U.S. Team captain Angela Stanford will have plenty to process following the 2026 Solheim Cup. Questions remain about whether her order and pairings were optimal, but growing the game and elevating women’s golf remains a major victory regardless of the outcome at Bernardas Golf.

Stanford opened her comments with a simple thank you.

“Thank y'all so much for covering us this week. I think the only way we continue to grow is if you guys keep writing about us and covering us, so really appreciate everything,” Stanford said. “And, you know, I know social media's been on fire this week and that's good for women's golf. So really appreciate y'all being here.

“I think sometimes the European Solheim Cups, you're having to travel quite a ways from America, for the American writers and TV people. So thank you for making the effort. It really does matter and I appreciate it.”

The U.S. Team ended Saturday on a high note, led by Jennifer Kupcho’s two key putts to tie the competition at 8-8 entering Sunday singles matches. While the squad appeared flat on Sunday, would the captain make any changes in hindsight?

“I feel like I still need to think through it, but I don't think I would have done my lineup different because even -- you know, I think Lauren needed the rest. Kupcho needed the rest,” Stanford said. “Rose needed the rest. Like, the people that went both sessions on Friday, I wanted to make sure that they had some rest. So I wouldn't change that.

“Europe played well. I think sometimes it's not about -- I don't think we played bad. I think we just didn't make enough putts. And if you listen to everything I've ever said, Europeans always putt better. I don't know why. I still don't know why. I mean, I have a good idea, but I'm not going to say it right now. (Laughing.) Apparently I didn't get to know the superintendent as well as I should have. But I think they played really well, and you have to compliment them, and we gave it our best shot.”

Team chemistry is always a focus leading into match play, and this week was no exception. The U.S. Team bonded during the road event, a sentiment Stanford echoed.

“I think they did great. Like I said, they never wavered. Going into Saturday afternoon, it got tough, and they came together, and they pulled through, and they have stuck together the whole time,” Stanford said. “I can promise you this hurts more for them than maybe for us because they were the ones playing. The good news is they can show back up in Kentucky in a couple years and make it right. But, no, that core group, they're great.”

Angela Stanford Sees Broader Victory for Women’s Golf at 2026 Solheim Cup

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