Emily Sweeney of the United States starts her first run during the women’s luge competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. (AP photo)

Things could change this winter.

Natalie Geisenberger, the seven-time defending World Cup champion, is not sliding this season because she’s about to become a mother for the first time. Geisenberger’s German teammate, 2017-18 World Cup runner-up Dajana Eitberger, is also pregnant and taking this season off. And longtime German standout Tatjana Huefner has retired.

Their absences will give the World Cup standings a new look this winter and that certainly helps the title chances of other hopefuls — including Summer Britcher and Emily Sweeney of the U.S., a pair of sliders who have enjoyed some World Cup success in the past and may be in line for more this season.

Britcher — third in the World Cup standings in each of the last two years — could benefit greatly from Geisenberger’s hiatus. In 2017-18, Britcher finished the season ranked behind only Geisenberger and Eitberger. Last season she finished behind Geisenberger and Julia Taubitz, another member of the German juggernaut.

Summer Britcher of United States smiles after she placed third of a women's race at the Luge World Cup event in Sigulda, Latvia on Jan. 12. There's never been a World Cup luge overall champion from the U.S. That could change this winter. American veterans Summer Britcher and Emily Sweeney are two of the realistic candidates to emerge from this season with the World Cup title. (AP file photo)

If nothing else, the women’s World Cup champion is going to be a first-timer this season.