Team Europe look to regain the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands this September, live on Sky Sports, with Anna Nordqvist’s side to take on Team USA offering a mix of experience and exciting young talent.
Nordqvist will have eight past Solheim Cup players in her team at Bernardus Golf from September 11-13, with four rookies – including world No 5 Lottie Woad – then completing the European line-up.
The qualification campaign ended after the AIG Women’s Open on August 2, where Esther Henseleit’s runner-up finish saw her join Charley Hull in qualifying via the LET Solheim Cup points list.
Woad, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen secured their spots as the next six available players via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, with Nordqvist announcing her four captain’s picks a day later.
Ireland’s Leona Maguire was handed a fourth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance, with Julia López Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes all named as debutants to face Angela Stanford’s side.
We take a closer look at the European players chasing home victory over Team USA and how they secured their spots…
Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, France’s Nastasia Nadaud and England’s Mimi Rhodes have been named as Anna Nordqvist’s Solheim Cup captain’s picks for Team Europe
Charley Hull (England) – LET Solheim Cup Points List
Age: 30
Solheim Cup appearances: Seven (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Solheim Cup points: 16.5 points from 27 matches (15 wins, three ties, nine losses)
Hull won twice during the qualification campaign, including the PIF Saudi Ladies International in February, before going on to finish tied-second at the US Women’s Open and tied-sixth at the AIG Women’s Open.
She brings bags of experience and plenty of fire to Nordqvist’s team, with the power-hitter Europe’s top scorer in the 2024 Solheim Cup loss that included a 6&4 thrashing of Nelly Korda.
Charley Hull dominated Nelly Korda 6&4 to post the first point of the day for Europe in the 2024 Solheim Cup singles
Esther Henseleit (Germany) – LET Solheim Cup Points List
Age: 27
Solheim Cup appearances: One (2024)
Solheim Cup points: 1.5 points from three matches (one win, one tie and one loss)
Henseleit burst into form at the right time, finishing fourth at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open before an incredible final-hole birdie at the AIG Women’s Open forced a play-off and lifted her into the second automatic spot on the LET points list.
Her debut at the Solheim Cup came in 2024, where she tied with Andrea Lee during the final-day singles after partnering Hull to one win and one loss in the foursomes over the first two days.
An incredible moment during the second play-off hole at the AIG Women’s Open saw Esther Henseleit’s ball hit a marshal’s leg and land in a bush
Lottie Woad (England) – Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings
Age: 22
Solheim Cup appearances: Debut
Woad is already the highest-ranked European in the world rankings after picking up two LPGA Tour titles in her first year as a pro, having followed her ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open win last July by winning the Kroger Queen City Championship in May.
She narrowly lost out in a play-off to Miyu Yamashita at the Meijer LPGA Classic and contended again at the AIG Women’s Open, posting a third straight top-10 finish at that major. Can she follow her 2024 Curtis Cup glory by being part of more team success?
England’s Lottie Woad missed out on her second LPGA Tour victory of the season as Miyu Yamashita snatched a dramatic play-off victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic
Maja Stark (Sweden) – Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings
Age: 26
Solheim Cup appearances: Two (2023, 2024)
Solheim Cup points: Four points from eight matches (won three, tied two, lost three)
The 2025 US Women’s Open champion returns for her third Solheim Cup and comes into this event off the back of a strong major season, posting top-10 finishes at the US Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship.
Stark enjoyed a great debut in 2023, defeating then US Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz in the singles to help Europe retain the Solheim Cup, then played three sessions with Emily Kristine Pedersen during the 2024 loss.
Maja Stark is back for a third consecutive Solheim Cup appearance
Celine Boutier (France) – Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings
Age: 32
Solheim Cup appearances: Four (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Solheim Cup points: 7.5 points from 14 matches (won seven, tied one, lost six)
The Frenchwoman is one of only two Europeans to have won the LPGA Tour this season, claiming a one-shot win at the Shoprite LPGA Classic in May, then failing to contend in the next three majors before sharing 12th place at the AIG Women’s Open.
