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

[Allskate]

I'm withholding judgment until after CoC. If she can maintain this kind of scoring through her 2nd GP when the pressure is on to qualify for the GPF, then I'll consider her a lock.

Just once I want to see Amber do two clean programs in one competition. I don't even care if she wins, though I'm happy for her that she did get a GP win this week. It's just frustrating. I do wonder how much pressure she will feel to defend her National title. Maybe not as much because she didn't have a great long program last time?

Isabeau has a huge advantage over Sarah in terms of experience and expression. She would have to bomb her next GP and Nats to be left off the team, and we know she’s a cool competitor.

I think Alysa has an advantage over Sarah because judges and audiences don’t use her programs for time to plan that night’s dinner, but that just my opinion.

Isabeau is generally a cool competitor, but not always. She was very nervous at Nationals last year. And she was burned out by the end of the previous season. But, I agree that she really would have to do poorly at her next GP and Nats to be left off the team.

Like you, I find Sarah to be boring. I don't even care if she lands her jumps. I'll be sad if she makes the World team because it will mean that skaters I enjoy more have not stood up to the pressure or have been injured.

I also love that Sarah Everhardt (who reminds me so much of another Sarah it's uncanny) chose selections from Riverdance (like Bradie with LOTD) for her short. So you really sense she has made Boston her mission with that choice.

Ugh. I hate that both of them chose Irish music. And I don't think either of them do well with it.

 

[Karen-W]

And had Shae-Lynn Bourne do the choreo.

@Karen-W Where did you get the above table from? Is it copied directly from USFS website or did you put it together? I'm curious about where the info on who has the ISU score min comes from.

I downloaded the Excel spreadsheet linked on the last page of the selection document and have been inputting the scores as the season has progressed.

https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/2025%20World%20Team%20Selection%20Procedures.pdf

https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/2025%20Four%20Continents%20Selection%20Procedures.pdf

https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/2025%20World%20Junior%20Team%20Selection%20Procedures.pdf

The spreadsheet is the same for all 3.

The ISU score min is going to be directly from the ISU Statistics page - Combined Technical Elements Score links for all Senior & Junior disciplines is down in the middle of the page - https://current.isu.org/figure-skating/entries-results/statistics.

I don't think I've gone through and updated whether which of the skaters in any discipline have earned the CTES mins this season who didn't have them before - thanks for the reminder to go do that.

 

[Debbie S]

I don't think I've gone through and updated whether which of the skaters in any discipline have earned the CTES mins this season who didn't have them before - thanks for the reminder to go do that.

Not all of the skaters you gave a "Y" to have the score mins. They have a score listed but it's not above the cutoff.

 

[Karen-W]

Not all of the skaters you gave a "Y" to have the score mins. They have a score listed but it's not above the cutoff.

I realize that now - I was copying & pasting lines from some skaters when I added others onto the list and forgot to doublecheck that line. I'll go back and re-edit as soon as I've verified everything.

 

[Karen-W]

Not all of the skaters you gave a "Y" to have the score mins. They have a score listed but it's not above the cutoff.

Updated! Going to fix that oversight for the Pairs, Men & Ice Dance tables now, lol.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Isabeau has a huge advantage over Sarah in terms of experience and expression. She would have to bomb her next GP and Nats to be left off the team, and we know she’s a cool competitor.

I think Alysa has an advantage over Sarah because judges and audiences don’t use her programs for time to plan that night’s dinner, but that just my opinion.

BTW, Regina George wants her burn book back!

 

[cailuj365]

I don’t recall Sarah really missing a jump over her last FOUR competitions. That’s nuts. Is that just how Sarah rolls, or do they perform some kind of voodoo down in Virginia? Amber would die for that kind of consistency. I'd love to see her get more difficult 3-3s in both programs and work on her general skating skills and expression now. If she does just one of those things, she's not just challenging for #3 but for #2.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I don’t recall Sarah really missing a jump over her last FOUR competitions. That’s nuts. Is that just how Sarah rolls, or do they perform some kind of voodoo down in Virginia? Amber would die for that kind of consistency. I'd love to see her get more difficult 3-3s in both programs and work on her general skating skills and expression now. If she does just one of those things, she's not just challenging for #3 but for #2.

I am reminded of a statement Jirena Ribbens made about Katarina Witt back in the day.

She said that while Witt may not have been the best skater, she was easily the best competitor from her era.

Sarah reminds me of Kristi Yamaguchi and Sarah Hughes. You can actually relax watching them skate, knowing how consistent both of them were.

 

[tony]

Sarah reminds me of Kristi Yamaguchi and Sarah Hughes. You can actually relax watching them skate, knowing how consistent both of them were.

 

[Private Citizen]

TBH I think Everhardt is overscored and benefitting from the halo effect of her coaches. She also has rotation issues, although she usually escapes with a q, and her flip is off an outside edge even if she skates by with a !.

