U.S. Women [#8]: Meet Me in St. Louis

[Allskate]

The return of the triple Axel!

And a very nice one. I wonder if she has reworked the Lady GaGa program to open with a triple axel.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

It's Jimmy Fallon he seems like a nice guy but is awful as a talk show host.

Ru said the same thing.

 

[Willin]

@Jammers @AngieNikodinovLove (ANL) He is, after all, the host with all the rumors of being a barely functional alcoholic.

He somehow managed to make the interview with Alysa unwatchable all on his own.

 

[Sylvia]

Bradie Tennell had a very thoughtful conversation with "St. Louis on the Air" NPR when she did a local media blitz there this past weekend (her photos https://instagram.com/p/DSOiIg-jFfW/):

U.S. Figure Skating Championships brings two-time champ Bradie Tennell to St. Louis

Bradie Tennell has rediscovered her love of figure skating after injuring her ankle in 2023.

www.stlpr.org

She says she was attendance the last time St. Louis hosted Nationals in 2006 (age 7-almost-8)!

I agree @peibeck!

This is a great interview with thoughtful probing, but not invasive questions. And Bradie's responses are equally good, and she speaks quite reflectively and realistically about her injuries and goals coming into Nationals.

 

[Bulletsdad]

And a very nice one. I wonder if she has reworked the Lady GaGa program to open with a triple axel.

I wouldn't be surprised. Her three jump combo could then be a 3lz, 2a, 2a, in effect, replacing a 2lp with a 3a. Even if the 3a is underrotated, it's still about five extra points.

 

[tony]

I wouldn't be surprised. Her three jump combo could then be a 3lz, 2a, 2a, in effect, replacing a 2lp with a 3a. Even if the 3a is underrotated, it's still about five extra points.

If the 3A is < then it's losing base value and probably getting a -2 at best. 6.40 points minus 1.28 (or more). That's 5.12 points. If she drops to a -3 then she's at 4.48 points. Underrotated jumps do not keep the full base value.

Her 2A at the end of the GPF free skate was (in the bonus) 4.29 points for comparison.

If she replaces the 2T with the 2A in the combo to open up the 3A attempt, then she gets 2.20 more base value points if it stays second half, but also has to get through a more difficult sequence to begin with.

If the 3A isn't squeaky clean, it's really not that much more of a benefit by possibly underrotating and get negative GOE.

 

[natsulian]

DELETE

 

[natsulian]

DELETE

 

[Bulletsdad]

If the 3A is < then it's losing base value and probably getting a -2 at best. 6.40 points minus 1.28 (or more). That's 5.12 points. If she drops to a -3 then she's at 4.48 points. Underrotated jumps do not keep the full base value.

Her 2A at the end of the GPF free skate was (in the bonus) 4.29 points for comparison.

If she replaces the 2T with the 2A in the combo to open up the 3A attempt, then she gets 2.20 more base value points if it stays second half, but also has to get through a more difficult sequence to begin with.

If the 3A isn't squeaky clean, it's really not that much more of a benefit by possibly underrotating and get negative GOE.

The 3 loop will also probably replace the 2 axel in bonus.

 

[tony]

The 3 loop will also probably replace the 2 axel in bonus.

The difference is adding 0.16 additional points in TES for doing the loop in the second half instead versus what she was getting for the 2A in the second half bonus.

 

[Allskate]

The triple axels we've seen aren't <. Also, IMO, skaters who land triple axels sometimes get PCS bumps as a result.

Of course, that doesn't mean that all her triple axels look like that in runthroughs.

Alysa didn't just start practicing triple axels last week. She has been practicing them since last season and more recently she said she has been practicing them most days. (Last week, she went to Philly and she didn't practice them every day, but that seems to be the exception.) She and her coaches obviously have considered whether it is worth the risk of putting it in the program. So far, they have decided that it is not.

However, she is pretty much a lock for the Olympic team, so she might decide that it is worth trying it at Nationals when there isn't that much on the line and she isn't competing against the Japanese women. She might just want to do it for the sake of it and the challenge. Like Ilia doing the quad axels and 7 quad long program at the GP Final even though he hadn't been doing that most of the season and the reward for a quad axel generally isn't worth the risk.

