U.S. Women [#6]: The More the Merrier!

[Allskate]

No, but I followed her now expired Instagram story link to this 2025 SOI tour news:

I'm happy for Isabeau that she is going to be touring with SOI and working with Kurt. She seemed to really enjoy touring with him, and he said some very sweet things about her. She didn't get to do group numbers when she toured with him before. I hope she will this time. I think it would be great for her to do even a little choreography work with Kurt.

I have missed seeing her in the GP Final. (Fingers crossed that the long programs are better than the short programs for the women.) I hope she's doing well.

 

[Sylvia]

Mia Kalin's Team USA profile has been updated and 2 new coaches are listed -- Massimo Scali, Phillip DeGuglielmo (who also coach Alysa) -- instead of her longtime coach Vadim Shebeco: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/mia-kalin/987

 

[her grace]

I’m sure we’ll have lots of posts about BOW, SBs, etc. in the lead-up to nationals, but another thing I find interesting is who has beaten whom. Where did the skaters place in direct competition with their teammates? I may later look at who they’ve beaten of world competitors, but this is how the results looked amongst the Americans:

Glenn: beat Everhardt at Lombardia and GP France, hasn’t competed with rest of American field this season internationally

Levito: beat Andrews and some lower-ranked women at Cranberry, beat Lin-Gracey and Tennell at Skate America

Everhardt: beat Lin-Gracey, Levito, Andrews and rest of the Americans at Cranberry, beat Thorngren at Finlandia. Only American she has lost to is Glenn.

Andrews: beat Hilmer and lower-ranked Americans at Cranberry, beat Hilmer and lower-ranked American at Santa Claus Cup, only faced top Americans at Cranberry where they beat her

Lin-Gracey: beat Levito, Andrews, and lower-ranked Americans at Cranberry, beat Levito again at Nebelhorn, didn’t beat any American teammates at her GP events

Liu: beat Thorngren at Budapest Trophy, beat Lin-Gracey at Skate Canada, beat Tennell and Thorngren at NHK, beat Tennell at Golden Spin. She’s undefeated by Americans she’s faced this season in international competition!

Tennell: beat Lin-Gracey at Skate America and Thorngren at NHK

It’s interesting how many match-ups we haven’t seen, e.g., Glenn with almost anyone (guess she has bigger fish to fry ). Looking forward to seeing Levito v. Liu and Everhardt v. Liu and Tennell.

 

[leilaofpaper]

I think Amber and Isabeau are shoo ins, barring injury on Isabeau’s side. Then it’s between Alysa and Sarah.

Ava could be a dark horse but given she hasn’t competed at all I doubt it.

 

[Karen-W]

I think Amber and Isabeau are shoo ins, barring injury on Isabeau’s side. Then it’s between Alysa and Sarah.

Ava could be a dark horse but given she hasn’t competed at all I doubt it.

Isabeau is so hard to handicap at this point because we know nothing about why she WD from Finlandia or what's really going on there.

 

[leilaofpaper]

Isabeau is so hard to handicap at this point because we know nothing about why she WD from Finlandia or what's really going on there.

Wasn’t trying to say she’s 100% injured, more that if she is able to compete at Worlds I think she’ll be sent.

 

[Karen-W]

Wasn’t trying to say she’s 100% injured, more that if she is able to compete at Worlds I think she’ll be sent.

Fair enough. I think Alysa probably has the edge for the 3rd spot at this point, especially if Isabeau has one of the other spots.

 

[PRlady]

Fair enough. I think Alysa probably has the edge for the 3rd spot at this point, especially if Isabeau has one of the other spots.

As she should. She’s beaten her competitors and her PCS range is higher than Sarah’s or Bradie’s. And in a crucial comp for securing three spots in Milan, she has the big-comp experience to stay calm.

 

[Karen-W]

As she should. She’s beaten her competitors and her PCS range is higher than Sarah’s or Bradie’s. And in a crucial comp for securing three spots in Milan, she has the big-comp experience to stay calm.

Agreed. I trust her to deliver at a certain level and not fall apart.

 

[beckab81]

Isabeau is so hard to handicap at this point because we know nothing about why she WD from Finlandia or what's really going on there.

There's a thread on Reddit that posted a screenshot of her saying she was recovering from an injury (apparently she responded to a DM on TikTok). No other details that I saw.

 

[Wyliefan]

I saw that, but a lot of the commenters were saying it hadn't been confirmed that it was really from Isabeau. Did they ever confirm it, do you know?

 

[beckab81]

I saw that, but a lot of the commenters were saying it hadn't been confirmed that it was really from Isabeau. Did they ever confirm it, do you know?

They said it was from the same account that Amber and US Figure Skating have tagged in the past, so it seems to be her.

