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By Jordan Fuller

2024 may be half over, but there’s still plenty of excitement to come, including the Solheim Cup—the women’s equivalent to the men’s Ryder Cup. Taking place from September 13th to 15th, 2024, it’s set to be an exciting fight between Europe and the USA. Will Europe defend their title, or will the US take the trophy back? Let’s have a look at the predictions. 

Catching Up: The 2023 Solheim Cup 

Last year’s Solheim Cup was a close battle, eventually ending in a tie. Europe has held the cup since 2019, so they retained the trophy, as it can only change hands with a definitive victory. 

In 18 years, this was the first time the tournament ended in a tie, a testament to the talents and determination of the ladies on either team. 

Team USA soared to a 4 – 0 lead, but Europe fought their way back, helped in part by a hole-in-one by Emily Prederson. The USA will be coming in strong this year, focused on finally bringing that trophy back home. 

Setting the Scene for the Solheim Cup 2024 

This year, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia will host the battle. Both teams are fully loaded with exciting players, so we can expect an action-packed tournament that could go either way this year. 

Team Europe 

Captain: Suzann Petterson 

Celine Boutier 

Boutier is currently ranking 6th, the highest of all the ladies on the EU team. She had a busy but successful 2023, winning 4 LPGA Tour events, including 2 playoffs. 2024 has been quieter, with just 4 tournaments played so far and one 2nd place finish. 

Maja Stark 

Ranking 20th, the Swede has six Ladies European Tour wins under her belt, most of them coming in 2022 but one in 2023. Despite no major wins in 2024, she’s climbed up 16 places in the rankings this year, so she’s looking like a promising prospect. 

Charley Hull 

Hull is close behind Boutier on the rankings, at number 8. Back in 2013, she became the youngest ever player in the Solheim Cup. She continued to represent Europe every year since, so it’s no surprise to see her on the team again this year. 

Leona Maguire 

Maguire is the only Irish golfer to win an LPGA Tour event, and she’s also the record-holder for the lowest score ever in the final round of a major championship. In the 2021 Solheim Cup, Maguire became the new holder of the all-time rookie points record in the Solheim/Ryder Cup, with a score of 4.5. A worthy team member! 

Georgia Hall 

Hall already has 4 Solheim Cups already behind her, despite only winning a single major. She’s been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2019 for services to golf, so we’re excited to see what she brings to the Cup this year. 

Linn Grant 

Grant comes from a golfing family, with her grandfather and father both playing professionally. She turned pro in 2021, and in 2022 she became the first woman to win on the European Tour (winning the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed). This year, she won it again, coming back from being 11 shots behind. Her tenacity makes her an excellent addition to this team. 

Carlota Ciganda 

Ciganda has participated in 2 Junior Solheim Cups and this will be her 7th professional Solheim Cup. Since turning pro in 2011, she’s been steadily climbing the rankings. While 2023/24 hasn’t been her best season, her experience will be invaluable for the young team. 

Anna Nordqvist 

Nordqvist brings a wealth of experience to the team, having turned pro back in 2009. She holds the distinction of being the only non-American woman to win a major in three different decades (2009 LPGA Championship, 2017 Evian Championship, and 2021 Women’s British Open), showing her talent getting better with time! 

Madelene Sagstrom 

Sagstrom was handpicked by the captain for the 2021 European Solheim Cup team. She’s climbed 34 places in the rankings this year, indicating that she’s in excellent form, despite no noteworthy wins recently. 

Gemma Dryburgh 

Dryburgh may only have a single major win to her name (LPGA Toto Japan Classic 2022), but she was part of the 2023 Solheim team. She’s quieter on the international tour front than others on the team, but it’s her authenticity that sets her apart in the golfing world. 

Emily Kristine Pedersen 

When it comes to Solheim, Pedersen will be remembered for her legendary hole-in-one at the 2023 Solheim Cup, only the second one in the history of the tournament. She’s an exciting player to watch—can we hope for a repeat of last year? 

