The United States won its fourth World Team Trophy title Saturday evening in Fukuoka, Japan. The Americans were propelled by solid performances from all four disciplines across three days of competition.
On Saturday, Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc led things off with a solid performance in the pairs competition while Bradie Tennell and Mariah Bell clinched the American win with stellar performances in the ladies free skate.
“We’re very excited,” team captain Madison Hubbell said. “Everyone on our team skated beautifully and I couldn’t be more proud. This is a great way to end our season and the Japanese crowd was so supportive.”
Cain and LeDuc earned 125.24 points to finish fifth in the pairs free skate and earn the United States eight points.
Bradie Tennell finished second in the free skate after earning a season’s best 150.83 points in her final free skate of the season. Bell scored 135.17 points to finish sixth. Together, the duo earned the United States 17 points to seal victory.
Japan finished second in the competition, followed by Russia.
Held every odd year, Team USA has now medaled in all six World Team Trophy events, including winning the event in four times. In 2017, Team USA took third in the event. The United States won the inaugural 2009 competition, earned silver in 2012 (held in an even year because the 2011 event was postponed due to an earthquake and tsunami in Japan) and won gold in 2013 and 2015.
Fans can watch World Team Trophy on-demand with the Figure Skating Pass on NBC Sports Gold.
The event featured the six best figure skating teams of the 2018-19 season, which included Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. Each team consisted of two ladies, two men, one pairs team and one ice dance team. Each skater/team received points based on placements in the short program/rhythm dance and free skate/dance. The points were combined across the four disciplines with the highest point total winning.
