Rose Zhang, Megan Khang, Andrea Lee, and Lauren Coughlin have been selected to join World No. 1 Nelly Korda on the US Solheim Cup team this year. The team's nine automatic qualifiers were confirmed on Sunday after the AIG Women's Open, leaving three spots for captain Stacy Lewis to fill with her picks on Tuesday.
"I'm thrilled to have the team set. Many of these players were part of the 2023 team, so they bring valuable experience," Lewis stated in a press release. "We had five qualifiers entering the week, and I'm pleased to welcome back Megan and Andrea, who were crucial to last year's victory."
The top seven players in the US Solheim Cup standings as of Sunday were Korda, Lilia Vu, Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Khang, and Lee. Khang and Lee secured their positions based on Sunday's outcomes, despite Khang missing the cut and Lee finishing tied for 22nd at the Women's Open.
The US team then added the two highest-ranked Americans in the Rolex Rankings not already on the team: Zhang, currently ranked No. 9 globally, and Alison Lee, ranked No. 25. This marks Zhang's second consecutive Solheim Cup, as the event moves to even-numbered years. The 21-year-old, who claimed her first LPGA Tour victory in June 2023, participated in the event in Spain last year, where Europe kept the Solheim Cup after a 14-14 tie.
Alison Lee will also make her second Solheim Cup appearance, having last played in 2015. Her nine-year gap between appearances sets a record for the US Team. Among the nine qualifiers, Coughlin is the sole rookie, known as a late bloomer. The 31-year-old, who has been on the LPGA Tour since 2018, secured her first win in Canada at the CPKC Women's Open in July and followed it up with another victory at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open just three weeks later.
Potential captain's picks for Lewis include Angel Yin, Cheyenne Knight, Jennifer Kupcho, and Lexi Thompson, who plans to retire from full-time golf at the end of the season. Lewis noted in July that Thompson is "right where she needs to be" regarding team selection. The Solheim Cup will take place from September 13-15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va.
