Shiffrin concluded the 2024-25 season where she began — atop a World Cup slalom podium — but the months in between were filled with physical and mental recovery after a late-November injury left her with a puncture wound in her abdomen and cost her two months of competition and, ultimately, a shot at the season title.

This one has been quite a roller coaster,” Shiffrin said of her season. “There’s been some really thrilling moments and some moments where I questioned if I should even be in the sport.” Shiffrin smoothly navigated a bumpy and rut-filled course to easily win the women's slalom Thursday at the World Cup finals.