 

[Private Citizen]

I don’t think Levito is a shoo-in if she finishes fourth or lower at Nationals, and the top three are Glenn, Liu, and Everhardt. Or possibly Lin-Gracey.

If that happens, I think the USFS will look at the point totals. If it’s one or two points difference v. third, Levito may get the benefit of the doubt. If it’s ten, I think the skaters I mentioned have done enough. Something in between would be very tough especially if it’s versus Everhardt, who has barely put a foot wrong this season.

I have to think Andrews and Thorngren have taken themselves out of contention entirely with their fall skates.

 

[layman]

Congratulations to Amber Glenn for her win at the Grand Prix Final!

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2024 - Women

www.isuresults.com

LP:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

and her PCS range is higher than Sarah’s or Bradie’s

Wasn’t Brady’s PCS higher just now in the free program in Croatia? by nearly 2 points.

 

[PRlady]

Wasn’t Brady’s PCS higher just now in the free program in Croatia? by nearly 2 points.

Alysa’s ceiling is higher, she’s a more fluid, expressive skater. Wait till all the rust from her skating vacation comes off; she’s a World medalist and Tennell has never been.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

With her combined score of 212.07 after the short program and free skate in Grenoble, France, Amber Glenn became the first American woman since Alissa Czisny in 2010 to win the Grand Prix Final, the sport’s third-most prestigious event after the Olympics and World Championships. The last American woman to win worlds was Kimmie Meissner in 2006. The last to win the Olympics was Sarah Hughes in 2002.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Already on the ISU homepage

Amber Glenn Takes First ISU Grand Prix Final Title For A US Woman Since 2010​

Amber Glenn takes first ISU Grand Prix Final title for a US woman since 2010

Amber Glenn (USA) skated to her first ISU Grand Prix title and the first for an US woman in 14 years in a thrilling Women’s Free Skating in Grenoble (FRA) Saturday.

isu-skating.com

Amber Glenn (USA) skated to her first ISU Grand Prix title and the first for an US woman in 14 years in a thrilling Women’s Free Skating in Grenoble (FRA) Saturday.

 

[Private Citizen]

Bless her heart, Amber said in her arena interview that she’s honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as Alissa Czisny.

I was thinking:
1) girl, you’re already better;
2) don’t be so modest, aim higher; and
3) I had forgotten Czisny ever won, as probably did most people

If you want to say you’re honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as Kwan, Lipinski, and Cohen, I’ll accept that for now .

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Bless her heart, Amber said in her arena interview that she’s honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as Alissa Czisny.

I was thinking:
1) girl, you’re already better;
2) don’t be so modest, aim higher; and
3) I had forgotten Czisny ever won, as probably did most people

If you want to say you’re honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as Kwan, Lipinski, and Cohen, I’ll accept that for now .

Well, just a moment ago my very best friend here privately texted me this information

Alissa’s score total was 180.

Rachel Flatt in 6th with a 127 total!!!

Things have changed a lot in the last decade or so

 

[Spiralgraph]

Alissa Czisny was a weak jumper but her spins were superior and her "artistic impression" was pretty good. Her competition nerves well that's better left unsaid.

 

[natsulian]

I think there are six clear front-runners for the three spots for Worlds and we can place them in various tiers. Amber, for me, is a shoe-in whereas the two other spots are up for grabs. I think Four Continents should serve as the test: send out three skaters sans Amber and based on their performance alongside body of work, send the two strongest competitors. Right now, my Worlds team is Amber, Alysa, and Sarah whereas my Junior Worlds team is Sophie and Elyce.

Tier 1: Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito
Amber's newfound confidence and consistency this season have been nothing short of spectacular. Amber, this season, has gone undefeated, averaging 212.74 across four events. Furthermore, she has not scored below 210 in any of her competitions. Additionally, in the past two seasons, Amber has three Grand Prix medals. Isabeau, although a question mark due to concerns about a potential injury, has the strongest body of work among the U.S. women. Isabeau has never been off the podium at any of her Grand Prix events, nabbing five medals and a silver at the Grand Prix Final in 2022. Furthermore, Isabeau is a Worlds medalist.

Tier 2: Alysa Liu and Sarah Everhardt
Based on this season, Alysa's performances have been on an incline. Alysa started the season with a 192.77 at a Challenger event and then capped off her Grand Prix season with a 187.69 and 190.75. Most recently, Alysa scored 197.71 and with more training under her belt, it is probable that she will begin scoring above 200 consistently. Alysa is also a Worlds medalist and placed 7th at the 2022 Olympics. Sarah started her season with a bang, winning Cranberry Cup and placing second at Lombardia. Sarah is consistent and she needs more experience, especially on the bigger stages to excel. Sarah reminds me a lot of Bradie circa 2017-2018 when Bradie found her groove and came out of the gate swinging.

