Shiffrin Secures Record-Tying Sixth Overall Crystal Globe
On the final day of World Cup Finals, Stifel U.S. Ski Team superstar and the winningest alpine skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin, officially clinched the coveted overall FIS Crystal Globe, tying the all-time women’s record with her sixth career title.
The season-long battle for the overall came down to the final race, with Germany’s Emma Aicher still mathematically in contention heading into the giant slalom. With everything on the line, the pressure was high.
Racing on a fresh track under favorable conditions, Shiffrin sat 17th after the first run, while Aicher was fourth. The scenario was clear: Aicher needed a victory, paired with Shiffrin finishing outside the top 15 to claim the Globe. And when it mattered most, Shiffrin delivered.
“I had a weird feeling yesterday like, it's too good to be true because I was thinking that it could go either way,” said Shiffrin. “Emma's first run was spectacular but my second run felt better. It’s just crazy.”
Putting down a composed and determined second run, Shiffrin surged to 11th place—more than enough to secure the title and etch her name alongside Annemarie Moser-Pröll as the only women in history to win six overall Crystal Globes.
Shiffrin was visibly emotional in the finish, tearing up with her teammates, family and fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.
“I really imagined that I would get no points and that Emma would win the race,” admitted Shiffrin. “I believe that there’s a world where this would happen and it's happened before at World Cup Finals… I was not taking that for granted, but I still needed to find the energy to push forward. So it was this moment of emotion. Those were my first tears since Cortina.”
The U.S. women backed up the performance with a strong team showing in the final giant slalom. Nina O'Brien led the way in eighth, followed by AJ Hurt in 18th and Paula Moltzan in 25th. Moltzan and O’Brien also secured career-best season-long giant slalom rankings, with Moltzan finishing sixth and O’Brien 10th.
“I think it was a solid season,” said O’Brien. “I feel like I had a lot of good runs, some good races, which showed me that I can be in touch with that top group, but I wouldn't say I'm totally satisfied either. I’m definitely hungry for more.”
Adding to the historic day, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team women were officially awarded the Nations Cup, marking the team’s first victory in 44 years and underscoring the depth and strength of the program.
With the World Cup season now complete, the team will take a brief reset before turning focus toward preparations for the 2026-27 season.
RESULTS
Women's giant slalom
