By: Max Bechtoldt
Suzann Pettersen has locked in her four selections for the European Solheim Cup team, so the only thing left to do before kicking off the competition is finding out who will be on the United States team. Unlike Europe, the United States only gets three selections. While last year it seemed like a formality at who would be on the team, captain Stacy Lewis has a much more difficult decision ahead.
Already on the team are Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Lauren Coughlin, Rose Zhang, Alison Lee, Andrea Lee and Megan Khang. Here are the three players I think will join this squad:
Lexi Thompson – I could be wrong, but I do not see a scenario where Lexi Thompson is not in the red, white and blue come September 13. Like Nordqvist on the European side, Thompson is a mainstay, playing in every edition since 2013. Though her game slid greatly in 2023, she surprised everyone by being one of the best performers for the United States, going 3-1. Thompson has shown signs of the old Lexi this year, with four top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour. On top of all this, she is retiring from full-time play on tour after this season, so this is her last chance to be on the team. I fully expect her name to be called.
Angel Yin – There is one thing keeping Angel Yin potentially off this team, and that is health. While Yin is known to be a great chemistry piece, and brings a unique skillset with long hitting and incredible putting, there are still lingering concerns surrounding an injury from January. Yin didn’t play until April, and struggled mightily through much of her return, with five missed cuts and only one top 10. She has seen an upswing the last few weeks though, which I think has risen her chances greatly. At the Portland Classic she finished runner-up, then last week at the AIG Women’s Open she grinded on the weekend to finish in the top 10. Yin has also been a quite solid Solheim Cup player in her three appearances, with a 5-3-1 total record.
Jennifer Kupcho – This is where it gets difficult. I struggled with not picking Sarah Schmelzel, who has had a terrific breakout season, and is probably deserving of a spot. I also considered Alexa Pano, who at only 20-years-old, gives the United States a real chance at building for the future. But, I ended up settling on Kupcho mostly for her partnership with Ally Ewing. Kupcho and Ewing finished second in the Dow Championship this year, which uses the same formats as the Solheim Cup. We know from Kupcho’s past partnerships with Lizette Salas, that she can be one of the best team players in the world when she has the right partner. She also, quietly, has had a nice bounce back season, with four top-10 finishes and just two missed cuts. It feels like a real toss-up right now, and I am not envious of Stacy Lewis for having to make the decision.
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