THE MODERATOR: Hi, everyone. Welcome to the 2026 Solheim. We are here with U.S. captain, Angela Stanford, and her three assistants, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lang, and Kristy McPherson. We'll open with a question to each of them, then we'll come to the room, and then we'll go online to our -- those joining us virtually.
Angela, I will start with you. You've got -- you had your team set for two weeks now. You've had them all together for the last few days. Why is this group so well suited to win it here?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, first off, we are happy to be here, excited to get the week going. I think this team, there are a couple different reasons why I think they're well suited for this week. I think they're very mentally tough. They don't let things bother them. They let things kind of roll off their back if something doesn't go the way they planned and they seem really focused.
So along with that, they're also very relaxed. So there's a lot of good things that have happened the last week and a half and they seem to really be gelling and they seem to be on the same page and it's been a lot of fun.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks. Paula, you've got an incredible record in Solheims. Now as assistant, what are you passing along to the players this week from all that experience?
PAULA CREAMER: There's just something about this week, I think, that brings the best out of people, being on a team, being with 12 girls. I've had really good partners too. So you have to give credit to that.
But I think just the experience. I've played in seven of 'em overseas and in the States. In the States was my first one, which I couldn't have had a better experience. Especially for the rookies, for Auston and Lindy, this is their first time doing this and trying to just keep their eyes so wide open with -- you know, embrace everything. We always say there's no bad question. We've been through it all.
But just the experience part of where I was at in matches, line-ups, things like that, you know, that I feel like I got lucky. But it was always such a -- it's the best week by far every two years of our career, for sure.
THE MODERATOR: Brittany, you were a part of the last U.S. team to win on European soil back in 2015. What do you take from that week that you're applying to the team this week?
BRITTANY LANG: Yeah, I would say -- I mean, we all know it is hard to win over here. I would say to tell them, you know, the silence is key. But I think the most important thing is to remember it is still golf, it's just golf, but to build on their own energy and morale, right, birdies and their own American spirit and morale and chemistry, to just build on that and create their own energy that way.
THE MODERATOR: Kristy, you debuted in the Solheim on a winning team in 2009. We've got two rookies on the squad this year. What are you relaying to them from that experience of being on a winning team in your debut?
KRISTY McPHERSON: I mean, mainly, like PC said, just soak it all up. It is so much fun. I just had the best time with my girls in the practice round. Like, it's such a fun week. Just enjoy every minute, work hard at the golf course, but be able to enjoy it and lean on your teammates, lean on your captains.
Like PC said, there's no bad questions. Just go out there and play golf and just enjoy the walk.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you. Now we'll open it up to the room.
Q. Paula, I got to talk about the hat. Explain this. Where did it come from? What's the energy with the cowboy hat?
PAULA CREAMER: So this was a gift from our players and the caddies. Last night we got cowboy hats because of this one right here (indicating.) They wanted to bring in some Texas into the team, a little yeehaw action. So we also got some really cool cowboy boots as well. Those didn't make an appearance today.
But, yeah, it was really cool. They gave it to us all last night. We all have kind of different things on our hats too, which is special. They made it very customized for all of our little characteristics.
Q. Angela, obviously had a couple days of practice under your team's belt so far. Who stood out to you and why have they stood out so far?
ANGELA STANFORD: Wow, I think Auston Kim's been pretty impressive. I think it's going to be fun for the crowds to obviously watch all 24 women, but to see them up close like this, and even, you know, I've seen her play, but then to just be standing in the same fairway and watch one of her golf balls take off, your like, Wow, that's different.
So, I mean -- and it's kind of been everybody. They all seem to be in a good space. I feel like we're still kind of getting to that point where everybody's just kind of -- you know, we're not peaking yet. They're just kind of getting settled, they're trying to learn the golf course, and they're hitting great shots. So it's been fun to watch.
Q. Angela, your thoughts on how to get the team ready. When you fly over to Europe, there's so much made of what do you do, what do you not do, how do you get adjusted to the time change, the food, all that good stuff. What is sort of your philosophy about that?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, the good news is we are a worldwide tour now, so they're pretty good at it. They're pretty good at traveling. For us, I thought it was important to hang out in Amsterdam on Sunday and keep everybody awake and moving, and at the same time create some memories. We're trying to stay hydrated. They got a couple of gifts that helped them sleep (laughing).
But I think they know how to handle themselves, and we're just trying to help 'em do that. If they need something, we try to make sure we have it. We've asked 'em for feedback, how they're doing. We're very fortunate the hotel's really nice. The beds seem to be really good. So I think they do it well when they travel week-in and week-out on tour. So, yeah, we've been very lucky this week.
Q. For any of you, was there any kind of key when you come over for a Solheim to kind of making sure you guys are at your best?
BRITTANY LANG: I always thought it was important for the captains to make sure the players were getting a lot of rest. I think Angela's done it well Sunday keeping us up. Moving around was great. And then we've had some earlier nights just to get rest. I would say the rest part for me was always the big thing, and Angela's done a good job with that.
