Five things to know from the Solheim Cup, where Nelly Korda and Team USA has plenty of 'unfinished business'

For the second time in the span of a year, the best from the U.S. and Europe will clash for what's become a nail-biting affair. After last year's first-ever tie, Team USA hasn't won a Solheim Cup since 2017. This year's contest, taking place just outside D.C. Sept. 13-15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, will see two similar teams from last year's event in Spain and the same captains in Stacy Lewis and Suzann Pettersen.

"We drew a lot of great experiences from last year," said Pettersen. "I think what we learned the most is being precise. Giving quite clear messages goes a long way. Being transparent is great. But at the same time, they kind of look for somebody who can make decisions, the players. So there's a combination."

While Pettersen's team has plenty of experience with Solheim success, most of America's best looks to taste victory for the first time.

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Here are five things to know from Tuesday in Gainesville, Virginia:

Family mojo

Last month, Nelly Korda's younger brother Sebastian won the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, 32 years after his father won the same title, then known as the Sovran Bank Classic. They became the first father-son duo to win the same ATP event.

Could the D.C. area bring No. 1 Korda some badly needed Solheim fortune?

"This year has kind of been a crazy year, I feel like," said Korda, who won six times in the first half of the season before things took a drastic turn. "Bradenton feels like a lifetime ago."

Korda's overall Solheim record is 7-4-1. The 26-year-old has yet to play on a winning team in three consecutive appearances.

'Unfinished business'

Only two players on this year's Team USA roster know what it feels like to win a Solheim Cup: Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee. For those who've only been around since 2019, it's been a tough stretch.

Megan Khang said the motto of this year's team is "unfinished business."

"Some people have asked me what one word would describe Team USA this year, and I'm just going to say 'hungry' because Nelly and I obviously being on the same amount of Solheim Cups and not necessarily getting the job done last year kind of leaves not necessarily the best taste in your mouth," said Khang, who is playing in her fourth Cup.

"Luckily we didn't have to wait two years. We have this year to kind of get back at it, and I can tell you now we're more hungry than ever."

Monday surprise

It can feel like an eternity for Friday to get here Solheim Cup week, but the uber-organized Lewis made sure to pack in some early excitement. On Monday, Team USA toured the Pentagon and enjoyed a surprise visit from former President Barack Obama during a team dinner.

"It's pretty incredible he took time out of his day to come meet all of us," said Khang. "I know he plays out of here, so just the appreciation for the time he gave up to come see us is incredible."

Korda was impressed that he knew everyone's name.

"Yesterday was, I think, one of the coolest things we were able to do," said assistant captain Paula Creamer, "go to the Pentagon, actually be looking at the Memorial there.

"We were talking actually, Angela (Stanford) and I, like how crazy is it that we are here this week representing the United States? September 11th is tomorrow. We are here as a team."

Rookie week

Esther Henseleit is one of only four rookies in this year's Solheim Cup, with each team fielding two in Virginia. She's joined by Albane Valenzuela, the first Swiss player to ever play in a Solheim, and Americans Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel.

Henseleit, winner of the silver medal at the Paris Olympics, played her way onto the team via the European Solheim Cup points standings. She finished runner-up at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open and the Aramco Ladies International and placed seventh at the Chevron Championship.

She'll have her boyfriend, Reece Phillips, on the bag this week.

"It's just great to have someone with you all the time who really has your back," said Henseleit, who played on the 2017 Junior Solheim Cup team with 2024 Solheim teammates Linn Grant and Maja Stark.

Behind-the-scenes special

LPGA player Emma Talley, a former U.S. Women's Amateur and NCAA champion, has taken on the role of "Behind the Scenes" creator for the U.S., giving fans access to scenes from the team room, hotel and inside the ropes. Talley also appears regularly on the tour-produced podcast "Inside the LPGA" alongside journalist Adam Stanley and LPGA host Hope Barnett.

Talley's clips can be seen on Instagram, Facebook and X.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Five things to know from the Solheim Cup, where Nelly Korda and Team USA has plenty of 'unfinished business'