European Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist has made her four captain’s picks to round of her squad of 12 players who will compete next month at Bernardus Golf in The Netherlands.
Nordqvist made her picks after the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, where German Esther Henseleit leapfrogged Chiara Tamburlini for the final automatic qualifying spot through the Ladies European Tour points list by virtue of her playoff loss to eventual winner Shiho Kuwaki.
The Swede captain chose Irishwoman Leona Maguire and then added three rookies: Julia López Ramirez of Spain, France’s Nastasia Nadaud and England’s Mimi Rhodes.
Maguire will make a fourth-consecutive Solheim Cup appearance, having won 8.5 points in her 12 total matches.
“I’m really excited to be part of Team Europe again in September and I’m happy that Anna has picked me to be on the team,” said Maguire. “I love the Solheim Cup, it brings the best out of my game and I love being part of the team. I can’t wait to represent Europe for the fourth time and to be back on European soil.”
López Ramirez, 23, is in her maiden LET season and thriving in her second LPGA Tour season.
“It’s so cool! I have a lot of respect for Anna and trust her decisions,” said López Ramirez. “I’m living the dream right now. This is what you dream of when you’re a kid to be on the team and be able to experience it and all the big crowds. I’m on cloud nine. I wanted to get there and the fact I’ve achieved this dream super quick is amazing. I’m so excited.”
Nadaud won her first LET title in 2025 at the season-ending Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España and has consistently been making the cut in major championships in 2026.
“It's unbelievable! If you'd have told me six months ago, I'd be on the European Solheim Cup team, I wouldn't have believed you,” said Nadaud. “It's a dream come true to be able to represent Europe and in a home Solheim Cup on European soil. I'm so excited and proud to be part of Team Europe in September."
Rhodes is one of four rookies on the team following her breakout season in 2025, during which saw her scored three LET victories and the Rookie of the Year award.
“It’s always been a dream and goal of mine to play in the Solheim Cup,” said Rhodes. “Being part of the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2019 showed me what this team means, and to now be selected for the 2026 Solheim Cup is beyond anything I imagined. I’m so proud to represent Team Europe so early in my professional career, and I can’t wait until September.”
The four picks join the eight automatic qualifiers. Henseleit and Charley Hull qualified through the Ladies European Tour Solheim Cup points list. Six others -- Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen -- qualified for the team based on their place in the Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking.
The American team, winners in 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, will be led by Angela Stanford. The team is still to be finalized.
The 2026 Solheim Cup will be played Sept. 11-13.
