From season favorites to injury comebacks to sentimental favorites, the women’s event at this week’s US Figure Skating Championships has a lot to offer. And with neither of last year’s top two in the field this year, the fight for the podium and for the three spots at Worlds this year is perhaps the most unpredictable one that we’ve had in quite a long time. Outside of Isabeau Levito, who is coming in as the heavy favorite, there hasn’t been anyone else who has had a super standout year, and there could be a lot of different realistic permutations of the podium this week.
2023 US Nationals women predictions
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GOLD Isabeau Levito - Levito has been the skater who has put down the most consistent skating this season for the US women, making it to the Grand Prix Final and taking the silver medal there in the process. After a bronze last season, she’s ready to take that step to the top of the podium and set herself up for a look at the podium at the World Championships later this year.
SILVER Bradie Tennell - After a comeback season of struggles, is the two-time champ back in strong enough of a form to return to the podium? It certainly wouldn’t have seemed so when she made her return to competition on the Grand Prix earlier this season, but it’s been a steady climb, and each competition has been more confident for her. And just in time - a return to the World Championships will be a great step for her this week, even if she’s not 100% back yet.
BRONZE Amber Glenn - The national silver medalist two years ago, Glenn has been trying to figure herself out this season. And it was a promising start at Skate America, when she took bronze off of two solid skates. But it fell apart in the short program a month later at NHK Trophy. She’s hoping to shake that program off and give herself a fighting shot to make the World team for the first time. And this is the time to do it.
4. Audrey Shin - A few very strong showings this season from Shin, with a fifth place at Grand Prix de France and a fourth place at NHK Trophy. As usual, she will need to watch out for underrotations, but if she can avoid too many minor errors this week, she’s got a strong shot at getting into the top three and making it to Worlds.
5. Lindsay Thorngren - Sixth and fifth the last two years, Thorngren was looking at this season as a potential breakthrough season for her. But her performances earlier in the fall were uncharacteristically messy. She’s on an upward trajectory though, and her win at Golden Spin sets her up well for Nationals this week.
6. Ting Cui - Is this going to be the return of Ting Cui, who is back at Nationals after a four-year absence? The last time we saw her at Nationals was in 2019, when she stunned everyone with a fifth-place showing, and followed it up with a bronze at Junior Worlds. But injuries have taken her out of competition for much of the past four years, and she’s finally back, now in college and skating with a different mission in mind. Post-COVID issues forced her to withdraw from World University Games, but she’s looking light years stronger this week already.
7. Starr Andrews - After delivering the best competition of her career with a silver at Skate Canada in October, Andrews couldn’t find that same performance at NHK Trophy a month later, finishing ninth. Without the technical base value of her other competitors, it is always crucial for Andrews to be as clean as she possibly can to put herself in the conversation.
8. Josephine Lee - Last year’s junior bronze medalist, Lee has the opportunity to make a big splash in her first senior nationals. She could be the dark horse this week for a surprise.
9. Gabriella Izzo - Fourth at last year’s Nationals, Izzo hasn’t yet followed up that showing with stronger skating on the international stage. She was seventh at John Wilson Trophy in November.
10. Gracie Gold - Very much the sentimental favorite of the event, Gold made her senior Nationals debut 10 years ago, and she’s back again after a tenth-place finish last season. The early part of this season looked promising for her, particularly with her sixth-place showing at Skate America. But it has not built since, and her consistency coming in is a question mark.