 

[Sylvia]

In this episode of Hometown Hopefuls, Bradie Tennell talks to NBC Chicago's Alex Maragos (who previously chatted with Jason Brown - link is posted in his fan thread) about her physical and mental strength to reach top skating form once again. She also shared...why she would “do it all over again.” (20-min. interview uploaded on 12/18/25):

'I couldn't walk': Bradie Tennell chases Olympic comeback after injuries | Hometown Hopefuls S2:E2

Team USA Figure Skater Bradie Tennell is chasing a second Winter Olympics after overcoming incredible challenges. Injuries, falls and boot problems have made...

www.youtube.com

NBC Washington's 3.5-minute story on Sarah Everhardt (Dec. 17): https://www.nbcwashington.com/video...e-skater-sets-sights-on-winter-games/4030955/
She graduated from Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia, in May and the segment includes a clip of her parents, Jonathan and Ekaterina, in the audience watching her compete.

 

[Stephanie]

Based on nationals bios, Logan Higase-Chen has switched to Tracy Wilson and Brian Orser, training in Toronto, although Tammy is still listed as a coach as well.

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

Based on nationals bios, Logan Higase-Chen has switched to Tracy Wilson and Brian Orser, training in Toronto, although Tammy is still listed as a coach as well.

ISU bio says the same thing (in case anyone suspected a mistake).

 

[Sylvia]

Logan is included in Toronto Cricket Club's Family Skate Holiday Party video, posted yesterday: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSpunTjCklP/

And in this edge class video posted by teamcricketofficial on Dec. 9: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSCuBNYjcSa/

 

[Sylvia]

Cross-posting from the 2026 U.S. Nationals forum in Kiss & Cry:

PRACTICE GROUPS (as of 12/10/25; Subject to change): https://usfigureskating.org/documents/2025/12/10/2026_U.S._Championships_Practice_Groups.pdf

CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN
Group A: Starr Andrews, Sonja Hilmer, Isabeau Levito, Elyce Lin-Gracey, Erica Machida, Katie Shen
Group B: Brooke Gewalt, Amber Glenn, Logan Higase-Chen, Bradie Tennell, Sherry Zhang, Ava Ziegler
Group C: Sarah Everhardt, Sophie Joline von Felten, Josephine Lee, Alysa Liu, Emilia Nemirovsky, Anabel Wallace

The Practice Groups document was updated today (12/29) and Ava Ziegler's name in Group B has been replaced by first alternate Alina Bonillo (5th at Mids).

 

[Coco]

Noooooo

 

[Sylvia]

Posted in this thread on Dec. 9:

Just a Q - Who is Alina Bonillo? I saw her ranked on skating scores dot com, but don't see her on the list of entries for Nationals although skating scores notes that she is eligible for Seniors as of last year.

https://usfigureskating.org/sports/figure-skating/roster/alina-bonillo/1282

COMPETITIVE HISTORY

• 2025 Tallinn Trophy – 3rd (her ISU CS debut)
• 2026 Midwestern Sectional Singles Final – 5th
• 2025 Tayside Trophy – 1st
• 2025 Maria Olszewska Memorial – 6th
• 2025 U.S. Championships – 15th [she attempted 3A in practice in Wichita]
• 2025 Midwestern Sectional Singles Final – 1st
• 2024 Cranberry Cup International, Junior – 14th
• 2024 U.S. Championships, Junior – 13th ...

Alina's 3A in practice in Dec. 2023: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0aGSGYLKb8/
I don't believe she has attempted 3A in competition yet.

 

[Sylvia]

2026 ISU Four Continents Championships (Jan. 21-25 in Beijing) preliminary entries were published online today and the USFS is being allowed to submit their entries & subs after Nationals (Women's FS is on Friday, Jan. 9).

12 of the 18 women currently scheduled to compete at 2026 Nationals have the 2026 4CC minimum CTES of 75 (as usual, the 3 selected for the Olympic team will bypass 4CC):
Amber GLENN USA 125.30
Alysa LIU USA 119.50
Bradie TENNELL USA 117.03
Elyce LIN-GRACEY USA 114.59
Sarah EVERHARDT USA 111.19
Isabeau LEVITO USA 109.66
Starr ANDREWS USA 102.20
Alina BONILLO USA 96.59
Sonja HILMER USA 85.03
Josephine LEE USA 82.07
Katie SHEN USA 81.62
Brooke GEWALT USA 79.83

5 more have the minimum CTES but are not competing at 2026 Nationals:
Kendall ERNE USA 84.86 (Mids, 6th; won Collegiates in July repping Purdue U Global)
Ava Marie ZIEGLER USA 83.79 (Easterns, 2nd; listed as WD from Nationals today)
Alexa GASPAROTTO USA 80.92 (Mids, 7th)
Michelle LEE USA 79.66 (Easterns, 4th)
Clare SEO USA 77.86 (Easterns, 7th; 2nd at Collegiates repping Stony Brook Univ.)

