With Angela Stanford officially named the next captain for the United States Solheim Cup team, it is time to speculate who could fill out the team’s leadership group.
The United States went with with four assistant captains last year, so I will continue that here. It feels safe to be confident that Brittany Lincicome, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel will return to the team in 2026. That leaves only one spot with a deep field of potential candidates. Here are five of them likely at the top of the list:
LEXI THOMPSON
This is, in my opinion, the most likely choice. Two-time captain Stacy Lewis said last September:
“Whoever is the next captain, they need to get her on as an assistant, that’s all I can say,” said Lewis. “Lexi needs to be there in the team room.
Thompson herself said she’d love to be a part of the team in any way she can. Thompson is of course one of the most iconic American players of her generation, played in seven Solheim Cups and seemed to really step into a leadership role in 2024. I would imagine this is Stanford’s first call.
ALLY EWING
Ewing, like Thompson, is another new retiree who has her name now in the mix. Ally Ewing was a part of the last four Solheim Cup teams, and while her record has left a lot to be desired, 3-12-1, the players have held nothing back talking about how great of a leader she is in the team room. Ewing clearly loves the event, and puts everything she has into leading the United States team, she seems like the perfect future candidate to be a captain.
LIZETTE SALAS
Like Ewing, Salas is known as a player who was a strong leader in the team room. Across her five appearances, Salas got the best out of players like Jennifer Kupcho and Danielle Kang. While it seems her days of playing on the Solheim Cup are done, the 35-year-old would make a lot of sense as an assistant captain. Salas on Instagram yesterday was excited for Stanford’s selection and the two seem to be pretty close.
GERINA MENDOZA
While Gerina Mendoza didn’t win an event in her LPGA career, she did make three Solheim Cup appearances, and played well. She went 5-4-2 in her career. The 2015 Solheim Cup, where she went 3-0-1, saw Mendoza hit maybe the most iconic shot in the event’s history, an eight-footer to clinch the largest comeback in the Cup’s history. Mendoza revealed on Instagram yesterday that Stanford actually paid for her to go to her first Solheim Cup in 2013. Mendoza fits well in that captain’s room, being a part of the same generation of players.
CRISTIE KERR AND MICHELLE WIE WEST
Yes, this is a bit of a cheat including an extra player, but I think these two fit in the same conversation. If they want the final assistant captain position, I think they get it. Neither have been too involved in the team in the last two playings though, so I don’t know if that changes here.
OTHER POTENTIAL NAMES: Natalie Gulbis, Danielle Kang, Austin Ernst, Marina Alex, Brittany Lang.
