consecutive Cup for the U.S. with only two players who have previously won a Solheim. Angel Yin was a notable omission from the roster, despite strong performances in August. Danielle Kang and Cheyenne Knight did not return from the 2023 roster.
The Solheim Cup will take place at Robert Trent Jones Jr. Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., on Sept. 13-15. Lewis believes that the team is in a good position to settle the score with Europe and is confident in the abilities of her selected players. The competition is expected to be fierce, with both teams looking to claim victory. As the Americans look to end their drought and regain the Cup from Europe, all eyes will be on the players selected by Captain Lewis to lead the charge towards victory.
