Skyler Woodward’s USA team will return to London’s Alexandra Palace as they attempt to win just their third Mosconi Cup title in the last 16 years.
Playing captain Woodward named an unchanged American team, consisting of world number one Fedor Gorst, Shane van Boening, Tyler Styer and Billy Thorpe.
Woodward, Van Boening, Styer and Thorpe were all on Johan Ruijsink’s American team when they famously stunned Marcus Chamat’s European side at Alexandra Palace seven years ago.
Skyler Woodward
WNT ranking: 28
FargoRate: 814
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $21,900
Mosconi Cup experience: 10 appearances (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Overall: 29-35
Singles: 10-10
Doubles: 12-19
Named the MVP on both most recent occasions that the USA have lifted the cup, Skyler Woodward is undoubtedly the character to spur his team onto what would be a shock victory.
The former Derby City Classic champion, who makes his eleventh consecutive appearance this year, is the only American player to hold a positive singles record, and he notably potted the winning ball against Joshua Filler in Las Vegas in 2019.
Fedor Gorst
WNT ranking: 1
FargoRate: 847
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $184,950
Mosconi Cup experience: Three appearances (2020, 2023, 2024)
Overall: 7-11
Singles: 2-3
Doubles: 3-5
Fedor Gorst is the only player in Mosconi Cup history to have played on both teams, switching allegiances in London two years ago. He received a hostile reception on his first outing in the stars and stripes and that will presumably be the case again.
Gorst had won the World Masters, US Open and World Championship heading into last year’s Mosconi Cup, but the world number one is without a WNT major title this season and somewhat struggled at times by his standards.
Shane van Boening
WNT ranking: 13
FargoRate: 846
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $41,950
Mosconi Cup experience: 18 appearances (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Overall: 49-64
Singles: 17-28
Doubles: 22-26
Shane van Boening potted the winning ball as the Americans reigned victorious at Alexandra Palace in 2018, although that remains one of few memorable Mosconi Cup moments for one of the greatest players ever to wield a cue.
Van Boening and playing in American colours is a mysterious case as he’s rarely managed to transform his best pool into the arena in his 18 appearances on the team. The five-time US Open champion does hold a relatively adequate record in doubles matches nonetheless.
Tyler Styer
WNT ranking: 26
FargoRate: 790
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $23,350
Mosconi Cup experience: Six appearances (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Overall: 15-16
Singles: 3-6
Doubles: 7-7
Tyler Styer has been a shining light in a rather bleak modern-day Mosconi Cup history for the Americans. He beat one of Europe’s most successful players in Niels Feijen in his very first singles match in 2018, as well as later beating Joshua Filler in London in 2021.
UK Open semi-finalist Styer is statistically his team’s most efficient doubles player, notably winning five of his first six doubles matches. Despite losing six of his last eight since then, his 7-7 record remains a particularly impressive one.
Billy Thorpe
WNT ranking: 33
FargoRate: 778
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $18,450
Mosconi Cup experience: Five appearances (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024)
Overall: 12-15
Singles: 3-4
Doubles: 5-8
Billy Thorpe was perhaps fortunate to receive a captain’s pick for the second successive year ahead of Lukas Fracasso-Verner, although his persona and exuberance around the table are characteristics that bode him well in the Mosconi Cup environment.
Thorpe has been crowned a Mosconi Cup champion on two occasions, with his record being a relatively decent one. He’s certainly offered more than just spurring his team on since making his debut in 2017.
