Great Britain and Ireland won the Curtis Cup for the first time in 30 years, defeating the United States, 13-5, at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. The win broke a 13- match winning streak for the United States and was the first win for Great Britain and Ireland on American soil in the series. The United States has won 19 matches in the series to three for Great Britain and Ireland. There have been two ties.

The visitors gained early control of the 1986 match and the Americans never threatened. Great Britain and Ireland won all three foursome matches on the first day. Lillian Behan and Jill Thornhill downed Kandi Kessler and Cindy Schreyer, 7 and 6; Patricia Johnson and Karen Davies defeated Danielle Ammaccapane and Dottie Mochrie, 2 and 1; and Belle Robertson and Mary McKenna edged Kim Gardner and Kathleen McCarthy, 1 up. Great Britain and Ireland won the first three singles matches in the afternoon. The Americans earned their first points when Kessler defeated Vicki Thomas, 3 and 2, and Schrayer edged Claire Hourihane, 2 and 1. Mochrie halved her match with Davies to make the score of 6 ½- 2 ½ in favor of the British and Irish after the first day.

Great Britain and Ireland won two foursomes matches on the second day and halved the third to build its lead to 9- 3. Behan and Thornhill defeated Shannon and Kim Williams, 5 and 3, and Johnson and Davies edged Ammaccapane and Mochrie, 1 up. Americans Gardner and McCarthy halved their match against Robertson and McKenna. Great Britain and Ireland clinched the victory when Johnson defeated McCarthy, 5 and 3. The only victory for the Americans in the second day's singles came when Gardner edged Behan, 1 up. Johnson won four points for Great Britain and Ireland in the Match while Robertson scored 3 ½. Gardner and Kessler each earned 1 ½ points to lead the United States side. Diane Bailey served as Captain for Great Britain and Ireland. Judy Bell was Captain for the United States.