One Month Away from the Solheim Cup: Who Will Represent Team Europe?

Team Europe is gearing up to reclaim the Solheim Cup on home soil in the Netherlands this September, with the matches set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Captain Anna Nordqvist has assembled a squad that blends seasoned veterans with a wave of promising newcomers, aiming to tip the balance against a strong Team USA. The European contingent will compete at Bernardus Golf from September 11 to 13. Nordqvist’s roster includes eight players who have previously tasted Solheim Cup action, complemented by four fresh faces, among them world No.

5 Lottie Woad, who secured her place as a rookie. The final line‑up was shaped by the conclusion of the qualification period at the AIG Women’s Open on August 2, where Esther Henseleit’s runner‑up finish propelled her onto the team via the Ladies European Tour (LET) Solheim Cup points list, joining Charley Hull, who also qualified through the same system.

The remaining six spots were filled by the highest‑ranked Europeans on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Those players are Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen. Nordqvist announced her four captain’s picks the following day, rounding out the squad with Ireland’s Leona Maguire—making her fourth consecutive appearance—and three debutants: Julia López Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes.

The selections reflect a strategic mix of experience, recent form, and the desire to inject fresh energy into the team. ### Veteran Leaders **Charley Hull** enters the competition with a wealth of experience, having played in seven Solheim Cups (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024). She amassed 16.5 points from 27 matches, recording 15 wins, three ties and nine losses. Hull’s 2024 season featured a victory at the PIF Saudi Ladies International and strong finishes at the U.S.

Women’s Open (T‑2) and the AIG Women’s Open (T‑6). Known for her powerful swing, Hull was the top scorer for Europe in the 2024 edition, even though the team fell short after a 6&4 defeat to Nelly Korda in a singles match.

**Esther Henseleit**, a Solheim Cup debutant in 2024, contributed 1.5 points from three matches (one win, one tie, one loss). She burst onto the scene with a fourth‑place finish at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open and a dramatic final‑hole birdie at the AIG Women’s Open that forced a playoff, securing the second automatic spot on the LET points list. Her debut featured a singles tie with Andrea Lee and a mixed record in the foursomes alongside Hull.

### Rising Stars **Lottie Woad** is already the highest‑ranked European on the world stage, holding the No. 5 position after capturing two LPGA Tour titles in her rookie professional year. She won the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open in July and followed that with a triumph at the Kroger Queen City Championship in May.

Woad narrowly missed a playoff at the Meijer LPGA Classic, losing to Miyu Yamashita, and posted a third consecutive top‑10 at the AIG Women’s Open. Her rapid ascent, highlighted by a Curtis Cup victory in 2024, positions her as a key contributor for Europe. **Maja Stark**, the 2025 U.S.

Women’s Open champion, arrives after a strong major season, including top‑10 finishes at both the U.S. Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship.

Stark made a memorable debut in 2023, defeating then‑U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz in singles to help Europe retain the Cup, and she participated in three sessions alongside Emily Kristine Pedersen during the 2024 loss. **Linn Grant** and **Céline Boutier** bring a blend of experience and recent success.

Grant, a two‑time Solheim Cup participant (2023, 2024), recorded 4 points from 8 matches (three wins, two ties, three losses). She was instrumental in Europe’s 2023 victory, winning a crucial four‑ball partnership with Ciganda and leading the singles lineup. Boutier, a seven‑time veteran (2013‑2024), contributed 14 points from 27 matches, winning 12, tying four and losing 11. She secured all four matches in 2019 alongside Georgia Hall and added a pivotal point in the 2021 singles.

**Carlota Ciganda**, a stalwart of the European side since 2013, has amassed three points from nine matches in her recent two appearances (2023, 2024). Despite a dip in form in 2025, missing cuts in the last four majors, her extensive Solheim Cup experience remains valuable. **Nanna Koerstz Madsen** returns after a five‑year hiatus, earning her spot through the world rankings after Henseleit’s qualification freed a captain’s pick.

She has contributed 8.5 points from 12 matches across three editions (2021, 2023, 2024), highlighted by a decisive four‑ball win with Ciganda in 2021 and a singles tie against Austin Ernst. ### Captain’s Picks and Debutants **Leona Maguire** was selected as a captain’s pick for the fourth straight year. Although her 2026 LPGA season was inconsistent, highlighted by a runner‑up finish at the Aramco Championship and a T‑8 at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, she remains a proven performer, having top‑scored as an unbeaten rookie in 2021 and playing a pivotal role in Europe’s 2021 triumph.

**Julia López Ramírez**, **Nastasia Nadaud**, and **Mimi Rhodes** complete the roster as first‑time Solheim Cup participants. Nadaud, fresh off a LET season‑ending victory at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España and two runner‑up finishes, has been praised by Nordqvist for her continuous improvement. She made the cut in all five majors this year and is in contention for the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship.

Rhodes, the LET Rookie of the Year, captured three titles last season (Ford Women’s NSW Open, Joburg Ladies Open, Dutch Ladies Open) and brings Curtis Cup experience to the European side. ### The Road Ahead As the competition approaches, each player’s recent form, past Solheim Cup contributions, and the chemistry they can forge on the course will be under scrutiny. Europe’s blend of battle‑tested veterans like Hull and Ciganda, alongside in‑form stars such as Woad, Stark, and Grant, gives them a balanced attack. The captain’s picks—Maguire, López Ramírez, Nadaud, and Rhodes—add depth and the potential for surprise performances.

Fans can catch every swing, putt, and strategic decision live on Sky Sports Golf from September 11 to 13. Whether Europe can harness this mix of experience and youthful vigor to reclaim the Solheim Cup remains the central storyline, promising an exciting showdown against a formidable Team USA.