In the SP, I would have had skating skills in the 6s and the other PCS in the 5s. Honestly there wasn’t much difference than, say, Lea Serna. The free skate was somewhat better, maybe because the choreography let her move. 7 for skating skills, high 5s for the rest. She has a lot of work to do, IMO. And unless she starts trying a harder combo, I would have grave hesitations about putting her on the world team. One mistake at the wrong time and she may not qualify.

 

[mattiecat13]

Just once I want to see Amber do two clean programs in one competition. I don't even care if she wins, though I'm happy for her that she did get a GP win this week. It's just frustrating. I do wonder how much pressure she will feel to defend her National title. Maybe not as much because she didn't have a great long program last time?

If the goal in Boston is to secure three spots for Olympics, I will never trust Amber or Bradie to do it. Amber is way too nervous and unreliable of a competitor. And Bradie has done progressively worse in her last three appearances at worlds. I’d rather USFS leave those two at home and give Isabeau, Alysa and Sarah a shot.

 

[PRlady]

If the goal in Boston is to secure three spots for Olympics, I will never trust Amber or Bradie to do it. Amber is way too nervous and unreliable of a competitor. And Bradie has done progressively worse in her last three appearances at worlds. I’d rather USFS leave those two at home and give Isabeau, Alysa and Sarah a shot.

If Alysa increases her speed and can again overcome her UR tendency, she’s a great choice. She’s all of 19 years old and has Oly experience and a World medal, and her PCS is always high because she’s fun and charismatic. We know she’s a hard worker who addresses her flaws, let’s see how she does on her next GP.

I’m very worried about Isabeau’s jumps but she’s one of the loveliest skaters in the world. Amber is earning a BOW to be proud of. To me they’re the front runners, Elyce and Sarah can dominate in the next quad if meant to be.

 

[mattiecat13]

If Amber earns the spot at 2026 Nationals to go to the Olympics, I’ll be happy for her. And I’d be ok with her going to worlds that year as well. But IMO the stakes are too high in 2025 to send her to worlds.

 

[SidelineSkater]

If Amber continues on this trajectory and is one of the top 3 skaters at Nats, she deserves to go. She has the highest two international SP scores of the season. Her 3A is rock solid, despite the error in the FS this weekend. She's got the PCS advantage over Sarah, even when she's off technically. Consistency without carrots, edge calls, warnings or falls isn't the strong suit of most of the US ladies right now.

 

[AYS]

Although Amber had mistakes in her lp in France, she went for everything, did not pop/double, and she rotated everything. She was the only skater in the field without a <, <<, q, e, or !. She scored 132 with errors on 3 jumping passes, including a F (and a couple of L3's). Her fight throughout the program is a difference from the past, especially given the flip out of the axel to start. I hope she can take a lot of confidence from this into the rest of the season.

 

[Sylvia]

But IMO the stakes are too high in 2025 to send her [Amber] to worlds.

There are 3 spots?

 

[Kateri]

If Amber continues on this trajectory and is one of the top 3 skaters at Nats, she deserves to go. She has the highest two international SP scores of the season.

Her SP score this week is in the top 10 world record women's SP scores. Alysa Liu is the only other American singles woman to have any scores in the top 10 category, and then only for TES, and from before her comeback.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

because judges and audiences don’t use her programs for time to plan that night’s dinner

O…..M……G……

if you weren’t an administrator, I would give u a piece of my mind…….

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Say what you will Sarah Hughes was an exceptional figure skater and entertainer.

 

[PRlady]

O…..M……G……

if you weren’t an administrator, I would have a peace of mind…….

lol if it makes you feel better I can’t Ignore you either.

Being an admin is no protection from being vigorously contested, you (wisely) are not in PI but believe me no one hangs back because of that.

 

[Private Citizen]

Although Amber had mistakes in her lp in France, she went for everything, did not pop/double, and she rotated everything. She was the only skater in the field without a <, <<, q, e, or !. She scored 132 with errors on 3 jumping passes, including a F (and a couple of L3's). Her fight throughout the program is a difference from the past, especially given the flip out of the axel to start. I hope she can take a lot of confidence from this into the rest of the season.

I agree with your overall points.

She did actually leave out a double axel. The 3Lo + 2A was supposed to have another 2A on the end, and she did a beauty in warmup. The triple axel attempt almost becomes “free” as she can do both a 3-3 combo and a 3+2A+2A combo. I believe she’s the only skater with such a layout? The base value advantage means she may not even have to be perfect to medal.

I do feel like she got away with a couple of things that another panel might have called. The 3T in both the SP and FS looked to be at least q, and I wouldn’t bet money on her lutz and flip edges. But there’s hardly another skater who doesn’t have the same risk of calls. Her jumps are as good as anyone’s.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Although Amber had mistakes in her lp in France, she went for everything, did not pop/double, and she rotated everything. She was the only skater in the field without a <, <<, q, e, or !. She scored 132 with errors on 3 jumping passes, including a F (and a couple of L3's). Her fight throughout the program is a difference from the past, especially given the flip out of the axel to start. I hope she can take a lot of confidence from this into the rest of the season.