Tier 3: Bradie Tennell and Elyce Lin-Gracey
Bradie is very close to Alysa and Sarah scoring-wise but she has become more inconsistent with multiple falls across the four competitions she's competed in. Elyce, although showing great promise at the beginning of the season, was not able to deal with the pressure and did not perform well in her Grand Prix events. However, Elyce seemed to have figured it out by Canada where she put forth a respectable skate where she landed seven triples and had the third highest TES score in the free skate after a less than spectacular short program. Elyce, however, would make for a great Junior Worlds selection.

Others: Lindsay and Starr have taken themselves out of contention based on their performances this season and past. I am still waiting with bated breath for Ava to show up at Nationals but even if she performs spectacularly, I think Four Continents should still serve as a test for her despite her Grand Prix gold from last season and fourth place placement at Four Continents.

 

[her grace]

Bless her heart, Amber said in her arena interview that she’s honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as Alissa Czisny.

I was thinking:
1) girl, you’re already better;
2) don’t be so modest, aim higher; and
3) I had forgotten Czisny ever won, as probably did most people

If you want to say you’re honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as Kwan, Lipinski, and Cohen, I’ll accept that for now .

Czisny’s Winter into Spring LP is absolutely masterclass. And Glenn is old enough to have seen it.

 

[Karen-W]

So, just for reference, here's what the USFS ISU Championships Selection Pool looks like going into Nats - this is the Sr age-eligible table (I'm also including Gasparotto & Gewalt since we really don't know the status of Levito or Ziegler). Skaters in red do not have ISU CTES mins.

Skater

Level

Age Eligible

ISU Min Score

2024 U.S. Nats

GPF

GP/ JGP 1

GP/ JGP 2

GP/ JPG Highest

GP/ JGP Avg

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int 1

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int 2

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int Highest

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int Avg

Sect Final (Top 2 in each Section JR/SR)

NQS Score (Top 2 in each Section JR/SR)

Non-USFS Funded Event

Prev Yr Final Number

Total

Andrews, Starr

S

Y

Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

164.89​

151.65​

164.89​

158.27​

167.71​

196.77​

168.70​

0

500.99​

Bonillo, Alina

S/J

Y

N/N

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

119.03​

95.22​

119.03​

107.13​

177.29​

0.00​

0.00​

0

288.02​

Cui, Ting

S

Y

N

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

157.76​

0.00​

0.00​

0

78.88​

Evans, Alex

S

Y

N

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

156.01​

162.11​

148.91​

0

192.99​

Everhardt, Sarah

S/J

Y

Y/Y

0.00​

196.94​

191.17​

196.94​

194.06​

196.42​

201.90​

201.90​

199.16​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

840.01​

Glenn, Amber

S

Y

Y

212.07​

210.44​

215.54​

215.54​

212.99​

212.89​

170.31​

212.89​

191.60​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

4

1588.46​

Hilmer, Sonja

S

Y

4CCs

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

151.43​

121.14​

151.43​

136.29​

0.00​

0.00​

158.93​

0

333.11​

Levito, Isabeau

S/J

Y

Y/N

0.00​

194.83​

155.86​

194.83​

175.35​

193.81​

198.13​

198.13​

195.97​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

12

987.83​

Lin-Gracey, Elyce

S/J

Y

Y/Y

0.00​

183.94​

182.37​

183.94​

183.16​

193.99​

213.33​

213.33​

203.66​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

824.94​

Liu, Alysa

S/J

Y

Y/N

0.00​

187.69​

190.75​

190.75​

189.22​

192.77​

197.71​

197.71​

195.24​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

819.10​

Seo, Clare

S/J

Y

4CCs/Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

147.66​

147.70​

147.70​

147.68​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

258.46​

Tennell, Bradie

S

Y

Y

0.00​

192.04​

190.25​

192.04​

191.15​

191.10​

152.88​

191.10​

171.99​

0.00​

0.00​

196.61​

0

897.38​

Thorngren, Lindsay

S/J

Y

Y/N

0.00​

169.03​

170.64​

170.64​

169.84​

179.45​

143.56​

179.45​

161.51​

0.00​

191.55​

0.00​

0

774.06​

Ziegler, Ava

S/J

Y

Y/N

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

3

45.00​

Gasporotto, Alexa

S

Y

N

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

0.00​

Gewalt, Brooke

S

Y

4CCs

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

153.39​

0

76.70​

FWIW - I agree with @natsulian 's analysis of where the US women stand going into Nats.