Q. The biking culture, I know, Angela, you've been on a bike. Does anybody want to speak about their experience, either what you think about the bike culture here or if you've been on a bike and what that was like.
PAULA CREAMER: I've been on the back of this one's bike over here.
Q. Would you like to talk about the tandem bike?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think it's fun. It's awesome.
PAULA CREAMER: When you're driving the bike, but when you're on the back, it's not so fun.
ANGELA STANFORD: It's unique to this area of the world and it's nice to be a part of it for a week, and to watch people. When we were walking around Amsterdam, just seeing people on their bikes. You know, obviously, we don't see that as much in America, but it's fun to be a part of and get to visit the culture this week.
Q. Angela, if I may, could I just ask a question about Angel? Because obviously she's had, it sounds like, a horrific, horrible medical condition. How is she and will she definitely play?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, she's here. She's playing -- she's played two practice rounds. She will play because that's -- in the spirit of this competition, Anna and I, every time we play a Solheim there's a captain's agreement. And the captain's agreement we stipulate who should play how many matches.
So in the spirit of the competition, we decided -- I think it's been awhile now for the Solheim, that, you know, players will play once before Sunday for sure. So we're still trying to gauge and we're watching, but she's here. She's very happy to be here and she's playing.
Q. We're trying to see if there's a favorite. We just can't put a bit of paper between either of the sides. Just wondering the challenge of when, on paper -- I know the game's not played on paper, but when you have that challenge of the competitive nature and maybe why you think Team USA has the edge.
ANGELA STANFORD: Wow. Well, I think, again, when you're playing at a high level -- like, 24 of these women are going to play at a very high level, it's just how much can you handle emotionally. It's going to be tough out there. Obviously, we're in Europe, they're going to have a ton of fans. But how tough are we. It comes down to that.
When you play in Europe, you have to be mentally tough, and you have to be together as a team. I think they have it. I really do. I think they're all on the same page. We've talked about it leading up to this event. We're going to talk about it again before we go out and play Thursday night. But they have it. There's nothing that I need to say to them because they want to win too.
So again, I think the golf itself is so good that you're going to see great golf. It's just what do you have deep down that can get you over the finish line.
Q. How did you determine who was going to go out and practice together over these first couple days?
ANGELA STANFORD: I threw 'em in a hat. I'm just kidding (laughing).
I think it's been -- we've been working on this since March. We have been watching them, we've been watching their numbers. I think it's just been a combination of who we have seen in the past, also things that have worked well, their personalities. I've been tracking who they have been playing with all year, their scores. We get feedback from 'em, who do you want to play with, who do you not want to play with. Like, I have all that confidentially, and I think that is kind of -- and I've asked the assistants. We're kind of mixing it up these days. Like, they're going with different players, just to see, you know, who feels more comfortable with who once we start on Friday. But I think for the most part we've been working on this since March.
Q. You mentioned that you felt like the team's moving in a good place, but they haven't peaked yet. What does peaking look like to you and when are you hoping to get there?
ANGELA STANFORD: (Laughing.) Peaking would hopefully be leading each session, and I hope it starts Friday morning.
Q. Along the same lines, I feel like talking about data and how those were affecting the pairings were a huge topic of conversation two years ago. Is that still the main driver of how you're making your decisions or are there some other methodologies in place?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think so. I'm probably 50/50. I think we've used the numbers to get us to this point and to get us into practice rounds. And then this week is more about what you see with your eyes because there are more emotions, there's a lot of other things going on in play that -- week-in and week-out they're individuals playing golf, and this week it's a team sport.
So there's a lot of different other elements that play into that. But, again, I just think we're in a really good spot. A lot of it is how we play the golf course. I am very, very big on course management and playing golf courses, so we've kind of used both the data and then which holes -- which players play better maybe on certain holes. So I'm real big on course management.
But it's been kind of a mixture of data and course management, and then this week is gut and eyeballs.
Q. On a lighter note, back on the topic of bikes, has anyone almost been hit yet just by not watching while crossing?
KRISTY McPHERSON: Why you pointing to me? No, you got to be on your toes. I mean, they get the right-of-way, which I didn't know if we're walking on the sidewalk. But, no, it's a little dangerous if you're not paying attention and I don't like to pay attention a lot. So but, yeah, it's fun. You got to be on your toes.
Q. Angela and Paula, you've seen it all, been in a lot of country, can you tell us something about playing a Solheim in the Netherlands and maybe also about the course and the first tee?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, look, I've enjoyed, this is my third time to the Netherlands since last September and it's beautiful. It's a beautiful country. The first time we were here in September last year we visited Amsterdam and spent some time. I was just, I was kind of blown away. Like it's gorgeous. It's a fun city to walk around. We did do the tandem bike, that is a life-long memory. Yeah, and then the golf course, I didn't know what to expect. I mean, again, this is the first time we're going to host the largest women's golf tournament in the world in a new place, so just some uncertainty there because we had never been here. And it's been great. It's a beautiful host. I think the more I see it, the more I'm catching different parts of it and different aspects of the golf course. So I love the par-3s. The par-3s are awesome. The par-5s are going to be a ton of fun to watch for spectators. So I think it's going to be a great host this week, Bernardus.
