With less than two months to go until the start of the cross-country skiing World Cup, the United States Ski & Snowboard has confirmed its national team for the 2025/2026 winter season.

A total of 21 athletes have been officially named to the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, divided into A, B, and Development teams. The announcement highlights a strong blend of Olympic experience and emerging talent, setting the stage for a highly anticipated winter that includes both the World Cup and the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, Italy.

Leadership and experience

The A Team will again be led by three-time Olympic medalist and seven-time World Championship medalist Jessie Diggins, alongside two-time World Championship medalist Julia Kern and Olympians Rosie Brennan, Gus Schumacher, Ben Ogden, JC Schoonmaker, and Sophia Laukli.

“The Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team is very excited to be entering a season with not only the Winter Olympic Games in February but also the Stifel Lake Placid Finals in Lake Placid, New York, in March,” said Chris Grover, Program Director of the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, in a press release, and added:

“It’s been a very productive preparation season for the team, with excellent conditions for training and increased on-snow training opportunities with the return of the Eagle Glacier facility in Alaska. This team has so many athletes who are poised for personal bests and career-defining results.”

Rising stars and new faces

On the B Team, several athletes return after breakthrough results last season. Kate Oldham makes her debut after strong performances in her first World Cup starts, while dual-sport athlete Samantha “Sammy” Smith — who also plays Division I soccer for Stanford University — returns alongside 2022 Olympian and NCAA champion Novie McCabe.

The men’s B Team features Zanden McMullen, John Steel Hagenbuch, and Jack Young, all of whom earned career-best World Cup results during the 2024/2025 season.

The Development Team showcases the next generation of US skiers, with new additions including Youth Olympic Games medalist Tabor Greenberg and University of Utah skier Lucas Wilmot. They join returning athletes such as NCAA champion Kendall Kramer and Sydney Palmer-Leger.

2025/2026 US Cross-Country Ski Team

A TEAM

Women

• Rosie Brennan
• Jessie Diggins
• Julia Kern
• Sophia Laukli

Men

• Ben Ogden
• James “JC” Schoonmaker
• Gus Schumacher

B TEAM

Women

• Novie McCabe
• Kate Oldham
• Samantha “Sammy” Smith

Men

• John Steel Hagenbuch
• Zanden McMullen
• Jack Young

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Women

• Haley Brewster
• Kendall Kramer
• Sydney Palmer-Leger

Men

• Fin Bailey
• Tabor Greenberg
• Murphy Kimball
• Jack Lange
• Lucas Wilmot

US Cross-Country Ski Team Coaches & Staff

• Anouk Patty: Chief of Sport
• Cross-Country Program Director: Chris Grover
• Head Coach: Matt Whitcomb
• Cross-Country Sport Development Director: Bryan Fish
• World Cup Coach: Jason Cork
• World Cup Coach: Kristen Bourne
• Development Team Coach: Greta Anderson
• Cross-Country Press Officer: Leann Bentley

Service Staff

• Head of Service: Oleg Ragilo
• World Cup Service: Per-Erik Bjørnstad
• World Cup Service: Eli Brown
• World Cup Service: Tim Baucom
• World Cup Service: Paul Choudoir
• World Cup Service: Bjørn Heimdal
• World Cup Service: Chris Hecker
• World Cup Service: Bernie Nelson

Looking ahead

The 2025/2026 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup season will bring athletes to some of the sport’s most iconic venues, from the opening races in late November to the grand finale in March.

Read More: Cross-country skiing World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season 

The World’s best cross-country skiers will gather in Val di Fiemme for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy, taking place from February 6 to 22.

Also Read: Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.

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