Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn Lead Deep U.S. Women’s Ski Team into Olympic Year
Mikaela Shiffrin is no longer the sole American woman consistently standing on the World Cup podium. The U.S. women’s alpine ski team just completed its most successful season in over a decade, with five different athletes earning World Cup podium finishes and four women winning medals at the World Championships.
“It’s an incredible time to be part of the U.S. women’s ski team, whether in technical or speed events,” said Paula Moltzan, who had two World Cup bronze medals this season and finished third in the giant slalom at the World Championships. “We keep building on each other’s success, and hopefully, we can carry this momentum into the early races of next season and eventually into the Olympics.”
A New Era for U.S. Women’s Skiing
For the past 40 years, the United States has always had at least one dominant female skier. Icons like Tamara McKinney, Picabo Street, Lindsey Vonn, and Mikaela Shiffrin have carried the torch. However, there was often only a limited number of elite skiers at the top. In the latter part of Vonn’s first career, it was a two-woman show between her and Shiffrin. When Vonn retired in 2019, Shiffrin became the lone force keeping U.S. women’s ski racing in the global spotlight.
But that has changed.
When Lauren Macuga won the super-G in St. Anton, Austria, she became the first U.S. woman outside of Shiffrin or Vonn to claim a World Cup victory since Alice McKennis won a downhill race in St. Anton in 2013. Additionally, Breezy Johnson’s gold medal in the downhill at the World Championships was the first world title in an individual event by a U.S. woman outside of Shiffrin or Vonn since Hilary Lindh’s downhill victory in 1997.
Vonn, who made a stunning return to racing this season after a six-year retirement, also added to the U.S. team’s depth by claiming silver in the super-G at the World Cup Finals.That podium finish made her the fifth different American woman to place in the top three of a World Cup race this season, marking the strongest U.S. women’s team since the 2012-13 season, when seven different American women reached a podium.
The Rise of a Competitive U.S. Team
Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic champion, still led the charge this season, winning four World Cup races and securing a third-place finish in slalom.This was particularly impressive given that she missed two months of competition after suffering an oblique injury in a crash at Killington, Vermont.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Macuga showed immense promise, adding a downhill silver medal to her super-G victory. Johnson also continued to shine, winning a bronze medal in the downhill.
Vonn, who underwent partial knee replacement surgery before making her comeback in November, expressed optimism about the younger generation.
“We always hope to see new talent rise through the ranks,” Vonn said. “I think we’ve been waiting for a skier like Lauren Macuga to emerge, and it’s fantastic to see her success at such a young age. She has a long career ahead of her, and we need that energy on the team.
“Our technical squad is also incredibly strong right now,” Vonn continued. “It’s exciting to see because this kind of depth is essential to keeping U.S. ski racing at a high level.”
Building a Winning Culture
While the cost of competing in ski racing which requires athletes to travel across Europe and North America for five months has long been a challenge, experts say that alone does not explain why the U.S. has struggled to develop depth in past years.
One of the biggest hurdles has been the dynamic of training together as a team while also competing against each other for limited spots in races and on the Olympic roster. However, this current group of U.S. women has figured out how to strike the perfect balance between teamwork and individual competition.
“Finding that middle ground—where you can be a supportive teammate but still push yourself to be the best—is tough,” Shiffrin said. “But this group has done it in a way I’ve never experienced before. It’s really special, and it’s an exciting dynamic heading into next season.”
This team-first mentality has not only propelled podium finishers but also helped others on the team make significant strides.
-Nina O’Brien had her best season yet, finishing in the top 10 four time more than she had in all her previous seasons combined.
– Jacqueline Wiles recorded two top-10 finishes in downhill.
-AJ Hurt cracked the top 20 in both the slalom and giant slalom at the World Championships, finishing 13th and 19th, respectively.
“It’s been so much fun,” O’Brien said. “Every race, someone from our team steps up and delivers, and we’re all pushing each other to be better. That kind of competitive but supportive environment is really cool to be a part of.”
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Olympics
With a deep and talented roster heading into the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics,the U.S. women’s ski team appears more competitive than ever. Unlike in previous years, where Shiffrin or Vonn carried the team’s Olympic hopes, this new era features **multiple podium contenders** across both technical and speed disciplines.
As the team gears up for the 2025-26 World Cup season, their goal is clear: keep the momentum going and make history at the 2026 Winter Olympics
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