The 47-year-old will captain Team USA next fall in the Netherlands against a European team led by Anna Nordqvist. Team USA won the latest Solheim Cup back in September with a convincing victory at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club as they head to Europe next fall looking to become the first American team to win on foreign soil in over a decade.
“I’m extremely grateful to be named the next American captain for the Solheim Cup and join a list of my heroes in the game,” Stanford said. “I consider this the pinnacle of my career, and I’m looking forward to leading our players to the Netherlands in 2026.”
Stanford, who won seven times during her LPGA career, played on six Solheim Cup teams, including the last American team to win on foreign soil back in 2015. She has also served as an assistant captain on the last three U.S. Solheim Cup teams.
“Angela Stanford will certainly be a wonderful captain for the U.S. Team at the 2026 Solheim Cup,” said Interim LPGA Commissioner Liz Moore. “Angela has always been a spark on and off the course, a true leader and a dedicated partner to her teammates. It’s now her time to take the helm of the U.S. Team, and I have no doubt that she will lead her squad to a successful week in the Netherlands.”
Ahead of her announcement as the next leader of Team USA, GOLF.com had a chance to sit down with Stanford to discuss her approach for captaining a successful team. Check it out below.
GOLF: Angela, first off, congratulations. Tell me about the emotions you felt when you found out you’d be named captain of the Solheim Cup team.
Angela Stanford: When Liz Moore asked me to be the captain, I just started crying. I cried so much that I couldn’t even say the word “yes.” Liz asked, “I think that’s a yes, right?” And I managed to say, “Yes it is. Yes it is.”
G: Which restaurant were you at when you got the call?
AS: I was at Hotel Drover. I think the restaurant is called 97 West, but honestly, I can’t remember the name of the restaurant inside. But, yeah, I was there.
G: Obviously, you’ve been around the game for a while. What did you learn most from your playing days in the Solheim Cup that you’re going to bring to this captaincy?
AS: I think the most important thing is being in a position where the players don’t have to worry about anything except playing golf. My goal is to do whatever I can to put them in a position to be successful. What can I take care of before they even get there? I’d like to go play the course, hopefully in September during the same dates [this year]. I’d love for the players to go play as well, but I understand that schedules and travel might not allow it. So, if I can play multiple times and help prepare the team that way, that’s something I’ll do. The key is to make sure that when they arrive in the Netherlands, the players don’t have to worry about anything except playing golf. For me, when I played my best in the Solheim Cups, it was because I wasn’t worried about my family’s accommodations or whether I had tickets. All those little details were already taken care of. If I can make it so that the players have nothing to worry about, that’s where I want to be heading into that week.
G: What did you learn most from your predecessor, Stacy Lewis, that you’re going to take with you to the Netherlands?
AS: A lot of what Stacy did was about being prepared, and I think we’re alike in that sense. I wasn’t surprised by how much she wanted to be on top of every detail because I feel the same way. I want to know exactly why things are happening. Being prepared is key because playing in Europe presents a completely different challenge. Fortunately, I had the chance to be at the Solheim Cup in Spain as an assistant, and that gave me a different perspective. When you’re an assistant, you’re focused on the entire team, but when you’re a player, you’re only focused on yourself. That experience really helped me understand the dynamics, and I hope I can get this team so prepared that all they have to do when they get there is play their best golf.
G: Stacy was known for being very analytically driven. How much will you rely on analytics versus a more intuitive, “gut-feeling” approach?
AS: Well, I’m a little older than Stacy, so I consider myself more old school. That said, I absolutely believe in analytics — numbers don’t lie. We’ll definitely use data to inform our decisions, but I also trust my instincts. If something feels right or looks right, I’ll go with it. I think there needs to be a balance. Analytics are valuable, and we’ll use them, but I also believe there’s room for gut-based decisions, especially when it comes to the feel of a situation.
G: Which past captains do you look up to the most, and who will you rely on for guidance?
AS: That’s a tough question because I’ve had the privilege of playing for some amazing captains. Patty, Betsy, Beth, Meg, Rosie, Julie — each one of them taught me something valuable. But the captain who stands out the most is Betsy King in 2007. That year, we were overseas, and it was a different kind of challenge. Betsy was very serious and focused, and she had assistants who helped to soften that a bit. Being overseas presents unique challenges, and I learned a lot from Betsy. While I’ll reach out to all of my former captains for advice, I think I’ll lean on those who captained teams overseas the most.
G: How much different will the preparation be for an overseas Solheim Cup compared to one on home soil?
I’ve always wanted to be a captain overseas because it presents a unique challenge. I grew up playing team sports, and I love the challenge of playing in other people’s arenas. It’s different when you’re playing away, and I think we need to mentally and emotionally prepare for that. Our opponents’ fans will be loud, and there’s a certain energy you feel when you’re not on home turf. Not every player is the same, so I want to make sure each player feels ready to handle that situation in their own way. I love the idea of facing that challenge, and I’m excited about it. We know it will be tough, but we’ll be ready.
G: You stepped back from a full-time playing schedule at the end of last year. How helpful will that be for you, not having to juggle playing and preparing for the Solheim Cup as a captain?
AS: It’s been incredibly helpful. As an assistant captain while still playing, I felt like the balance was a bit easier. But I’m happy with where I am in my career. My full-time playing days on the LPGA tour are behind me, but I’m still connected to the game. I’m able to go out and watch the players, and I know them well. Now, I can fully focus on the Solheim Cup and give my undivided attention to all the details. If I were trying to play while also doing this, I think it would have been really difficult. I’m someone who’s all in or all out, and right now, I’m all in. I’m excited for this next chapter.
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.
