2024-25 US Women's Figure Skating

[Jammers]

Wow the US ladies event is over and not one comment about it or the ladies? Is this forum dead or what? No comments here in nine days?

 

[ramurphy2005]

Team Announcements: https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...s-world-world-junior-and-four-continents-team

2025 World Championships
Amber Glenn
Isabeau Levito*
Alysa Liu

Alternate 1: Sarah Everhardt
Alternate 2: Bradie Tennell
Alternate 3: Starr Andrews

*Pending Return to Play Protocol

2025 World Junior Championships
Elyce Lin-Gracey
Sophie Joline von Felten

Alternate 1: Logan Higase-Chen
Alternate 2: Sherry Zhang
Alternate 3: Josephine Lee

2025 Four Continents Championships
Sarah Everhardt
Amber Glenn
Alysa Liu

Alternate 1: Bradie Tennell
Alternate 2: Starr Andrews
Alternate 3: Sonja Hilmer

 

[FlossieH]

Wow the US ladies event is over and not one comment about it or the ladies? Is this forum dead or what? No comments here in nine days?

People have been discussing the SP here: https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/2025-u-s-nationals-senior-womens-short-program.99850/
And the FP here: https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/2025-u-s-nationals-senior-womens-free-skate.100150/

There are lots of posts in both those threads.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Team Announcements: https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...s-world-world-junior-and-four-continents-team

2025 World Championships
Amber Glenn
Isabeau Levito*
Alysa Liu

Alternate 1: Sarah Everhardt
Alternate 2: Bradie Tennell
Alternate 3: Starr Andrews

*Pending Return to Play Protocol

2025 World Junior Championships
Elyce Lin-Gracey
Sophie Joline von Felten

Alternate 1: Logan Higase-Chen
Alternate 2: Sherry Zhang
Alternate 3: Josephine Lee

2025 Four Continents Championships
Sarah Everhardt
Amber Glenn
Alysa Liu

Alternate 1: Bradie Tennell
Alternate 2: Starr Andrews
Alternate 3: Sonja Hilmer

All in all, this seems fair, although I feel bad for Bradie not getting any assignments. I wouldn't be surprised to see Amber WD from 4CC to focus on training, and of course Bradie would then take her spot. I also will say #justice4sherry, she finished 5th at Nationals and didn't get a JWorlds spot or first alternate. Although Elyce has the superior body of work from this season, I'm really not a fan of skaters who competed entirely senior for a season being named to JWorlds, especially when there are junior skaters who are just as capable who are passed over.

 

[Skating91]

Really unfair to Sarah, and incentivizes a skater to skip National's if they think they can rely on past glories to get an automatic placement at World's.

At least USFS could have been transparent as said, World's selection will be based on the top two because we've already given a place to Isabeau.

Cruel what they've done.

 

[saine]

Really unfair to Sarah, and incentivizes a skater to skip National's if they think they can rely on past glories to get an automatic placement at World's.

At least USFS could have been transparent as said, World's selection will be based on the top two because we've already given a place to Isabeau.

Cruel what they've done.

It incentivizes a skater to withdraw if they are in no shape to compete. Forcing a skater to compete when they haven't recovered from injury could worsen it. That is what would be cruel.

Isabeau still has to be cleared to compete, this isn't a "Get Out Of Nationals Free" card.

 

[rain]

Team Announcements: https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...s-world-world-junior-and-four-continents-team

2025 World Championships
Amber Glenn
Isabeau Levito*
Alysa Liu

Alternate 1: Sarah Everhardt
Alternate 2: Bradie Tennell
Alternate 3: Starr Andrews

Not really a surprise, but I hope USFSA knows more about Isabeau's situation than has been made public, because just based on the season, I would not have named her, and would have sent the ever-consistent if slightly uninspiring performer Sarah Everhardt instead.

Amber punched her ticket to worlds by winning the grand prix final. It didn't matter if she was last at nationals, they would have been stupid not to name her to the team. The next spot was always going to go to whoever did next best at nationals, since it was more than likely going to be a fairly known quantity (Alysa, Bradie, Sarah), so no surprise at Alysa being named either.