ETA: 2026 Worlds minimum CTES is 88.

 

[Sylvia]

15 ISU Junior age-eligible women currently scheduled to compete at 2026 Nationals have the 2026 Junior Worlds CTES of 72 (U.S. has 2 spots; dates are March 3–8 in Tallinn):

Sophie Joline VON FELTEN USA 116.83 (Senior at Nationals)
Jessica JURKA USA 103.03
Logan HIGASE-CHEN USA 102.89 (Senior)
Emilia NEMIROVSKY USA 101.92 (Senior)
Elyce LIN-GRACEY USA 101.89 (Senior)
Sofia BEZKOROVAINAYA USA 98.17
Sherry ZHANG USA 97.78 (Senior)
Annika CHAO USA 95.80
Angela SHAO USA 95.33
Josephine LEE USA 94.34 (Senior)
Rachel SAMIRI USA 93.98
Kaya TIERNAN USA 91.79
Alayna COATS USA 89.72
Cleo PARK USA 77.34
Jiaying Ellyse JOHNSON USA 77.16

(Mia KALIN 91.87 decided to take a break from competing this season.)

 

[Skaterbob]

Any statements or report on Ava's current status?

 

[Sylvia]

Glenn Focused, Measured As U.S. Championships Near (12/30/2025 by Troy Schwindt): https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...focused-measured-as-championships-arrive.aspx

Her coach, Damon Allen, said his star athlete is in the best shape ever. "She's lean, mean and ready to go," he said.
Her recent track record, Allen said, speaks volumes.
"These last two seasons she's been over 200 points in every event, which is great for her," Allen said. "She's training smart."
Glenn's introduction to neurotherapy in 2024 has played a pivotal role in her climb to prominence.
"That has been 100 percent a game-changer for her," Allen said. "Figuring how to have coping mechanisms to keep her in her zone, where she needs to be. When she makes a mistake, she can figure out now how to brush it off and refocus. The [Grand Prix] Final, she popped the Axel, made the rest of the program amazing. The old Amber would kind of spiral downward; she's figured out how to refocus and get it done."
Allen said he and Glenn "click" and he's excited about being part of the process in her drive toward the Olympics, the pinnacle of the sport in which he fell just short as a skater.
"I was close," he said. "That was kind of my goal as a coach to have an athlete get where I couldn't get, be better than what I was. So very it's been rewarding and I'm very proud."

 

[Sylvia]

SkatingChina interviewed Sarah Everhardt at 2025 NHK Trophy:

Skating with Confidence: Sarah Everhardt Reflects on Her NHK Trophy Experience | SkatingChina

Sarah Everhardt is one of the rising stars in U.S. figure skating. This season marks her second year on the senior circuit. After competing at Skate Canada International last week, she will participate in her first NHK Trophy this weekend. Fully aware of the physical and mental challenges posed...

skatingchina.com

Q: You might be the first skater to use “Poor Things” as a skating music. It may seems like a big challenge for a young skater, especially It’s a very special movie music. So has Shae-Lynn Bourne (choreographer) given you any special guidance on how to interpret it?

Before we picked the music, I was very tentative to skate to it because I had watched the movie, and I was a little starstruck by it. It’s a bit of a crazy film, but she gave me a story that she saw for the program.That's about the growth and development of Bella, the main character, throughout the movie, showing how she goes from not having any idea what's going on to traveling the world by herself and learning how things work and experience in life.
And that's the story I try and skate in the beginning. It's very like 2D (two-dimensional) , with everything is black and white. The movements are sharp and very contrasting. But as the program progresses the movements get softer and even in the middle I try to do like more like sensual movements cause that's when she like started to experience emotion and love. By the end of the program, she’s happy, she’s with her family, and she’s grown into a woman in the world.

Q: So the atmosphere of the program shifts from something deeper to more like sunshine, right?

Sometimes, yeah , like even in the movie in the beginning of the movie it's filmed in black and white and then when she goes out into the world the movies filmed in color. I think this represents how she begins to see the world in different colors now.

 

[clairecloutier]

Some highlights from Amber's press call last night with reporters:

A Divine Sport on Instagram: "Amber Glenn spoke with reporters last night about how she's feeling as she prepares to defend her National title next week at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Here are some highlights from the convers

2 likes, 0 comments - adivinesport on December 30, 2025: "Amber Glenn spoke with reporters last night about how she's feeling as she prepares to defend her National title next week at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Here are some highlights from the conversation! 📸: Aoran...

www.instagram.com