10 Players to Watch at The U.S. Women's Open, Ranked

The U.S. Women's Open features the most coveted fields year after year. With all eyes on Erin, Wisconsin for the second women's golf major of the year, we've got previous champions returning to defend or regain the top spot next to scrappy players who bested qualifying events to earn their spot with a chip on their shoulder— these are the biggest and brightest stars in golf, all fighting to achieve a feat that will secure their name in history.

There's no telling who will win, when a field is this stacked. There are lots of options to choose from, but there are several names that stand out and who we'll be eyeing a tad more closely at Erin Hills.

Related: How to Watch the 80th U.S. Women's Open

10. Lexi Thompson

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Age: 30

Rolex Ranking Ranking: 56

USWO starts: 17

Best USWO finish: T-2

Lexi Thompson hasn't missed a U.S. Open since she was 12 years old. And if you think a retirement announcement (made a year ago at Lancaster) was going to break the streak you'd be sadly mistaken. At Chevron last month, we all discovered that retirement really meant a more relaxed schedule, but Lexi Thompson has been putting in the same amount of work and it's paying off.

She pleasantly shocked us all being in contention headed into Sunday's final round at Chevron, where she ultimately wound up with a 2-under T-14 finish, but she had made it to 6-under at one point, just two strokes off the leaders at one point.

She's a USWO vet, Chevron showed us a glimpse at prime Lexi, and her length off the tee will be a much needed advantage this week at Erin Hills.

9. Asterisk Talley (a)

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Age: 16

World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR): 16

USWO starts: 1

Best USWO finish: T-44

This 16-year-old has been on every player to watch list we've ever made and for good reason—she's a baller. Asterisk Talley made her debut at last year's USWO, going 70-71 to make the weekend and go on to earn low amateur honors along with Catherine Park and Megan Schofill—who each finished at +12 for the tournament.

Talley was the youngest competitor in the field, telling the NBC sports team that between rounds, she was catching up on homework.

Since then, she's added three am wins to her resume, had two runner-up finishes at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women's Amateur, and had made four more LPGA event starts.

8. Allisen Corpuz

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Age: 27

Rolex Ranking: 38

USWO starts: 6

Best USWO finish: 2023 Champion

The 2023 USWO champion is looking for some redemption this time around. After a missed cut in 2024, Allisen Corpuz just needs to piece together a few rounds of good golf and find herself on top of a leaderboard once more. She finished inside the top 20 at Chevron, and had recorded her first top-10 since last summer, at the Ford Championship, where she narrowly missed out on the playoff.

This former champ has something to prove and we're looking forward to seeing what she'll do.

7. Mao Saigo

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Age: 23

Rolex Ranking: 13

USWO starts: 2

Best USWO finish: T-33

Mao Saigo, the 2025 Chevron Champ, certainly has our attention. She was the unlikely hero who emerged victorious, taking down two major winners in a five-woman playoff on the first extra hole by making birdie. It was a bizarre scene to say the least, but the 23-year-old from Japan showed grit, maintaining composure in the biggest moment of her career. She captured a major title as her maiden win, and the big moments don't seem to phase her, she already has accumulated four top-10 finishes in 15 starts at majors.

6. Lauren Coughlin

Photo by Paul Devlin/Getty Images

Age: 32

Rolex Ranking: 9

USWO starts: 1

Best USWO finish: Missed Cut

Lauren Coughlin came alive in the second half of 2024, quickly rising to being a top-10 player in the world after two wins in three starts. She earned her spot on the winning U.S. Solheim Cup team, and has played some solid and consistent golf to begin her 2025 season. She's made she's 8/9 on cuts made, with three top-10s already.

Her majors record is...puzzling (two top-fives but nine missed cuts) but that was a different golfer. Coughlin's game is at a different level, her confidence has grown, and we're certain her second USWO start will have a different outcome than her debut.

Related: The DIY Training Aid that Turned Lauren Coughlin's Putting Around Before Her Record Year

5. Ruoning Yin

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Age: 22

Rolex Ranking: 4

USWO starts: 3

Best USWO finish: T-12

Ruoning (Ronnie) Yin is quickly becoming one of those players who you can't count out. She already has a major title to her name (the 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship) and had the chance to win the Chevron Championship just weeks ago, but ultimately came up short in the playoff.

At just 22 years old, she knows when to dig deep and play herself into contention.

4. Lydia Ko

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Age: 28

Rolex Ranking: 3

USWO starts: 13

Best USWO finish: T-3

When we talk about generational talent in golf, Lydia Ko must be in the conversation. Her laundry list of accomplishments speaks for itself, but the U.S. Open title remain elusive of the world No. 3. A win this week at Erin Hills will earn Ko what the LPGA recognizes as the career grand slam (winning four out of the five majors).

Ko has three top-10s (including a win at the HSBC Women's World Championship) in seven starts, so we really like her odds to be in the mix this week.

Related: Addie's Baddies: Lydia Ko Gets Her Vogue Moment

3. Nelly Korda

Age: 26

Rolex Ranking: 1

USWO starts: 10

Best USWO finish: T-8

This list wouldn't be complete without the top-ranked player. Comparatively to 2024, 2025 hasn't been the year Nelly Korda would've hoped for—but the past is the past, and no one wonders "if" with the 26 year old, we're all just waiting on when she'll turn on the magic.

Her second round at the Chevron was proof that at the drop of a dime, Korda can turn up the heat. She looked anything but herself during the first round and a few holes into her second round at The Club at Carlton Woods—but she turned it on and rallied to make the cut, finishing inside the top-20.

Last year at Lancaster, was a week to forget when Korda carded an ugly 10 on a par 3. How she starts will be crucial.

2. Yuka Saso

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Age: 23

Rolex Ranking: 35

USWO starts: 6

Best USWO finish: Champion (2024, 2021)

Two titles in four year is beyond impressive. Yuka Saso seems to come alive at the USWO, no matter how well or poorly she seems to be playing.

If you're superstitious: Sasp missed the cut at the Mizuho Americas Open last year and won the USWO a few weeks later. And so far, she's on track. She missed the cut at the 2025 Mizuho as well...will history repeat itself?

1. Jeeno Thitikul

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Age: 22

Rolex Ranking: 2

USWO starts: 3

Best USWO finish: T-6

We've said it before and we'll say it again, currently, Jeeno Thitikul is the best player in women's golf. In her last 15 starts she has two wins (her most recent at Mizuho), 13 top-10s, and is 204-under-par. Stats don't get any better than that.

She's in search of her maiden major title, and it seems very likely that it'll happen at some point this year.