PAULA CREAMER: Last September was the first time I've ever been to the Netherlands as well. Amsterdam just blew my mind. All of the history, learning about why the buildings are tilted, why the gardens are on top of the buildings. I mean it was just so fascinating. I don't know, I think that was a really fun thing to do when we got here. When we did it in September we both said, we have to have the girls do this. Because this is a part of our job that we don't really get to do that much because we stay hotel/golf course and it was just really important to go and see that city. It just took my breath away, honestly. And this good being is great. It's in really good shape. It's beautiful. It's a great walk. I think that for hosting the first event here in the Netherlands for this, this is unreal. I think they have done a great job. We're all really looking forward to Friday. But I think it's just been, I think the people here are really genuinely nice and don't care if I have my cowboy hat on. I think it's pretty cool to be able to say that this was the first one that I've been a part of here.
Q. (No Microphone.)
ANGELA STANFORD: Oh, yeah. Yeah.
PAULA CREAMER: The first tee is awesome.
ANGELA STANFORD: Great build out. Am I correct, did they have to add seats? I think they made it bigger. So that's a good sign. I tell people you got to be a part of that experience Friday morning. So hopefully it will be rocking.
Q. How is the golf course? What do you see how does it suit the U.S. team's games, I watched a few balls hit into greens it seems like they're pretty receptive. Just overall thoughts on the golf course from a strategy perspective?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think I get the feeling it's going to play firm and fast, even if it, if we get some rain, I still think it's going to play firm and fast. I think that's how it's meant to be played. I think we're in a good spot because we have some high-ball hitters. So coming into these greens a little bit steeper is ideal. Again, they seem a little soft, but it's Tuesday. So I think superintendents have done a great job. He knows this course better than anybody. So I trust that the position it's in right now, it just means he's ready for what's coming at the end of the week. So, yeah, I think the height that we hit, we know our ladies hit it, I think is going to come in handy here.
Q. What are the leadership qualities that you bring to the captain's role and how do you think your team would describe your personality?
ANGELA STANFORD: (Laughing). Fun? Cool? Yeah (laughing). I would hope that they would say I'm consistent. I think coming into it I wanted to be consistent. I told 'em I wanted to be authentic and honest with 'em. Hopefully I've done that. I think if you can, if I can do that, then I don't know what other qualities they would say I have, but consistency was key for me.
Q. Do you know how tough your team is or do you think that's something that you won't find out until this weekend?
ANGELA STANFORD: I got a pretty good idea. I've seen examples of it as we've gone along. When I thought maybe they would flinch and they haven't. And it's just little things. They haven't complained, they haven't, they have been out there working hard for two solid days after flying in on Sunday. So I have a pretty good gut feeling that they're pretty tough.
Q. Can winning a Solheim trump anything that you've done this year and on the inverse, what would that mean?
PAULA CREAMER: Yes, any time you're winning, definitely. I think the biggest thing for this -- we want to win for her too. I think all those, the 12 girls know that, the 12 caddies know that, we know that. And this is by far Angie's favorite week that she's been a part of and playing it or even with the assistants the last couple of years. And now for her to be a captain, it's awesome to watch. I've been on teams with Angela and it is, it's so cool to see this side of her as well and how much she bleeds red, white, and blue, so winning this week, yes, that would be a checkmark for that one for a high win.
BRITTANY LANG: Yes, that would definitely be the coolest thing that I have done this year, for sure. And like Paula said, I know Angela, I'm so happy and honored to be here to support her, but I have never seen somebody work so hard. It's been a good learning experience for me. She's literally poured everything into this week and it's been amazing to see and, yeah, we definitely want to do it for her.
KRISTY McPHERSON: Here I go fourth again. Yeah, the same thing. Angela's been one of my best friends for a long time. I know how much this means to her. I know she was hoping to get the opportunity to be a captain, and she wanted to be a captain overseas. And which just shows that she loves the challenge and to watch her leadership and her communication with the team, it's been a different side that I didn't even know she had. But, no, it's been fun and we all want to win for her. I mean, we of course we want to win for the United States, we want to win for our family, we want to win for our friends, we want to win for all of the LPGA Tour, all of our fans, but we mainly want to win for Angela.
ANGELA STANFORD: See, I would say I want 'em to win for each other. Seeing that, if we leave this week and we are, you know, blessed enough and lucky enough to be holding the cup, I think that feeling that they're going to have, I mean I've won two in Europe, and there's just not another feeling like it. So I want that for them. Like we know, like it feels so good. So it's really, if I can get them to start trying to -- they're playing for each other but they need to remember that they're playing for each other, because I just want 'em to have that feeling.
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