The 2026 Solheim Cup may still be far away, but talks of what Team USA may look like have already begun. The biennial event will take place in the Netherlands for the first time in September. Team USA’s captain, Angela Stanford, has started to show her cards, and one of them has sparked fresh curiosity about Lexi Thompson being on the team.

“I think, in my opinion, Lexi has earned the right to always be in consideration,” said Stanford, ahead of the 2025 CME Group Tour Championship on Tuesday. “That’s the ultimate,” she added, pointing out she wished she had that. “I think if Lexi plays to her abilities, I would be crazy to leave her home,” she declared, almost feeling sure of Lexi Thompson being on the team.

The 30-year-old has played in every Solheim Cup representing Team USA since 2013, and holds an impressive 10-10-7 record. In her seven appearances, Lexi Thompson has earned 13.5 points for the US. Her most wins were in 2023, before the Solheim Cup was switched back to even-numbered years, where she won 3 out of 4 matches. She has been a steady and powerful presence for Team USA, bringing valuable experience to the table. Despite the record, Lexi’s selective playing schedule may raise questions.

Lexi announced her retirement from a full-time schedule last year, but later had to clarify. It was a decision made that would allow her to focus on her personal life, like her wedding, in March. When asked if she would make another appearance at the Solheim Cup, Lexi Thompson wasn’t hesitant.

She admitted it’s “always on her mind and has played a huge role in her career” at the CME Group Tour Championship this week. “I think Angela knows that, but we’ll see…There are a lot of important things in my life.”

Thompson, too, is at the CME Group Tour Championship this week despite having only 12 starts this season. But her impressive finishes at the 2025 Dow Championship (2nd) & the Meijer LPGA Classic (tied 4th) earned her a coveted spot among the top-60 at the Tiburon Golf Course in Naples this week.

For Angela Stanford, this is her first run as captain, but she’s been around enough to know the kind of players she wants in her lineup. And when it comes to Thompson, she knows exactly what she’s getting. However, with Lexi Thompson’s semi-retirement status, the question arises: How does one make it to the Solheim Cup team?

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How would Lexi Thompson qualify for Team USA?

The path to the 2026 Solheim Cup is clear, but it’s competitive. Team USA will feature 12 players, seven of whom will qualify automatically through Solheim Cup points. Then, two will earn spots via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, and three will be via captains’ picks.

The points for the Cup have been accumulating since the 2024 FM Championship and will continue through the summer of 2026, though the final qualifying event has not yet been confirmed. For Lexi Thompson, there are multiple routes.

She could earn enough points through her selective schedule, which remains flexible thanks to her 52nd ranking on the Race to CME points list. Or she could secure one of the two world-ranking spots if her form stays steady.

Her results this past season, including top-15 finishes at both the KPMG Women’s PGA (T-12) and the Chevron Championship (T-14), certainly help that cause. And even if she doesn’t qualify automatically, Angela Stanford’s early comments make it clear she’d be a strong candidate for one of the three captain’s picks.

With the 2026 Solheim Cup getting closer, Thompson may add a few key events later next year as prep, especially since she skipped the Scottish Open and AIG Women’s British Open this season. She’s also likely to tee it up at the 2026 Chevron Championship in April, a place where she’s won her first and only major in her career. All of this sets her up well to make yet another Team USA appearance.