Had it not been for the late withdrawal of Isabeau Levito due to injury, the 2025 US Figure Skating Championships this week would have featured four women who have previously won this event. Even without Levito, who has indicated that she will petition for a spot at the World Championships, this field is one of the most exciting we’ve had in recent memory, with reigning champ Amber Glenn, newly-unretired Alysa Liu, and a refreshed Bradie Tennell all looking to step onto the top of the podium again.
US Nationals predictions
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GOLD Amber Glenn - A year ago, Glenn won the biggest title of her career, but it wasn’t the way that she wanted to win it. And as much as her triple axel was a huge help in her breakthrough year, it didn’t take her out of her mental blocks. This season has been a complete change, and with both the triple axel and much more consistent skating, she comes into Wichita undefeated (which, of course, includes winning the biggest international title of her career so far, the Grand Prix Final just last month). Every event continues to be a test of her newly-found confidence, and this will be the toughest one yet.
SILVER Alysa Liu - I continue to be flabbergasted at how Liu took two years off skating and then came back a more well-rounded skater. It’s easy to see that she’s a skater much more at ease with the sport and here again because she truly missed competing. And it’s been a phenomenal journey back so far, with a chance at getting back onto the World team three years after she won World bronze. She comes in off a win at Golden Spin, with a revamped jump layout in the free skate.
BRONZE Sarah Everhardt - The consistency is there for Everhardt, and she was one of the breakout skaters at Nationals last year when she finished fourth. She’s steadily moved through this international season, notching 190+ scores everywhere she went.
4. Bradie Tennell - Injuries have threatened to completely derail Tennell’s career over the past few years, but her perseverance has led her back to Nationals after missing this event last year. She doesn’t bring in the kind of technical content that she did when she won Nationals a few years back, but if she’s clean, she’s got a great chance to get back onto the podium.
5. Elyce Lin-Gracey - It was Lin-Gracey earlier this season who made one of the biggest splashes. Her win at Nebelhorn Trophy still boasts the second highest international score among the US women. But she came back down to earth a bit on the Grand Prix, with solid performances but not the kind of splash that she made at Nebelhorn.
6. Sherry Zhang - Every year, there seems to be one early senior who makes a statement at Nationals. This year, that someone might be Sherry Zhang, who has impressed internationally on the junior circuit before. She’s got very solid, all-around skating, and if she can put down some consistent skates, the potential is all there.
7. Josephine Lee - There's nowhere, it seems, that's more comfortable for Lee than Nationals. It's the competition where she's peaked the past two seasons, taking fifth two years ago and then the surprise silver last year. And you really never know with her, because at her best, she always has podium potential here.
8. Mia Kalin - With new coaches and now Alysa Liu as training mate, Kalin is looking to improve on some of the aspects of her skating that could really take her to the next level. She’s always been a talent on the technical side, and getting her basics in a good spot might just be the unlock that she’s looking for.
9. Starr Andrews - Andrews had a couple of really strong competitions domestically early in the season, but has yet to really live up to that during the fall. She’s brought the magic at Nationals before, and she will want to recapture that again this week.
10. Lindsay Thorngren - Thorngren has been hampered by injury this season as well, and though she competed through them, it was clear to see her discomfort, especially on her axels. It’ll be tough for her to fight for a top spot this week.