But Isabeau underperformed in the beginning of the season, then disappeared. She's not going to Four Continents, either. She does have a track record of skating up at big moments, like at worlds last year after a disastrous nationals, and she's the reigning silver medallist, but if it was me, I'd insist on seeing her skate at least one competition of some kind before worlds. Whatever she's dealing with has been severe enough to take her out of virtually the entire season, so recovery is a very real question mark. And in such a tight field, I'm not sure how much a past silver is going to mean to the international judges. Like I said, I hope the federation has more info to base this on than the general public.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

I would not be surprised if Isabeau ends up withdrawing from Worlds and Sarah ends up going anyway. We'll see.

 

[saine]

In case anyone wants to know what the clearance for Isabeau is, the World Team Selection Procedures document has it:

To be considered for selection by petition, the athlete must be able to prove competitive readiness by performing complete competition programs (SP/RD, FS/FD) with all planned program elements by a specified date, as approved and reviewed by a monitoring panel to be determined by the International Committee. In addition, U.S. Figure Skating medical personnel must verify that the athlete(s) will be physically ready to compete at the World Championships. If the petition is accepted, the athlete/team will be added to the pool.

Edit: And Return to Play:

Depending on the severity of the injury or illness, the athlete authorizes U.S. Figure Skating to request a Return to Play Plan & Status Report from the Director, High Performance Medical and Performance Services. After the review of the Return to Play & Status Report, U.S. Figure Skating reserves the right to assemble an injury/illness evaluation group and meet via conference call.

The evaluation group shall include:
• U.S. Figure Skating, Senior Director of Athlete High Performance
• Director, High Performance Medical and Performance Services
• Medical representative for U.S. Figure Skating
• U.S. Figure Skating International Committee Chair
• Athlete’s physician diagnosing the injury or illness
• Primary coach of the athlete

The purpose of the evaluation group is to provide the athlete, in a confidential manner, a support mechanism to communicate factual information to aid in the recovery and allow the athlete to compete at the highest level at the ISU World Championships. The athlete’s support staff (medical team, coach, etc.) will develop a plan to provide:
• A timeline for recovery and training that will achieve the performance goal agreed upon by the evaluation group.
• A timeline for communication on the progress of the athlete.

The primary coach of the next replacement (alternate) athlete and / or the replacement athlete may be notified by the International Committee Chair that a replacement may be needed depending on the severity of the injury or illness with a timeline to be determined.

If the athlete is unable to progress in the timeline approved by the evaluation group, the coach and athlete must notify the Senior Director, Athlete High Performance and a follow-up conference call will be arranged to discuss the options for the athlete. The USOPC AAC representative for U.S. Figure Skating will be included in this meeting. At this point the athlete will decide whether to withdraw, or if the athlete decides that he/she is not ready to withdraw from the event, then the following will occur:
1) The evaluation group will work with the athlete and support staff to adjust the timeline, or
2) If it is determined by the evaluation group, in its sole discretion, that it is not in the best interest of the athlete and/or U.S. Figure Skating for the athlete to attend the World Championships, the evaluation group will recommend to the International Committee Chair that the athlete is replaced by the next (substitute) substitute athlete. The Chair of the International Committee will take the recommendation of the evaluation group to a vote by the appropriate Discipline Group to replace the athlete.

 

[Jammers]

Why did they pick Elyce for Junior Worlds does Tammy have something on the USFS? Elyce looks lost on the ice right now and scared why not send Sarah? Even Sherry without a 3-3 would score better with a clean 3-2 then another disastrous skate by Elyce.

 

[saine]

Why did they pick Elyce for Junior Worlds does Tammy have something on the USFS? Elyce looks lost on the ice right now and scared why not send Sarah? Even Sherry without a 3-3 would score better with a clean 3-2 then another disastrous skate by Elyce.

Elyce scored 182.37 and 183.94 in her GP assignments. Minus the scores for the step sequence, she'll likely place top 10 at Junior Worlds. 170s would still have her top 10. They know how she scores internationally.

Sarah is doing 4CC and needs to be ready to replace Isabeau if required. 4CC is a week before Junior Worlds, she can't do both. And Sherry hasn't competed internationally at all this season, USFS has no idea how she would actually score with a short program that doesn't have a 3-3.

 

[Weathergal]

Elyce scored 182.37 and 183.94 in her GP assignments. Minus the scores for the step sequence, she'll likely place top 10 at Junior Worlds. 170s would still have her top 10. They know how she scores internationally.