Caroline Hedwall 

Hedwall and her twin sister were both part of the winning European team in the 2007 Junior Solheim Cup. In 2011, she landed on the team as a captain’s selection, and again in 2013 (where she became the first player in the history of the tournament to win 5 matches in one competition). In the 2023 Cup, Hedwall came back from 3 down after 12 holes to win by 2, keeping the trophy with the EU team. 

Team USA 

Captain: Stacy Lewis 

Lilia Vu 

Ranking 2nd, Vu had a spectacular 2023, rising to #1 in the rankings before Nelly Korda took the position back. She won 2 majors (Chevron Championship and Women’s British Open) followed by the Annika. She’s fresh off a playoff win at the Meijer LPGA Classic, so you know she’s in exceptional form. 

Nelly Korda 

Korda is currently the #1 female golfer in the world, a position well-deserved. She’s one of the younger players on the team, but she’s got a wealth of experience, including coming back from serious health problems. Her 2024 has been up and down, but we can expect to see the usual exciting performance from Korda at Solheim. 

Allisen Corpuz 

In 2008, Corpuz became the youngest ever qualifier in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, at 10 years, 3 months, and 9 days old. She’s advanced steadily over the years, winning the the U.S. Women’s Open in June last year and being a member of the US 2023 Solheim Cup team. 

Megan Khang 

Khang has been in the Solheim Cup USA team since 2019, and has one professional win to her name: the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open. At just 5’1, Khang’s driving distance is a touch below the LPGA Tour’s average, but her consistency makes up for it. 

Jennifer Kupcho 

Kupcho only turned pro in 2014, but she’s hit some big milestones since then. In 2022, she set a new 54-hole record at the Chevron Championship, beating Jessica Korda by 2 strokes. She followed that win with two more: the 2022 Meijer LPGA Classic and the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. This will be her 3rd Solheim Cup. 

Danielle Kang 

Kang has been playing on the pro circuit since 2011, with multiple wins and accolades in the decade thereafter. In 2022, she took time off after a tumour was discovered on her spine. She returned after treatment, and is currently working her way up the rankings again. This will be her 4th Solheim Cup. 

Andrea Lee 

Lee participated in 2 Junior Solheim Cups and was also a part of the 2023 USA Team. With just 2 professional wins and a 3rd place at the US Women’s Open earlier this year, she’s due for a great game. 

Lexi Thompson 

Thompson set multiple “youngest” records before she even went pro, which happened in 2010 at the age of 15. She’s one of the most experienced players on the team, and she’s set to retire at the end of the 2024 season, making this Solheim Cup a special one for her and for everyone watching. 

Rose Zhang 

Less than two weeks after turning pro, Zhang became the first LPGA player since 1951 to win in her professional debut. She only turned pro in May 2023, winning the Mizuho Americas Open almost immediately. Close to a year later, in May 2024, she won the Cognizant Founders Cup. This will be her second Solheim Cup. 

Ally Ewing 

Ewing has played on the LPGA Tour full-time since 2017. She joined the 2019 Solheim Cup after Stacy Lewis had to pull out due to injury. She’s competed every year since. This year, she’s risen 16 places in the rankings. 

Cheyenne Knight 

Knight has 2 professional wins under her belt and a single Solheim Cup. Her last pro win was in July 2023, the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. She’s due for a win, so here’s hoping for the Solheim! 

Angel Yin 

Yin played in the Junior Solheim Cup team, but she was handpicked by Juli Inkster in 2017, catching the captain’s attention with her “powerful swing and ebullient personality” and becoming the youngest player in the tournament. She’s represented them ever since. 

So, What’s the Prediction? 

It’s hard to say which team might win the 2024 Solheim Cup. One on hand, the Europeans are confident and determined to keep the trophy. But on the other hand, the Americans are driven to win, fueled by their near-win last year. 

With a few months still left until the tournament kicks off, it may come down to what happens in each player’s life, career, and training between now and teeing off at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Should the battle end up being between these players on their very best form, it could go either way. What we do know is that it’s shaping up to be a spectacular tournament! 

About the Author 

Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.