Solheim Cup: How the teams line up – Golf Australia Magazine – The Women’s Game

TEAM USA

Led by decorated Solheim Cup stalwart Stacy Lewis, The Americans will be gunning to get their hands on the Cup for the first time since 2017. Lewis has assembled a side with a fantastic balance of youth and experience.

LILIA VU

Age: 25

State: California

Solheim Cup Record: Debut

Professional Wins: Six

World Ranking: 2

Lilia Vu has had a blockbuster season. Winning two major championships – The Chevron Championship and The Women’s Open Championship – and spent some time as World No.1 in the process. Vu has shown time and time again this year that no occasion is too big. With her ball-striking ability and touch around the greens, it’s hard to see her Solheim Cup debut being any different.

NELLY KORDA

Age: 25

State: Florida

Solheim Cup Record: (W)5-(L)2-(H)1 (two appearances, 2019, 2021)

Professional Wins: 13

World Ranking: 3

Everyone in the field is worried when Nelly Korda tees it up, which makes her a crucial part of the U.S locker room. Although winning the Armaco Team Series event in London in July, Korda has yet to have an LPGA Tour victory in 2023 but has produced several notable displays and looks to be trending in the right direction. And although she has likely fallen short of her own lofty standards in 2023, Korda is a generational talent and will be right up for another dash at a Solheim Cup, not tasting glory in the fixture in her two prior outings. 

ALLISEN CORPUZ

Age: 27

State: Hawaii 

Solheim Cup Record: Debut

Professional Wins: One

World Ranking: 10

Corpuz made a statement skipper Lewis simply couldn’t ignore, winning the U.S Women’s Open at Pebble Beach in July. The Hawaii native illustrates a solid all-round game and is only getting better. There is no more challenging test than a U.S Women’s Open, and the grit and determination she showed that week will be pivotal when she tees it up in Spain on her Solheim Cup debut. 

Two-time major champion Lilia Vu will make her Solheim Cup debut in Spain. PHOTO: Getty Images.

MEGAN KHANG

Age: 25

State: Massachusetts

Solheim Cup Record: 1-3-2 (two appearances. 2019, 2021)  

Professional Wins: One

World Ranking: 14

Coming into her third Solheim Cup, Khang will pull on her prior experiences to try and get her hands on the Cup for the first time. Her form in 2023 has been solid – especially of late, making every cut since the U.S Women’s Open, her worst finish being a T30 at the Women’s Open Championship. Her best was an impressive breakthrough win at the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada, showing she is made on the right stuff under pressure, holding off perennial contender Jin Young Ko in a play-off.

JENNIFER KUPCHO

Age: 26

State: Colorado

Solheim Cup Record: 2-1-1 (one appearance, 2021) 

Professional Wins: Four

World Ranking: 29

Another major champion who has yet to quite hit her straps this year, Kupcho missed four out of five cuts at this year’s majors. But you’d be silly to rule out a former major champion from producing something special on one of the year’s biggest weeks. The 26-year-old’s only trip to the Solheim Cup was a losing one, but she produced a solid performance in her rookie outing, picking up two points in the American’s 13-15 loss in Ohio.

DANIELLE KANG

Age: 30

State: California

Solheim Cup Record: 5-7-0 (three appearances, 2017, 2019, 2021) 

Professional Wins: Six

World Ranking: 33

Heading into her fourth Solheim Cup, Kang is one of the few players on the American side who knows what it feels like to hoist the Cup aloft. In 2017 – when the U.S last won – Kang was superb in her rookie outing. Kang hasn’t set the world on fire in 2023, but her putting stats will scare the Europeans; ranked second in putting on the LPGA Tour and second in putts per green in regulation (GIR), Kang certainly knows how to roll the rock and will be able to gain plenty of momentum with her flat stick, which is crucial in match play. 

Danielle Kang will make her fourth appearance at the Solheim Cup this year. PHOTO: Getty Images.

