Brignone captures season-long giant slalom title at World Cup finals in a race won by Gut-Behrami

SUN VALLEY, Idaho (AP) — Italian ski racer Federica Brignone wrapped up the season-long giant slalom title on Tuesday at the World Cup finals in a race won by Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland.

Brignone needed to finish just 13th or better in the final run to clinch the discipline crown and wound up second. She finished 0.14 seconds behind Gut-Behrami's winning combined time of 2 minutes, 10.01 seconds on a warm day at Sun Valley. Sara Hector of Sweden was third.

The 34-year-old Brignone entered the day 20 points behind Alice Robinson of New Zealand in the last World Cup giant slalom race of the season. Robinson struggled with a gate in her first run, veered off course and didn't finish, paving the way for Brignone.

“This is why I like the sport so much, to be here and still playing the game at the end,” Brignone said. “It’s the thing that makes me feel more alive. It’s stressful on one hand, but at the end it’s so nice.”

Brignone won the GS crystal globe with 580 points, while Robinson had 520 and Hector 447. This was only the second time in Robinson's nine World Cup GS races this season that she wasn't on the podium.

“I was pretty upset for all of this morning but now more relaxed — just really proud of the season,” the 23-year-old Robinson said. “Just a bit disappointed I didn’t get to fight for the globe. I was really looking forward to that second-run showdown.”

It's been a stellar season for Brignone, who already wrapped up the overall title, along with the downhill crown. She also captured a gold medal in the GS at the world championships last month, along with a silver at worlds in the super-G. She is expected to be a strong force heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics in her home country.

“Who could imagine to win so much?” Brignone said.

Gut-Behrami, the super-G winner Sunday, continued to shine on the Sun Valley course. Even more, she found joy in her ski racing that had been absent.

“I was always looking for what I was missing and struggling a lot,” said Gut-Behrami, who earned the 100th World Cup podium of her career. “Right now, I’m happy again to ski. This is what I was missing the most. I love what I’m doing.”

In the first run, American racer Paula Moltzan had a tough run on the demanding Challenger course. She lost a ski pole early in her run and then crashed through a gate and into the protective fencing with the finish line in sight.

Mikaela Shiffrin, a 22-time giant slalom World Cup winner, didn't qualify for the finals of the GS this season. She's been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from her November crash at the GS in Killington, Vermont. Shiffrin suffered a deep puncture wound on the right side of her abdomen.

Shiffrin will race in the slalom on Thursday.

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

From left, second place finisher Italy's Federica Brignone, first place finisher Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami and third place finisher Sweden's Sara Hector pose for a photo after a women's giant slalom competition at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

From left, second place finisher Italy's Federica Brignone, first place finisher Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami and third place finisher Sweden's Sara Hector celebrate during a trophy ceremony for a women's giant slalom competition at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

First place finisher Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami celebrates during a trophy ceremony for a women's giant slalom competition at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami reacts after her women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

First place finisher Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami celebrates during a trophy ceremony for a women's giant slalom competition at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami celebrates after a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Italy's Federica Brignone, right, is hugged by Sweden's Sara Hector after her women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates after a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates after winning the women's giant slalom season championship at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates after winning the women's giant slalom season championship at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Italy's Federica Brignone reacts after her women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Women's giant slalom season champion Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates during a trophy ceremony at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Italy's Federica Brignone is reflected in the crystal globe trophy after winning the women's giant slalom season championship at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami skis during a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Italy's Federica Brignone skis during a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

United States' Paula Moltzan skis during a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

New Zealand's Alice Robinson skis during a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami skis during a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami skis during a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Italy's Federica Brignone skis during a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Italy's Federica Brignone skis during a women's giant slalom run at the World Cup Finals, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman said Saturday the decision to fire coach Taylor Jenkins with nine games remaining in the regular season with the franchise firmly in the playoff chase was “mine and mine only" and in the Grizzlies' best interests.

Kleiman spoke to reporters after the Grizzlies' pregame shootaround for Saturday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers — barely 24 hours after Memphis announced firing Jenkins in his sixth season with the Grizzlies. Memphis named Tuomas Iisalo as the interim coach with the Helsinki, Finland, native in his first season coaching in the NBA.

“I came to the conclusion this was in the best interest of the team, and urgency is a core principle of ours so decided to go on with the move,” Kleiman said.

The Memphis GM spoke for less than three minutes, and no Grizzlies spoke after the shootaround. They won't be available until later Saturday at the usual pregame open locker room session when Iisalo speaks to the media for the first time in his new role.

Asked if he hopes making this move now with the Grizzlies currently fifth in the Western Conference starting a stretch with eight of the final nine opponents either playoff clubs or contending for a play-in spot helps Memphis salvage the season, Kleiman said he is focused on how the Grizzlies operate. It's still possible, at least mathematically, that Memphis could get back to No. 2 in the West, and it’s highly unlikely that the Grizzlies will fall into the play-in tournament range.

“I'm responsible for everything,” Kleiman said. “I'm responsible for coaching. I'm responsible for the roster. I'm not trying to absolve myself of anything. I'm excited to see what this team can do the rest of the way, but this was the conclusion that I came to that this was in the best interest of the team and we push forward with this group.”

Kleiman said no players were consulted about the move to fire Jenkins. Kleiman helped hire Jenkins in June 2019 after his own promotion to executive vice president of basketball operations. The GM also did not answer a question about what he wants from Memphis' next coach.

Jenkins had been the fifth longest-tenured coach with his current club in the league, behind only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Golden State’s Steve Kerr and Denver’s Michael Malone — all of them having won NBA titles. In this season with a maturing roster, the Grizzlies' results against the NBA's best weren't good.

The Grizzlies were 0-4 against Oklahoma City, losing those games by 24, 13, 17 and 21 points. They’re 3-6 so far this season against Houston, Denver and the Lakers, the next three teams ahead of them in the West. All season, the Grizzlies were 33-9 against teams at or below .500 and 11-20 against winning clubs.

Jenkins, with a career record of 250-214, was the winningest coach in franchise history for a team that launched in 1995. He had the longest tenure for a Grizzlies' coach since Lionel Hollins took over in the 2008-09 season before his contract was not renewed after reaching the Western Finals in 2013 with a 56-26 record.

But Jenkins has been criticized for continuing to use too many players at a point in the schedule when the rotation needed to be tightened and questioned for his late-game timeouts and other decisions. Asked about reports of two-time All-Star Ja Morant’s frustration over the Memphis offense, Kleiman repeated this was his decision.

Morant, who has missed the last six games with a left hamstring strain, now is listed as questionable for Saturday night's game with the Lakers.

Now Iisalo takes over after coming to the NBA as a Grizzlies assistant for this season, becoming the first Finnish-born coach in the NBA. Iisalo played and coached in Europe, including in 2024 when he was head coach of Paris Basketball, winning the EuroCup and honors as that league’s coach of the year. He also coached Telekom Baskets Bonn between 2021-23 and Crailshem Merlins between 2016 and 2021.

“Looking forward to seeing what he's able to do with this group,” Kleiman said of Iisalo. “There's realistic expectations. There's not going to be time to install a bunch of things this time of year. My expectations are clarity of direction and we'll see what we can do, we'll see what we can execute.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

FILE - Telekom Bonn coach Tuomas IIsalo directs his team during the final of the Champions League Final Four Basketball tournament between Telecom Baskets Bonn and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero, File)

FILE - Telekom Bonn coach Tuomas IIsalo directs his team during the final of the Champions League Final Four Basketball tournament between Telecom Baskets Bonn and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero, File)