Angela Stanford defended her U.S. Solheim Cup pairings after Europe’s 15-13 win, while pointing to putting, preparation and growth in women’s golf.
Angela Stanford left the 2026 Solheim Cup with plenty to evaluate, but the U.S. captain isn’t ready to second-guess the lineup decisions that helped shape a dramatic week at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Europe defeated the United States 15-13, reclaiming the Solheim Cup after the teams entered Sunday singles tied 8-8. Stanford acknowledged the disappointment while defending the logic behind resting players such as Lauren Coughlin, Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang during Saturday’s sessions.
“I don’t think I would have done my lineup different,” Stanford said. “I think Lauren needed the rest. Kupcho needed the rest. Rose needed the rest.”
That decision will undoubtedly be examined after Europe controlled much of Sunday singles. The Europeans secured seven of the available 12 points and closed out the Cup before every match had finished.
Stanford, however, pointed more toward execution than strategy.
“I don’t think we played bad,” she said. “I think we just didn’t make enough putts.”
Putting became one of the central themes of the final day. Stanford later acknowledged that the slower green speeds at Bernardus may have required more emphasis from the American leadership team during preparation.
The U.S. had seemingly seized momentum Saturday evening when Kupcho produced two huge late putts alongside Lindy Duncan, helping the Americans turn their match and square the overall competition at 8-8. That surge didn’t carry over into Sunday, when Europe responded with its strongest session of the week.
Still, Stanford made a point of emphasizing something larger than the scoreboard.
“Thank y’all so much for covering us this week,” she told reporters. “I think the only way we continue to grow is if you guys keep writing about us and covering us.”
Stanford also praised the attention generated on social media, viewing the increased conversation around the event as another sign of progress for women’s golf.
The captain was similarly positive about her players’ chemistry.
“They never wavered,” Stanford said. “They came together, and they pulled through, and they have stuck together the whole time.”
For Stanford and Team USA, there will be tactical questions to answer before the next Solheim Cup. But after another tightly contested international match drew attention far beyond the golf course, Stanford believes the sport itself came away stronger.