Boutier won all four matches alongside Georgia Hall on debut during the 2019 victory and claimed a key point in the 2021 singles, with the former major champion losing all three matches in 2023 but returning two points in the most recent edition.
Can Celine Boutier feature in another winning European team?
Carlota Ciganda – Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings
Age: 36
Solheim Cup appearances: Seven (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Solheim Cup points: 14 points from 27 matches (won 12, tied four, lost 11)
Ciganda experienced a dramatic drop in form after a strong 2025 and positive start to the season, missing the cut in the last four majors, although she offers plenty of Solheim Cup experience.
The Spaniard has been an ever-present member of the European squad since her 2013 debut, winning all four matches in the 2023 edition – including against Korda in the singles – to help Europe retain the trophy in dramatic fashion.
Carlota Ciganda produced some scintillating golf on 16 and 17 to beat Nelly Korda in the singles and gain the crucial point needed to retain the 2023 Solheim Cup for Europe
Linn Grant (Sweden) – Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings
Age: 27
Solheim Cup appearances: Two (2023, 2024)
Solheim Cup record: Three points from nine matches (three wins and six losses)
The Swede has struggled with form and fitness issues during a disappointing LPGA Tour campaign, missing the cut in the first three majors, but she returns for a third consecutive Solheim Cup appearance.
Grant formed an unbeaten fourballs partnership with Ciganda and led Europe out in the singles during the 2023 contest, but she was winless from four matches a year later.
Linn Grant is a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour
Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Denmark) – Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings
Age: 31
Solheim Cup appearances: One (2021)
Solheim Cup record: 1.5 points from 3 matches (one win, one tied, one loss)
Koerstz Madsen returns after a five-year absence, with the Dane initially looking set to rely on a captain’s pick until Henseleit’s qualification via the LET Solheim Cup points list secured her the final automatic spot from the world rankings.
She claimed a key final-hole fourball win alongside Ciganda during day two of the 2021 contest, helping Europe lead going into the final day, then tied with Austin Ernst in the singles of a historic away victory.
Leona Maguire (Ireland) – Captain’s pick
Age: 31
Solheim Cup appearances: Three (2021, 2023, 2024)
Solheim Cup record: 8.5 points from 12 matches (eight wins, one tied, three losses)
Maguire has had to rely on a captain’s pick after an inconsistent LPGA Tour season, during which a runner-up finish at the Aramco Championship in April and a tied-eighth at the last month’s ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open were the limited highlights.
She top-scored as an unbeaten rookie and played a star role in the 2021 win, and then played in every session during the following edition. She was, though, left frustrated by her limited involvement – playing just two sessions – during the 2024 defeat.
A look back at the best of the action from a thrilling final day at the 2021 Solheim Cup, where Team Europe made it back-to-back victories against Team USA
Julia Lopez Ramirez (Spain) – Captain’s pick
Age: 23
Solheim Cup appearances: Debut
The former amateur world No 1 has made a steady start to her professional career, enjoying a successful rookie season on the LPGA Tour last year and securing her Ladies European Tour status at Q-school later that season.
The big-hitting Spaniard has five top-25 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2026, including at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, and her rookie appearance was confirmed after making the cut at the AIG Women’s Open.
Nastasia Nadaud (France) – Captain’s pick
Age: 21
Solheim Cup appearances: Debut
Naduad won the LET’s season-ending Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open de Espana in November, having already posted two runner-up finishes that campaign, before making a smooth transition onto the LPGA Tour.
Nordqvist described Nadaud as a player “who has been getting better and better”, with the Frenchwoman making the cut in all five majors this season and still in contention to qualify for the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship.
Mimi Rhodes (England) – Captain’s pick
Age: 24
Solheim Cup appearances: Debut
Rhodes won the LET’s Rookie of the Year title last season after claiming three victories in a breakout year – the Ford Women’s New South Wales Open, the Joburg Ladies Open and the Dutch Ladies Open.
The Englishwoman has experience of featuring on a winning Curtis Cup team but now gets the chance to represent Team Europe. She was the last pick after a mixed debut season on the LPGA Tour.
Who will win the Solheim Cup? Watch Team Europe’s bid to regain the trophy exclusively live on Sky Sports, with all three days live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.
