2026 US Nationals Figure Skating Womens SP "Like a Scare" (they're going to take you there)

[Lara]

Amber

Awesome final group and great event overall. The US will have a strong women’s team in Milan for sure. I love how well each SP perfectly suited the top three.

 

[Jammers]

Those 3 ladies will make up one of the strongest Olympic US Ladies teams ever.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Ilia can handle doing four programs and he could handle doing four quad Axel’s in the free program both times too.

Split the women and let them have a rest so to say. And split dance.

And dance gets split between ChockBat and ZinKol.

 

[Karen-W]

Hellllrrrrrrr what were you just watching?

Her hit ratio for clean SPs leaves a lot to be desired, tonight notwithstanding.

 

[tony]

Sat with not only Hamada but also Boitano, Meagan Duhamel, and Bruno Marcotte for the women’s shorts. What an amazing final group.

Attendance was already 80%+ plus tonight.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Her hit ratio for clean SPs leaves a lot to be desired, tonight notwithstanding.

Wrong wrong wrong only once this season at the Grand Prix final short program. All the other times her preseason and her regular events were fine.

 

[Karen-W]

Ilia can handle doing four programs and he could handle doing four quad Axel’s in the free program both times too.

Split the women and let them have a rest so to say. And split dance.

And dance gets split between ChockBat and ZinKol CarPon.

fixed that for ya!

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Hellllrrrrrrr what were you just watching?

We weren't born yesterday so we've seen more than one Amber short program?

I know rational isn't your thing, but consistency isn't about one day. Have you already repressed the GPF?

 

[Karen-W]

We weren't born yesterday so we've seen more than one Amber short program?

I know rational isn't your thing, but consistency isn't about one day. Have you already repressed the GPF?

Or Worlds last year....

 

[kwanette]

The girlies delivered! Kudos to all! A great night!

 

[Jammers]

Ilia can handle doing four programs and he could handle doing four quad Axel’s in the free program both times too.

Split the women and let them have a rest so to say. And split dance.

And dance gets split between ChockBat and ZinKol.

Too many points will be lost without C/B skating both segments.

 

[~tapdancer~]

I am still kinda reeling from watching that final group. We are so blessed to have the lady skaters we have.

 

[Karen-W]

Too many points will be lost without C/B skating both segments.

No more than if Jason skates the FS rather than Ilia.

 

[Matryeshka]

I'm so sorry I will not be able to watch the RD tomorrow--it's going to be a blood bath. And by that, I mean the commentary on FSU. I had my knife (or caps lock) ready.

 

[skatfan]

Those 3 ladies will make up one of the strongest Olympic US Ladies teams ever.

Yamaguchi, Kerrigan, Harding
Kwan, Cohen, Hughes

 

[Rob]

I think for Amber, Alysa, and Isabeau this is more of a coronation than a competition and that has to take some of the pressure off.

Yes and they cooperated with the desired podium so far.

 

[MacMadame]

Ilia can handle doing four programs and he could handle doing four quad Axel’s in the free program both times too.

But he'd be depriving another Mens team member of a medal.

Split the women and let them have a rest so to say. And split dance.

I say we put @Karen-W in charge as the new Team Event coach. She decides.

 

[Braulio]

Women SP Group 3

Women SP Group 3 2026 US Nationals

Women SP Group 3 2026 US Nationals

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Interview to the Women Olympic Team

- YouTube

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youtu.be

 

[Karen-W]

But he'd be depriving another Mens team member of a medal.


I say we put @Karen-W in charge as the new Team Event coach. She decides.

I appreciate the vote of confidence! After all, I was one of the only people in 2022 who believed the USA could win the gold. I mean, it didn't work out when Russia used their doped-up girlie, but it worked out in the end.

Honestly, if I had my druthers, I would have Ilia skate both the SP & FS of the TE. I agree with those who state that a watered-down FS on the tech content level - 3 quads in the back half of the program - 4A, 4Lz+1Eu+3F, 4S+3A - would be more than enough to win against any of the other men in the likely TE FS field.

My biggest concern with Amber is how she loses mental focus all too often in her programs. I'd put Alysa in the SP because I trust her steady nerves and Japan may not use Kaori in the TE SP since she's been named as one of their OC Flag Bearers. If that's the case then I'm confident Alysa would beat Mone in that segment. I'd rather have Amber against Kaori in the TE FS - Amber's 3A matters more there.

And, after today, I'm beyond concerned about our Pairs in the TE. If KamO skate like that in the TE SP, they're going to get BURIED with the deep field (MiuKih, MetBeru, ConMac, SDDes, SuiHan, possibly even VLDigs may beat them).

No, I wouldn't make ChoBat do both segments of the TE. Have to wait until Saturday to see how CarPon fare with their revamped "Perfume" FD, but I'd lean toward using them in the TE over ZingKol simply because CarPon have more major event experience and that matters - right now, I think both ZingKol and CarPon have an equal chance of finishing no worse than 3rd in the TE FD, likely 2nd if France knocks Canada out of the FS/FD phase.