We love you.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

But IMO the stakes are too high in 2025 to send her to worlds.

Wait, what? How did I not see this. She’s won the gold medal in everything she’s done this season. Including beating the current three time world champion. The only other American to win a Grand Prix medal at the moment is Isabeau and that was by a sliver, and that was a bronze.

Ambers score here would’ve won the gold medal at all the Grand Prix events so far as well.

 

[Lutzes&Loops]

Isabeau has a huge advantage over Sarah in terms of experience and expression. She would have to bomb her next GP and Nats to be left off the team, and we know she’s a cool competitor.

I think Alysa has an advantage over Sarah because judges and audiences don’t use her programs for time to plan that night’s dinner, but that just my opinion.

One is entitled to an opinion, but no need to be downright repeatedly nasty.

 

[Karen-W]

I'm going to point out that it's not placements that matter except at Worlds - it's straight up score data that the USFS is looking at to create the Selection Pool.

After that, sure, things like <<, <, q, !, and e as well as spin & step levels and avg # of falls per program may be something the Int'l Committee takes into consideration when finalizing the ISU Championships assignments.

LOL. Who are we kidding? They're not going to look at that and chances are pretty high that they'll just go with Nats results - even if they have to play fast & loose with who gets close tech panel scrutiny and who doesn't as well as PCS.

 

[BittyBug]

If Alysa increases her speed and can again overcome her UR tendency, she’s a great choice. She’s all of 19 years old and has Oly experience and a World medal, and her PCS is always high because she’s fun and charismatic. We know she’s a hard worker who addresses her flaws, let’s see how she does on her next GP.

If, if, if.

 

[emason]

If, if, if.

Alyssa is hardly the only one who is if, if, if. If, if, if Everhardt could develop some personality; right now she is boring, no matter how good she is technically. If, if, if Levitto could fix her jump technique; if, if, if Lin-Gracey could rise from the depths and skate lights out at Nats, et cetera.

 

[Karen-W]

Alyssa is hardly the only one who is if, if, if. If, if, if Everhardt could develop some personality; right now she is boring, no matter how good she is technically. If, if, if Levitto could fix her jump technique; if, if, if Lin-Gracey could rise from the depths and skate lights out at Nats, et cetera.

The only problem with your "if" scenario is that we have some pretty solid evidence of how well Sarah, Elyce, Alysa will score when they DO stay upright through their FS at a GP. Alysa didn't pop any of her jumps at SCI - we know what the tech panel did to her TES. Same with Elyce at SCI - we know what the tech panel did.

I know a lot of us have our personal opinions on where Sarah's PCS should be but it seems pretty clear, through 3 different Challengers and GPs that international panels do NOT agree with your assessments. Could a different panel see things differently and suddenly drop her PCS to the level you think she should be at? Sure. Is that likely? Not as long as she stays upright, IMO.

Her scores are CRAZY consistent - and it's not as if she's had a home field advantage at any of these events except Cranberry. She has no built-in advantage of competing at a home GP (Isabeau, Bradie, Elyce), she has no advantage of being a World Medalist (Isabeau, Alysa), she has no advantage of being a former US champ (Amber, Isabeau, Bradie, Alysa). And yet, her we are, halfway through the GP, with Sarah having the 2nd highest score of all the US women (with Lindsay still to debut). We'll see where things stand in another three weeks, but if things remain the same, then I'm betting that if she's in the Top 3 at Nats, she's getting named to the Worlds team whether any of you like it or her lack of personality on the ice or not.

 

[Vagabond]

If, if, if Ziegler weren't injured.

 

[cailuj365]

TBH I think Everhardt is overscored and benefitting from the halo effect of her coaches. She also has rotation issues, although she usually escapes with a q, and her flip is off an outside edge even if she skates by with a !.

In the SP, I would have had skating skills in the 6s and the other PCS in the 5s. Honestly there wasn’t much difference than, say, Lea Serna. The free skate was somewhat better, maybe because the choreography let her move. 7 for skating skills, high 5s for the rest. She has a lot of work to do, IMO. And unless she starts trying a harder combo, I would have grave hesitations about putting her on the world team. One mistake at the wrong time and she may not qualify.

She may not qualify for what? The Worlds free skate?

I agree that her current scores are pretty much Sarah's ceiling. Her PCS is as high as it's going to get right now, which are currently much higher than they probably should be, and it's due to her consistency and the knowledge of who her coaches are. Other than the occasional q calls, !, and Lvl 3 spin or sequence, there is not much more than she can max out in terms of TES, so she either has to get more difficult combos or actually put in the work for presentation and skating skills to put herself in the next tier of skaters. She doesn't have a cushion.