Above: Teams Elite celebrates their historic gold medal, the first ever by a U.S. synchronized skating team at a World Championships. Photo by Getty Images
By Jackie Wong
I started this past season talking about what a crucial campaign it was going to be. And this pre-Olympic season did not disappoint, with career-best skates and history-making everywhere for Team USA.
It all culminated with the U.S. winning three disciplines for the first time at one World Championships — and all in front of an energetic, sold-out audience in Boston. Before we turn the page to the Olympic season, here are my top 10 Team USA stories of the season.
The Unexpected and Triumphant Return of Alysa Liu
We all knew this was going to be a story this year, but what we didn’t know was just how incredible the character arc would be within six short months. Within a matter of 14 months, Alysa Liu went from getting on the ice for the first time in almost two years to winning the World title — the first for an American woman in the singles event since 2006. The growth in her skating and her belief was evident at each competition. And for a skater to take two years off and come back with better basics and noticeably stronger musicality — well, that’s just unheard of.
Jason Brown Rediscovers His Voice
For most of the season, Jason Brown was lost — the surety in his usually impeccable skating was nowhere to be found; he couldn’t find half his jumps. Even Brown himself questioned whether his time was up. And it wasn’t until he made the leap to retool his equipment that he realized that it wasn’t him, it was the skates he had been trying to make magic with. He returned to competition with a solid eighth-place finish at the World Championships and then ended the season at World Team Trophy with a bang, just in time to vie for a third Olympic berth.
Malinin Undefeated and Ready for Milan
In the past two seasons, Ilia Malinin has won every event except one, and that last defeat came in the fall of 2023 at Grand Prix de France. Since then, it’s been nothing but gold. The moment I will remember from this season will always be the abandon he showed in the short program at the U.S. Championships. This program has become his star turn — every time he goes out there and performs it, he just feels the music and the movements like no other.
Teams Elite Claims Historic Gold
Although the U.S. is acknowledged as having the world’s first-ever (precision) synchronized skating team (Hockettes 1956), the country had never earned a gold medal at a World Synchronized Skating Championships. Until now. Teams Elite from Northbrook, Illinois, broke through at the 2025 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships to claim the gold medal. The two-time and reigning U.S. junior champions were joined on the podium by the Skyliners junior team, which secured bronze. Team USA’s accomplishments this season are historic and show that the future is bright for U.S. synchronized skating.
Efimova and Mitrofanov Leave it all out There
The World Championships for Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov were significant in so many ways, not only because they came into their first Worlds as U.S. champions, not only because it was in their hometown, not only because they were vying for a chance at third Olympic spot for the U.S., but also because they were skating for their friends from The Skating Club of Boston, who perished in a plane crash just two months earlier. The entire arena understood the significance, and for them to deliver the way that they did, it was spectacular.
Chock and Bates Calm and Cool with ‘Take Five’
There was just something about this free dance this season for Madison Chock and Evan Bates. It was nonchalant, it was elegant, it was intricate. It was a way for them to continue showing their versatility without necessarily going the route of the avant-garde. And as they grew into the choreography this season, it worked so well. The Grand Prix Final, where they won their second title, was where it felt like it really gelled. It set them up for the remainder of the season, which included a third consecutive World title.
Amber Glenn Finds a New Gear
Coming into this season, Amber Glenn was always the one who had all the potential but couldn’t figure it out when it mattered. But this campaign was a season of growth and revelation, as she went undefeated for most of the season, including two Grand Prix Series wins enroute to the Grand Prix Final title, the first for a U.S. woman since 2010. But the entire time, a clean free skate eluded her; that is, until the World Team Trophy in Japan, where she landed eight triples, including her signature triple Axel.
Kam and O’Shea Ready for Primetime
It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea this season, but when they were on, they were downright spectacular. What they have improved so much on is the sheer difficulty of the programs they are skating. Neither of their programs ever stop moving, and their short program at the U.S. Championships was the epitome of the kind of potential they have if they can go clean.
Haydenettes Keep on Rollin’
Coming off a season in which they won an historic World silver medal, the Haydenettes continued their incredible run of success by medaling at both of their international events, winning their record 32nd and 15 consecutive U.S. title, culminating with a bronze medal at Worlds. Adding icing on the cake, they performed an exhibition — their short program — in front of a packed house at TD Garden during the World Championships in Boston before heading to their own Worlds in Finland.
Carreira and Ponomarenko Continue Their Ascent
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko continue to improve and find their own voice in ice dance, and that was most evident in their electrifying free dance at the U.S. Championships. Carmen was a head-turning choice for them, not the least because this piece of music has been done so many times by many other skaters. But they put their own stamp on the interpretation. It resulted in a second silver at the U.S. Championships and a career-high fifth at Worlds.
Jackie Wong is a figure skating analyst at Rocker Skating. He has been involved in figure skating for more than 25 years as a skater, coach, choreographer and judge. You can follow him at rockerskating.com and on Twitter and Instagram @rockerskating for comprehensive coverage of figure skating event all season long.