ANDREA LEE

Age: 25

State: California

Solheim Cup Record: Debut

Professional Wins: Two

World Ranking: 38

Lee hit the pro ranks in 2019 after a decorated amateur career playing out of Stanford University. Lee has hit some form over the last month or so, with three top-10s in her last four starts. The Californian hits the ball as straight as anyone, ranked ninth on Tour in driving accuracy, hitting a tick under 82 percent of fairways; if she is paired with someone with the putting capabilities of someone like Danielle Kang, she could prove to be a daunting prospect for the Europeans.

LEXI THOMPSON

Age: 28

State: Florida

Solheim Cup Record: 6-6-5 (five appearances 2013,2015,2017,2019,2021) 

Professional Wins: 15

World Ranking: 26

By far and away the most experienced campaigner on the U.S team sheet. Lexi has struggled to find her best stuff in 2023 and has missed eight of her last ten cuts. But the Solheim Cup is a different beast, and although it is unlikely we will see Lexi tee it up in every session in Spain, she has been in the Solheim Cup cauldron enough times to know what is required. Another player that will be pivotal in the locker room, you can’t underestimate what Lexi brings off the course, and if she finds some form, it is a bonus for the Americans.

After an impressive start to her pro career, Rose Zhang will face her toughest test to date when she tees it up at Finca Cortesin. PHOTO: Getty Images.

ROSE ZHANG

Age: 20

State: California

Solheim Cup Record: Debut

Professional Wins: One

World Ranking: 32

It was only a matter of time before Zhang had her name read out as a member of the U.S Solheim Cup side, and coming fresh out of Staford – where the women’s team dominated the NCAA Championships – the Californian has proven she thrives in a team environment. Zhang illustrates an immaculate all-round game; success has followed her wherever she has gone. Since winning on pro-debut, Zhang has had a consistent start to her pro career, finishing in the top-10 in three of her four major starts and only missing two cuts. The Solheim Cup is a big occasion, but we have yet to lay eyes on an occasion that is too big for Rose Zhang.

ANGEL YIN

Age: 24

State: California

Solheim Cup Record: 3-2-1 (two appearances, 2017, 2019) 

Professional Wins: One

World Ranking: 34

Angel Yin is entering her third Solheim Cup after missing the most recent edition at the Inverness Club in Toledo. Yin is another player who has displayed consistency throughout the 2023 season with three top-10s and falling short of teammate Lilia Vu in a play-off at the Chevron Championship – the first major of the year. Yin will play aggressively and display a delicate touch around the greens. The 24-year-old will be a severe force if she can find consistency off the tee and will be determined to improve her Solheim Cup record.

Nelly Korda is yet to taste victory at the Solheim Cup. PHOTO: Getty Images.

ALLY EWING

Age: 30

State: Mississippi 

Solheim Cup Record: 2-5-1 (two appearances 2019, 2021)

Professional Wins: 3

World Ranking: 30

Another experienced campaigner at this level and has been a solid performer since turning pro in 2015. Although yet to get in the winner’s circle in 2023, Ewing has picked up a win in her last three seasons on the LPGA Tour, proving she knows what it takes to get it done. Ewing flew to the 36-hole lead at Walton Heath during the AIG Women’s Open, showing she can make plenty of birdies; it was a tough weekend, seeing her finish in a tie for sixth. In her last start before the team ventures to Spain, she finished fourth at the Queen City Championship; showing some great signs, Stacy Lewis will be hoping it all comes together when her side crosses enemy lines.

CHEYENNE KNIGHT

Age: 26

State: Texas

Solheim Cup Record: Debut 

Professional Wins: Two

World Ranking: 49

Knight’s form has tapered since her win at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in July, her best finish being a T41 in Canada at the CPKC Women’s Open. Knight’s strengths lie in her accuracy; she hits targets with precision and will also find a lot of fairways. This will make her a reliable partner for whoever Lewis decides she will play with. Another player on debut, with no scar tissue from previous heartbreak. Knight is a player who can pinch some points and won’t back down from a fight.