 

[Karen-W]

And the Jr-age eligible table for the USFS ISU Championships Selection Pool (skaters in red do not have ISU CTES mins) -

Skater

Level

Age Eligible

ISU Min Score

2024 U.S. Nats

GPF

GP/ JGP 1

GP/ JGP 2

GP/ JPG Highest

GP/ JGP Avg

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int 1

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int 2

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int Highest

CS/ Sr B/ Jr Int Avg

Sect Final (Top 2 in each Section JR/SR)

NQS Score (Top 2 in each Section JR/SR)

Non-USFS Funded Event

Prev Yr Final Number

Total

Bezkorovainaya, Sofia

J

Y

Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

158.52​

126.82​

158.52​

142.67​

160.19​

0.00​

170.17​

0

430.70​

Bonillo, Alina

S/J

Y

N/N

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

119.03​

95.22​

119.03​

107.13​

177.29​

0.00​

0.00​

0

288.02​

Chao, Annika

J

Y

Y

0.00​

157.66​

126.13​

157.66​

141.89​

0.00​

0.00​

126.13​

126.13​

159.20​

173.12​

0.00​

0

718.05​

Coats, Alayna

J

Y

N

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

0.00​

Cui, Ela

J

Y

Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

0.00​

Everhardt, Sarah

S/J

Y

Y/Y

0.00​

196.94​

191.17​

196.94​

194.06​

196.42​

201.90​

201.90​

199.16​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

840.01​

Higase-Chen, Logan

S (J)

Y

Y

0.00​

161.98​

129.58​

161.98​

145.78​

169.45​

135.56​

169.45​

152.51​

173.35​

191.63​

175.71​

0

890.97​

Johnson, Jiaying Ellyse

J

Y

Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

0.00​

Jurka, Jessica

J

Y

Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

151.86​

121.49​

151.86​

136.67​

170.56​

172.49​

0.00​

0

382.77​

Kalin, Mia

S (J)

Y

Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

168.35​

134.68​

168.35​

151.52​

0.00​

193.35​

0.00​

0

330.32​

Kim, Teryn

J

Y

Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

0.00​

Lee, Josephine

S (J)

Y

Y

0.00​

166.54​

133.23​

166.54​

149.89​

174.02​

139.22​

174.02​

156.62​

0.00​

0.00​

157.62​

2

795.83​

Lin-Gracey, Elyce

S/J

Y

Y/Y

0.00​

183.94​

182.37​

183.94​

183.16​

193.99​

213.33​

213.33​

203.66​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

824.94​

Nemirovsky, Emilia

J

Y

Y

0.00​

147.05​

117.64​

147.05​

132.35​

180.37​

144.30​

180.37​

162.33​

175.49​

167.50​

0.00​

0

780.98​

Park, Cleo

J

Y

Y

0.00​

149.88​

119.90​

149.88​

134.89​

0.00​

0.00​

119.90​

119.90​

164.53​

187.33​

0.00​

0

694.89​

Platonova, Maria

J

Y

N

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

0.00​

Seo, Clare

S/J

Y

4CCs/Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

147.66​

147.70​

147.70​

147.68​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0

258.46​

von Felten, Sophie Joline

J

Y

Y

0.00​

197.41​

150.25​

197.41​

173.83​

152.72​

122.18​

152.72​

137.45​

181.30​

176.44​

0.00​

0

854.62​

Zhang, Sherry

S (J)

Y

Y

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

0.00​

190.19​

0.00​

0.00​

0

95.10​

 

[kwanfan1818]

Czisny’s Winter into Spring LP is absolutely masterclass. And Glenn is old enough to have seen it.

Czisny has also had a mini-renaissance of sorts by touring with Stars on Ice.

 

[haribobo]

Karen, I am not seeing a competition where Alina Bonillo scored 95.22, is that an error or just not on her skatingscores profile...

 

[Karen-W]

Karen, I am not seeing a competition where Alina Bonillo scored 95.22, is that an error or just not on her skatingscores profile...

No, she didn't, but the formula for that column is to multiply the score of the 1st CS/Sr B/Jr Int'l by .8 if the skater only has one competition in that category - so, the 95.22 is 80% of her Cranberry Cup Jr B score.

Same logic applies to the scores for Sofia Bezkorovainaya, Logan Higase-Chen, Sonja Hilmer, Jessica Jurka, Mia Kalin, Josephine Lee, Emilia Nemirovsky, Bradie Tennell, Lindsay Thorngren, & Sophie Joline von Felten in the same column.

ETA - same logic is applied to the 2nd GP/JGP score column for Annika Chao, Logan Higase-Chen, Josephine Lee, Isabeau Levito, Emilia Nemirovsky, and Cleo Park.

 

[haribobo]

Oh weird, is this some kind of ISU created list? What a strange thing to create a fictitious score and then use it to create a false average. Seems very misleading...

 

[Karen-W]

Oh weird, is this some kind of ISU created list? What a strange thing to create a fictitious score and then use it to create a false average. Seems very misleading...

No, it is in the Selection document...

https://www.usfigureskating.org/sit...iles/2025 World Team Selection Procedures.pdf - see the Appendix starting on pg 8.