 

[Coco]

So glad Johnny called out inconsistent calling.

 

[Matryeshka]

I don't think there's any universe where splitting the dance in the TE makes any kind of sense, and I don't even care for ChocBates.
As much as I love Z/K, their qualification to the GPF was due to having easier GPs, the unexpected dumpage of the Italians in France and unexpected mistakes from top teams. It just doesn't make sense, knowing that if everyone skates clean, Z/K (or GreenP or CarPoms) would most likely go behind either Canadian team, either French team, and the Italians. Why would you put a team in knowing their highest is going to be fourth when you could put in a team knowing their lowest is probably second?

US Pairs truly is a chaos demon and it doesn't matter what they do, split it, give it to one, any combination would be armchair quarterbacked to death.

I think all three of our women are strong and it doesn't really matter who does what. I'd be more willing to go rogue and have Isabeau and Amber do it, as Alysa has the best shot at an individual medal. This way, all three of them can have an Oly medal, and all three are so deserving of one. This is a rare Pollyanna moment for me.

Just because of timing, the men should be split, but just what we see of Ilia, I'll bet he wants to do all of the Team Events. Sucks for Jason, but Ilia seems like he'd be chomping at the bit to have one last chance to make minor tweaks before the individual and use the team event to do it.

 

[leilaofpaper]

Women SP Group 3

Women SP Group 3 2026 US Nationals

Women SP Group 3 2026 US Nationals

ok.ru

Interview to the Women Olympic Team

- YouTube

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youtu.be

That interview with the three of them is so sweet. Especially Alysa and Isabeau’s reaction to Amber saying “retirement”, lol

 

[Karen-W]

I don't think there's any universe where splitting the dance in the TE makes any kind of sense, and I don't even care for ChocBates.
As much as I love Z/K, their qualification to the GPF was due to having easier GPs, the unexpected dumpage of the Italians in France and unexpected mistakes from top teams. It just doesn't make sense, knowing that if everyone skates clean, Z/K (or GreenP or CarPoms) would most likely go behind either Canadian team, either French team, and the Italians. Why would you put a team in knowing their highest is going to be fourth when you could put in a team knowing their lowest is probably second?

How in the world do you think they'd wind up 4th in the TE FD?

The TE FS/FD will consist of the following nations:

USA
Japan
Italy
Georgia
France OR Canada

There is no way that either ZingKol or CarPon finish behind YoMori or DavSmo in the FD. At worst, they'll be 3rd - and I'd bet hard cash on both of them beating LopBri if France makes the TE FS/FD over Canada (there's no way that FBCiz skate the TE FD). ZingKol already beat LopBri at CoC this fall and CarPon beat LopBri at 2024 Worlds with their "Perfume" FD, so there's no reason to think that won't happen again in the TE FD in Milano-Cortina. If Canada makes the TE FS/FD instead, well, sure, neither beats GilPoir and they may not beat LajLag, but, again, they're not finishing lower than 3rd in the TE FD, whichever team is used.

 

[skatfan]

Could we move the TE discussion to the appropriate thread please? Thank you in advance.

 

[Alilou]

Women SP Group 3

Women SP Group 3 2026 US Nationals

Women SP Group 3 2026 US Nationals

ok.ru

Interview to the Women Olympic Team

- YouTube

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youtu.be

Thank you so much for this! It's the only way I'll get to see anything of US nats. I hope some dance becomes available.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Women SP Group 3

Women SP Group 3 2026 US Nationals

Women SP Group 3 2026 US Nationals

ok.ru

Interview to the Women Olympic Team

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

Thanks for posting the link to the video. I just watched the top 3. They all skated great. I enjoyed Alysa the most. Her musical sensitivity is outstanding.

 

[AnnM]

@AnnM I love your coat

Thank you! I'm so happy it got to see the light of day since there's like two days a year I can legitimately wear it where I live.

My teenager told me I need to keep a more encouraging expression on my face lol.

 

[Dobre]

Great night tonight for the ladies! So great to see Alysa go up, bam! Lay it down under the pressure. (Alysa has always had great spins. It has been technically separating her from the pack since at least Junior Nationals, I'd say). Isabel go up, hearing the record-breaking score that Alysa set and bam! Lay it down under the pressure. And Amber go up and make the most of everything she's got--which is the axel/4 triples in the short--plus a great piece of music this season. (This is the best Madonna music this season. Sorry/not sorry, dancers).

The U.S. will split the dance portion of the team event when pigs fly.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

But he'd be depriving another Mens team member of a medal.

Well, yeah, that’s the thing you can only split two disciplines so somebody has to be deprived somewhere. We don’t have a plethora of pairs teams to split so that should not be split. Amber and Alyssa would both contribute equally, after Ilia I don’t think Jason can place first in the short or free program in the team event so we need Ilya for both.

IMO the only thing that makes sense to split is women and dance.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

She has the highest potential, but is much more of a risk. Alyssa's SP is a safer bet.

would you have Amber do the free? If we split the women? And have Alysa do the short? Let’s wait to see the gaga program I think.