Breezy Johnson / GEPA picture
How and when to watch. In this article, you will find the full Women’s Downhill start list, field analysis, season standings, and key contenders most likely to challenge for the podium and who is in contention for the season title.
The 2025–26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Finals downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway, will decide the downhill crystal globe, and it all comes down to one run on Olympiabakken.
This is one of the most compelling downhill finales in recent memory. Four skiers remain mathematically in contention, and the decisive group will start within a tight window that will define the race.
The field is set at 24 athletes:
- Lindsey Vonn does not start after her Olympic injury
- There is no Junior World Champion entry after the downhill was canceled
- Mikaela Shiffrin has chosen not to race, opting against a strategic start that could have added valuable overall points
Who Can Win the Downhill Crystal Globe?
Top Five — World Cup Downhill Standings (after 8 of 9 races)
1st 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA, 1997, Head) — 436 pts
2nd 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003, Head) — −28
3rd 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA, 1984, Head) — −36 (not racing)
4th 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER, 1996) — −85
5th 🇦🇹 Cornelia Hütter (AUT, 1992, Head) — −92
Four skiers remain mathematically alive.
- Pirovano controls her destiny — a 2nd place guarantees the title
- Aicher can win the globe with a victory
- Weidle-Winkelmann and Hütter remain within reach
Before her injury, Lindsey Vonn dominated the season and was on track for a ninth career downhill title at age 41. Her absence leaves the title fight wide open.
When Does the Race Get Decided? — Top 10 WCSL Downhill (ordered by bib)
In downhill, the top ten WCSL group defines the race, and in Kvitfjell, the outcome will most likely be decided within this block.
- Bib 6 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER, 1996) — WCSL DH Rank: 6
- Bib 7 🇨🇭 Corinne Suter (SUI, 1994, Head) — WCSL DH Rank: 10
- Bib 8 🇮🇹 Nicol Delago (ITA, 1996) — WCSL DH Rank: 9
- Bib 9 🇮🇹 Sofia Goggia (ITA, 1992, Atomic) — WCSL DH Rank: 7
- Bib 10 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA, 1996, Atomic) — WCSL DH Rank: 3
- Bib 11 🇦🇹 Cornelia Hütter (AUT, 1992, Head) — WCSL DH Rank: 4
- Bib 12 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003, Head) — WCSL DH Rank: 1
- Bib 14 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA, 1997, Head) — WCSL DH Rank: 2
- Bib 15 🇳🇴 Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR, 1998, Head) — WCSL DH Rank: 8
- Bib 16 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Wiles (USA, 1992) — WCSL DH Rank: 11
This section of the start list will decide the podium and the crystal globe.
What Does the Season Podium Table Tell Us?
| Venue | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Moritz DH1 | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA) | 🇦🇹 Magdalena Egger (AUT) | 🇦🇹 Mirjam Puchner (AUT) |
| St. Moritz DH2 | 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER) | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA) | 🇮🇹 Sofia Goggia (ITA) |
| Val d’Isère | 🇦🇹 Cornelia Hütter (AUT) | 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER) | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA) |
| Zauchensee | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA) | 🇳🇴 Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) | 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Wiles (USA) |
| Tarvisio | 🇮🇹 Nicol Delago (ITA) | 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER) | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA) |
| Olympic Cortina | 🥇 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA) | 🥈 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER) | 🥉 🇮🇹 Sofia Goggia (ITA) |
| Soldeu | 🇨🇭 Corinne Suter (SUI) | 🇦🇹 Nina Ortlieb (AUT) | 🇮🇹 Sofia Goggia (ITA) |
| Val di Fassa DH1 | 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA) | 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER) | 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA) |
| Val di Fassa DH2 | 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA) | 🇦🇹 Cornelia Hütter (AUT) | 🇨🇭 Corinne Suter (SUI) |
Season trends
Through eight World Cup races, the women’s downhill season has produced 6 different winners from 5 countries. A total of 13 different athletes from 6 countries have reached the podium.
Podium totals by nation
- 🇺🇸 USA — 7
- 🇦🇹 Austria — 5
- 🇮🇹 Italy — 5
- 🇩🇪 Germany — 4
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland — 2
- 🇳🇴 Norway — 1
The results highlight the depth of the discipline as the season reaches its conclusion, with multiple athletes still capable of influencing the outcome in the final race.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team: Depth and Breakthroughs
- Bib 10 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA, 1996, Atomic)
- Bib 16 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Wiles (USA, 1992)
- Bib 20 🇺🇸 Allison Mollin (USA, 2004, Head)
Three active racers represent the Stifel U.S. Ski Team in the World Cup Finals downhill, a strong reflection of the program’s depth in the speed disciplines this season.
For Allison Mollin, the Finals appearance marks a major breakthrough. She scored the first World Cup points of her career this season, and qualifying for the Finals underscores her progression to competing at the highest level.
Notably, four American women qualified overall, but Lindsey Vonn will not start after her Olympic injury. Before that crash, she had been the dominant force in downhill this season and was on track for a remarkable ninth career downhill crystal globe at age 41.
Final Word: One Run Decides the Season
Everything comes down to one race.
- Four skiers remain mathematically alive
- The decisive WCSL group starts within a tight window
- The margin for error is gone
On Olympiabakken, the best athletes will push the limit. Strength, balance, and execution under pressure will decide the outcome.
The 2025–26 Women’s World Cup downhill title will be won — or lost — in a single run.
Click images to enlarge
The women’s downhill takes place on Saturday, March 21st and begins at 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT. Fans in Great Britain can watch the race at 11:30.
- 🇺🇸 United States: Live coverage and replay on Ski and Snowboard Live
- 🇨🇦 Canada: Stream on CBC Sports
- 🇬🇧 Great Britain: Races air live on Discovery+
Daily Program Women’s Downhill
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Women’s Downhill Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