Sarah is doing 4CC and needs to be ready to replace Isabeau if required. 4CC is a week before Junior Worlds, she can't do both. And Sherry hasn't competed internationally at all this season, USFS has no idea how she would actually score with a short program that doesn't have a 3-3.

I feel like Logan Higase-Chen might do better than Elyse Lin-Gracey, but I understand if Elyse ticked off more of the boxes.

 

[saine]

Per the USFS International Assignments page, Amber Glenn has withdrawn from 4CC and is being replaced by Bradie Tennell as of January 25.

 

[readernick]

Elyce scored 182.37 and 183.94 in her GP assignments. Minus the scores for the step sequence, she'll likely place top 10 at Junior Worlds. 170s would still have her top 10. They know how she scores internationally.

Sarah is doing 4CC and needs to be ready to replace Isabeau if required. 4CC is a week before Junior Worlds, she can't do both. And Sherry hasn't competed internationally at all this season, USFS has no idea how she would actually score with a short program that doesn't have a 3-3.

I understand the choice of Elyce despite her recent form. However, I do think there is good evidence Sherry does do well internationally. Look at the great scores she got last year even with messy programs. Her basics and jumps are just on a different level than the other US juniors. International panels clearly like her.

 

[saine]

I understand the choice of Elyce despite her recent form. However, I do think there is good evidence Sherry does do well internationally. Look at the great scores she got last year even with messy programs. Her basics and jumps are just on a different level than the other US juniors. International panels clearly like her.

Unfortunately for Sherry, she has no international scores this season to back that up. That weighs heavily in the selection criteria, which goes into detail how it's calculated starting on page 9. They have an example spreadsheet for how they calculate the scores for the candidates.

She has done well internationally, she has medaled on the JGP before and placed top 10 at Junior Worlds. But not having scores this season eliminated her by the USFS criteria. And that criteria pushed Elyce to the top of the selection thanks to her scores.

 

[Silevril Ilumire]

And Sherry hasn't competed internationally at all this season, USFS has no idea how she would actually score with a short program that doesn't have a 3-3.

During the 2023 JGP, Sherry had a fall on a triple in the SP at both events. She got 60 anyway because of her relatively strong skating skills. So a clean SP with 3-2 like at Nationals should get more than 60. I’m just pointing this out for the sake of conversation. Although I’m a big Sherry fan, I’m not totally sure what I think the assignments be. Tough choices this year, and I can see merit in various arguments. The criteria posted above by @saine clears it up for me.

 

[Jammers]

During the 2023 JGP, Sherry had a fall on a triple in the SP at both events. She got 60 anyway because of her relatively strong skating skills. So a clean SP with 3-2 like at Nationals should get more than 60. I’m just pointing this out for the sake of conversation. Although I’m a big Sherry fan, I’m not totally sure what I think the assignments be. Tough choices this year, and I can see merit in various arguments. The criteria posted above by @saine clears it up for me.

Why doesn't Sherry have a 3-3? She sure gets more then enough lift that one 3lutz was insane with the height she gets. She has everything else great skating skills and speed which so many US junior ladies seem to lack.

 

[saine]

Why doesn't Sherry have a 3-3? She sure gets more then enough lift that one 3lutz was insane with the height she gets. She has everything else great skating skills and speed which so many US junior ladies seem to lack.

She's likely been injured. She was jumping 3T+3T last season, but missed the competition for JGP spots this season. With her results last season, she should have been there if she was able to compete.

 

[Skating91]

I wonder how Amber feels as undisputed leader of the national women's team, not being used to promote the Olympics for her country .

 

[ramurphy2005]

I wonder how Amber feels as undisputed leader of the national women's team, not being used to promote the Olympics for her country .

Not sure what you've been watching, but she's definitely been hyped as an athlete to watch. She was on the Today Show after her GPF win. She was included in their overview of athletes along with Ilia, Madison, and Evan. It's not like she's going to fly all the way to Milan for an interview, and then fly all the way back cutting into her prep time for Worlds. All the athletes they interviewed the other day are taking part in upcoming test events for the Olympics, so they would have been there anyway even without NBC doing segments about being one year out from the Olympics.