Stanford Named 2026 U.S. Solheim Cup Captain
3/20/2025 9:40:00 AM | Women's Golf
The four-time TCU All-American is the 14th U.S. captain in the event’s history
FORT WORTH – TCU Athletics Hall of Famer Angela Stanford has been named the 2026 United States Solheim Cup captain, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced on Thursday.
Stanford is the 14th U.S. captain in the biannual event's history, which began in 1990.
"There have been a lot of things that have happened in my life," Stanford said, "and I'm in a spot where I can totally focus on the Solheim Cup, and I can give it everything I have."
She served as an assistant captain at the past three editions of the Solheim Cup in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
The captaincy signifies Stanford's 10th Solheim Cup appearance. She was a member of six U.S. Solheim Cup teams as a player; 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015.
The Solheim Cup is the women's professional golf equivalent to the Ryder Cup. The event incorporates team match play competition between 12 players from LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour (LET).
Stanford helped Team USA hoist the Cup for the first time in seven years in September. She'll aim to become the first U.S. captain to win overseas since 2015.
"I've always wanted to be a captain overseas," Stanford said. "I won my Curtis Cup overseas. I got to play on two of the teams that have won the Solheim Cup overseas. Growing up, I played a lot of different team sports, and I loved going to other people's gyms, going to their fields. It doesn't bother me to go into a hostile environment and try to play and try to perform."
Stanford's name is synonymous with the United States' shining moments in the Solheim Cup. She has been a member of four of the Americans' last five championships. Stanford scored the winning point for the Team USA in 2015 with her 2-and-1 victory over Suzann Pettersen in her final Cup appearance as a player. Her performance punctuated the largest comeback win in team history and remains the last time the Americans won in Europe. Stanford was also a member of championship teams in 2007 and 2009.
A four-time All-American for TCU from 1996-00, Stanford retired from the LPGA Tour in November. She holds the record for the most consecutive major starts in LPGA history (98). Stanford won her first major title at the Evian Championship on Sept. 16, 2018, in Evian-Les Baines, France, and has seven tournament titles to her name. Over the course of her 23-year playing career, Stanford racked up 95 top ten finishes in LPGA tournaments and ranks 11th on the LPGA Career Money List.
The 2026 Solheim Cup takes place from Sept. 7-13, 2026, at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, The Netherlands.
Stanford is the 14th U.S. captain in the biannual event's history, which began in 1990.
"There have been a lot of things that have happened in my life," Stanford said, "and I'm in a spot where I can totally focus on the Solheim Cup, and I can give it everything I have."
She served as an assistant captain at the past three editions of the Solheim Cup in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
The captaincy signifies Stanford's 10th Solheim Cup appearance. She was a member of six U.S. Solheim Cup teams as a player; 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015.
The Solheim Cup is the women's professional golf equivalent to the Ryder Cup. The event incorporates team match play competition between 12 players from LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour (LET).
Stanford helped Team USA hoist the Cup for the first time in seven years in September. She'll aim to become the first U.S. captain to win overseas since 2015.
"I've always wanted to be a captain overseas," Stanford said. "I won my Curtis Cup overseas. I got to play on two of the teams that have won the Solheim Cup overseas. Growing up, I played a lot of different team sports, and I loved going to other people's gyms, going to their fields. It doesn't bother me to go into a hostile environment and try to play and try to perform."
Stanford's name is synonymous with the United States' shining moments in the Solheim Cup. She has been a member of four of the Americans' last five championships. Stanford scored the winning point for the Team USA in 2015 with her 2-and-1 victory over Suzann Pettersen in her final Cup appearance as a player. Her performance punctuated the largest comeback win in team history and remains the last time the Americans won in Europe. Stanford was also a member of championship teams in 2007 and 2009.
A four-time All-American for TCU from 1996-00, Stanford retired from the LPGA Tour in November. She holds the record for the most consecutive major starts in LPGA history (98). Stanford won her first major title at the Evian Championship on Sept. 16, 2018, in Evian-Les Baines, France, and has seven tournament titles to her name. Over the course of her 23-year playing career, Stanford racked up 95 top ten finishes in LPGA tournaments and ranks 11th on the LPGA Career Money List.
The 2026 Solheim Cup takes place from Sept. 7-13, 2026, at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, The Netherlands.
2025 TCU Men's Golf Postseason Hype
Sunday, May 11
Another round at Colonial for TCU
Wednesday, October 02
Gustav Frimodt talking about his time with TCU Men's Golf
Friday, June 21
Big 12 Men's Golf Championship Recap
Friday, April 26
