Which Players Make Up Team Europe for This Year's Solheim Cup?

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 United States side.

The European contingent will compete at the Bernardus Golf Course from September 11 to 13. Nordqvist’s roster includes eight players who have already tasted Solheim Cup action, complemented by four fresh faces, among them world No. 5 Lottie Woad, who earned a spot as a rookie. The final line‑up reflects a meticulous qualification process that wrapped up after the AIG Women’s Open on August 2.

Esther Henseleit’s runner‑up finish at the AIG Women’s Open secured her a place alongside Charley Hull, who qualified through the Ladies European Tour (LET) Solheim Cup points list. Both women earned their spots by accumulating points throughout the season, demonstrating consistent high‑level play. In addition, six more players locked in their berths by virtue of their positions 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 a day later, rounding out the team with a mix of experience and youthful vigor. Ireland’s Leona Maguire received a captain’s pick, marking her fourth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance. The rookie slots were filled by Julia López Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes, each making their debut for Europe in what promises to be a fiercely contested series. Below is a closer look at each European player, how they earned their place, and what they bring to the competition.

**Charley Hull** Hull entered the team with a strong record: seven Solheim Cup appearances (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) and 16.5 points from 27 matches (15 wins, three ties, nine losses). She won twice during the qualification period, notably at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, and posted a tied‑second finish at the U.S. Women’s Open and a tied‑sixth at the AIG Women’s Open.

Hull’s power game and leadership qualities are expected to be pivotal, especially after she was the top scorer for Europe in the 2024 loss, delivering a dominant 6&4 victory over Nelly Korda. **Esther Henseleit** The German rookie made a dramatic surge late in the season, finishing fourth at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open and then forcing a playoff with a final‑hole birdie at the AIG Women’s Open, which earned her the second automatic spot on the LET points list.

Her Solheim Cup debut came in 2024, where she split a tie with Andrea Lee in the final‑day singles after partnering with Hull for a win‑loss record of 1‑1 in the foursomes. Henseleit now adds a debut appearance to her résumé, having earned 1.5 points from three matches (one win, one tie, one loss). **Lottie Woad** At just 23, Woad is already the highest‑ranked European on the world stage, having captured two LPGA Tour titles in her first professional season. She won the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last July and followed that with a victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship in May.

Although she narrowly missed a playoff win at the Meijer LPGA Classic, she remained in contention at the AIG Women’s Open, marking her third consecutive top‑10 finish in a major. Woad brings two Solheim Cup appearances (2023, 2024) and four points from eight matches (three wins, two ties, three losses) to the team. **Maja Stark** Stark, the 2025 U.S.

Women’s Open champion, arrives after a strong major season that included top‑10 finishes at both the U.S. Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship. She first appeared at the Solheim Cup in 2023, where she defeated the then‑U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz in the singles, helping Europe retain the trophy.

In 2024 she partnered with Emily Kristine Pedersen for three sessions. Stark now adds four Solheim Cup appearances (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) and 7.5 points from 14 matches (seven wins, one tie, six losses) to her growing legacy. **Céline Boutier** Boutier is one of only two Europeans to claim an LPGA Tour win this season, securing a one‑shot victory at the Shoprite LPGA Classic in May. She followed that with a solid showing at the AIG Women’s Open, finishing tied‑12th.

Her Solheim Cup résumé includes seven appearances (2013‑2024) and 14 points from 27 matches (12 wins, four ties, 11 losses). Notably, she swept all four matches alongside Georgia Hall on her debut in 2019 and contributed a vital point in the 2021 singles. **Carlota Ciganda** Ciganda’s form has dipped after a strong 2025, with missed cuts in the last four majors, yet she remains a veteran presence. Since her debut in 2013, she has been a constant on the European side, delivering a perfect four‑match record in the 2023 edition, including a singles win over Nelly Korda that helped Europe retain the cup.

Ciganda now holds seven Solheim Cup appearances and 14 points from 27 matches (12 wins, four ties, 11 losses). **Nanna Koerstz Madsen** The Danish player returns after a five‑year hiatus.

Initially poised to rely on a captain’s pick, she secured her spot automatically when Henseleit qualified via the LET points list. Madsen contributed a decisive final‑hole four‑ball win with Ciganda in 2021 and tied Austin Ernst in the singles of that historic away victory.

She now boasts three appearances (2021, 2023, 2024) and 8.5 points from 12 matches (eight wins, one tie, three losses). **Leona Maguire** Maguire was granted a captain’s pick after an uneven LPGA season, highlighted by a runner‑up at the Aramco Championship and a tied‑eighth at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. She was the top scorer as an unbeaten rookie in Europe’s 2021 win and played every session in the following edition, though she saw limited action in the 2024 defeat.

This will be her fourth Solheim Cup appearance, and she hopes to translate her raw talent into decisive points. **Julia López Ramírez** The Spanish rookie earned her debut after a solid start on the LPGA Tour, including five top‑25 finishes in 2026 and a cut‑made performance at the AIG Women’s Open. Known for her powerful swing, López Ramírez also captured the LET’s season‑ending Andalucía Costa Del Sol Open de España in November, following two runner‑up finishes earlier in the year.

She is praised by Nordqvist for her continual improvement and has already made the cut in all five majors this season. **Nastasia Nadaud** Nadaud, a former world No.

1 amateur, turned professional with a strong rookie season on the LPGA Tour and secured her LET status at Q‑school. In 2026 she posted five top‑25 finishes, including a notable result at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, and made the cut at the AIG Women’s Open. Nordqvist described her as a player who is "getting better and better," and she remains in contention for a spot at the CME Group Tour Championship.

**Mimi Rhodes** Rhodes captured the LET Rookie of the Year title after a breakout year that saw her win three tournaments: the Ford Women’s New South Wales Open, the Joburg Ladies Open, and the Dutch Ladies Open. She previously represented Great Britain & Ireland on a victorious Curtis Cup team and now steps onto the Solheim Cup stage for Europe.

After a mixed debut season on the LPGA Tour, she earned the final captain’s pick, bringing fresh energy and a competitive edge. **Linn Grant** Grant’s Solheim Cup record includes a single appearance in 2021, where she earned 1.5 points from three matches (one win, one tie, one loss). She formed an unbeaten four‑ball partnership with Ciganda in 2023 and led Europe in the singles that year, though she struggled to find a win in the 2024 edition. Despite recent form and fitness challenges on the LPGA Tour, Grant’s experience and composure remain valuable assets.

**Overall Outlook** Team Europe’s blend of veteran reliability and youthful exuberance creates a compelling narrative for the 2024 Solheim Cup. The squad’s depth is evident in the variety of ways players qualified—through points, world rankings, and captain’s picks—underscoring the competitive nature of European women’s golf.

With the home‑field advantage in the Netherlands and the backing of a passionate fan base, the Europeans are poised to mount a serious challenge to the United States. Fans can follow every swing, putt, and match live on Sky Sports Golf from September 11‑13, or stream the action without a contract via Sky Sports’ online platform. The stage is set, the players are ready, and the quest for the Solheim Cup trophy is about to begin.