Like the men’s event at NHK Trophy this week, the women’s event has the potential to be the deepest field that we’ve seen yet this season. And as with the men, there will be six Grand Prix medalists from this season who will be competing here in the women’s event. But there’s a lot of potential unpredictability, both in past inconsistency and in relative newness to the senior circuit.
2022 NHK Trophy predictions
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GOLD Kaori Sakamoto JPN - It’s a rematch for Sakamoto and Watanabe. At Lombardia Trophy earlier this season, it was Watanabe who notched the upset win on the strength of her triple axel. But we are farther into the season now, and Sakamoto hit her stride a bit more at Skate America, where she posted the highest total score of any senior woman this year. She won’t be able to afford many (if any) mistakes with the likes of Watanabe and Kim on her heels.
SILVER Rinka Watanabe JPN - Unlike Sakamoto, Watanabe will be coming in with an undefeated record - after her win at Lombardia, she followed it up with a come-from-behind win at Skate Canada. Her key to victory this week will once again be the triple axel, and she will need to keep close with Sakamoto after the short program.
BRONZE Yelim Kim KOR - Though she took silver in France, her free skate was not at all what she was hoping to deliver. Kim has had a couple uncharacteristic programs so far this season, though the strength of her overall competition kept her on the podium. She will need to be back at her best if she is to challenge for that title on Sakamoto’s turf.
4. Rion Sumiyoshi JPN - The Japanese junior silver medalist will bring her solid skating and her quad toe to her home Grand Prix, and after taking bronze in France, she’s served notice that she will be one of the (many) Japanese women to watch this season.
5. Amber Glenn USA - Winning the bronze at Skate America a few weeks ago was a good confidence boost for Glenn, who has had trouble putting together two strong programs in international competition. Her free skate performances this season have been solid, but it wasn’t until her third competition this year where she was able to put down a good short. That will be important for her medal chances this week.
6. Seoyeong Wi KOR - Wi started with a silver at Nebelhorn this season, beating Loena Hendrickx in the free skate in the process. She’s one of the many skaters this season who are in their first full senior international season, and she’s got a lot of potential to get onto the podium in her second Grand Prix appearance.
7. Starr Andrews USA - Skate Canada was a revelation and a breakthrough for Andrews, who became the first Black American skater ever to win a Grand Prix medal. She did that by putting down two near-clean programs and skating with much more power than she has in recent seasons. She will be up against another solid set of skaters here; a repeat of Skate Canada could prove fruitful for her chances at Nationals later this season.
8. Niina Petrokina EST - Petrokina took sixth at Skate Canada a few weeks back and has the opportunity to grab another top six finish here. The field is similarly deep here but perhaps a different level of consistency.
9. Audrey Shin USA - Fifth in France two weeks ago, Shin showed signs of some of the strong skating that took her to a fourth-place finish at Four Continents last season. She will be looking to improve again this week - every competition has been a bit stronger for her overall.
10. Seoyeon Ji KOR - This is her first full season on the senior circuit, and since she withdrew from Budapest Trophy a few weeks ago, this will be her first international event of the season altogether. She took bronze last year at Autumn Classic.
11. Eva-Lotta Kiibus EST - Hot or cold is the name of the game for Kiibus - she took bronze at Nebelhorn Trophy in September, only to drop to 12th at Finlandia a few weeks later. She will be looking to find her stride in her third career GP event this week.
12. Olga Mikutina AUT - Tenth at Grand Prix de France, Mikutina hasn’t quite found the consistency that she needs this season to get herself back in the conversation.