2025 US Nats Womens SP PBP - This Time We Want an Alien Superstar(r)

[livetoskate]

Am I the only one who thinks Amber should be behind Sarah Everhardt (sp?)?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Am I the only one who thinks Amber should be behind Sarah Everhardt (sp?)?

I would have swapped Bradie and Sarah, but only based on vibes. No actual good argument.

 

[cailuj365]

Between the battles of the Irish dances, I thought Sarah had the better program and choreography, but Bradie is a much stronger performer. It's good to see Sarah start to smile, but she could let go and pull the crowd in more.

Well, that was not the best from Amber, but it may be a blessing in disguise to not have the pressure as the leader going into the free. I have no doubt that she'll rebound in the free.

The judges really dumped Lindsey. Ouch. To me, she doesn't look like she enjoys skating. She is in tears before and after the program, even after a relatively good performance. I'm not sure what motivates her to keep going, especially since the judges do not favor her.

Alyssa's program is just stunning, and she skates it so well. Good for her. It felt more like a 73-74 score, but well deserved lead.

 

[genevieve]

Are you sure it's not gonna be Adam's Oly FS?

OK, because this is US Nationals, I was all, Rippon's coming back and thinks he'll make the Oly team??

 

[Simone411]

Alysa is back! Alysa is back, y'all. She was smooth, flowing and her jumps were incredible! Laissez les bon temps rouler! Bradie was spectacular. She's more confident, sturdy and I'm very proud of her. I believe Amber will come back with a great LP. I know she was disappointed and all, but every skater has their bad days because they're only human. I believe Amber can brush that off, throw that disappointment away and toss it into the garbage can. Way to go to all of them and congrats!

 

[Wyliefan]

Just out of curiosity, supposing the standings were the same after the free, I wonder what would become of Isabeau's petition.

 

[Karen-W]

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[bladesofgorey]

I'm well aware of that, but Thorngren strikes me as both introverted and shy. She tends to hide her face in the kiss & cry and avoid looking straight into the camera amongst other behaviors. I don't know her personally so I may be way off base.

She's very shy, and she's introverted. She's also a kind and lovely human, so NGL watching her seem so distressed while competing now hurts my heart.

 

[tangerine dream]

She's very shy, and she's introverted. She's also a kind and lovely human, so NGL watching her seem so distressed while competing now hurts my heart.

Thanks for that info, I hope she knows she has many of us rooting for her and that some of us really relate to her. It's not easy growing up shy and introverted in the US where extraversion is considered so much more desirable.

 

[mtnskater]

My overall impression is I’m getting 1990’s vibes from U.S. senior ladies in that this is the most depth we’ve had in a long time time. I enjoyed so many skates, even in the first group. Can’t imagine how even more exciting this would have been with a healthy Isabeau and Ava Marie. I still missed them.

Alysa has such an amazing head for competition. What a gorgeous short program.

 

[skatfan]

Just out of curiosity, supposing the standings were the same after the free, I wonder what would become of Isabeau's petition.

That’s a good question. Amber is on the team based on the Fall and medaling here. If Alysa ends up in second, then she’s on the World team too. I think the question would be between Braddie and Isabeau.

 

[Jarrett]

Watching Elyce burst into tears in the kiss and cry after the video cut from her to Amber was heartbreaking. Her coaches were trying to console her for a while.

 

[Debbie S]

From the arena....

I knew the crowd was going to be upset after Lindsay's scores came up. There seem to be quite a few (local, i assume) attendees who aren't that familiar with skating. Which is good that skating might convert some new fans but bad when people think judging is amiss when it's not (and scream at every single element, like the people behind us during the pairs ). I do think Lindsay and Elyce were undermarked a bit but I think they were placed in the correct range.

I thought Alysa was overmarked. Yes, it was the best performance of the night and deserved 1st but not by 5 points. If Bradie's 3T gets called a q so should Alysa's. Which is what the tech panel at Worlds would do. Clearly, USFS thinks Alysa should be at Worlds but given the way she was scored on the GP, why would they think she would place high enough to secure 3 spots for the Olys? Do they think her jumps have improved to the point she won't get the calls? And that she'll be landing clean 3As in 2 months?

Ting has been skating more confidently this season so I wasn't expecting her to have a meltdown. I hope she can skate a clean FS tomorrow. She has worked very hard to get back to Nats and I want her to have good memories.

 

[her grace]

I’m most miffed for Everhardt who isn’t getting the advantage she should for cleanly rotating her jumps.

Liu, Tennell, and Glenn should score higher than her on PCS, but she should make up ground on TES where Liu got a gift of no calls and Tennell and Glenn got laughable q calls instead of carrots. Tennell especially wuz gifted because both jumps of her combo weren’t rotated.

It’s not a fair fight when the calling is poor.

 

[mattiecat13]

Also from the arena. I wasn’t upset about Lindsay’s scores until I saw Amber’s. A two-footed triple axel and a triple double combination gets third? Child please. I dislike Nationals inflation but really despise it when a very flawed performance by a favorite is so obviously held up.

 

[tony]

Also from the arena. I wasn’t upset about Lindsay’s scores until I saw Amber’s. A two-footed triple axel and a triple double combination gets third? Child please. I dislike Nationals inflation but really despise it when a very flawed performance by a favorite is so obviously held up.

A two-footed 3A is still going to score more points than a clean 2A. That's how the system is. A two-footed 3A with a 'q' call is also going to score more points than a good 2A because judges barely reduce GOE in that case. The problem is Nationals panels selectively use < and << for when it seems to benefit them to get the teams that they want, and the +GOE and PCS have always been through the roof for skaters that (haven't and) won't get anywhere near those scores internationally.

FWIW, the most perfect double Axel (better than what Kaori Sakamoto scores for hers) would get 4.95 base value points. A -4 GOE triple Axel receives 4.80.

Just out of curiosity, supposing the standings were the same after the free, I wonder what would become of Isabeau's petition.

Easy. Tennell dumped from the team for Glenn and Levito.

 

[Matryeshka]

I don't think there's any discussion that Isabeau will be on the team if she's healthy. It would be even beyond USFS's stupidity to leave her off. I'm not even a huge fan of Isabeau and I'd put her on the team.

I think it's a little early to be gnashing our nails over Alyssa/Sarah. So far, Alyssa has done really well in the SP but not so well in the LP this season and I think there is a possibility the pressure will get one of them. I'm sure it's going to be Isabeau, Amber, and who ever finishes the highest out of Bradie, Alyssa, or Sarah. I think for different reasons Bradie, Alyssa, and Sarah are all solid choices so they might as well just go with whoever ends up with the highest finish.

My personal opinion based on absolutely nothing:
Since this is about getting placements for the Olympics, if Sarah's clean, I'd go with her as she's the most consistent and it would be like an introduction for the next Olympic cycle. Bradie is tried and true, handles pressure well, and is known by the judges, and has a good shot of a top 12 finish, so I understand giving her the nod. To me the real wild card is sending Alyssa. Her international results have been OK, but she's dinged especially in the LP on rotations, and sometimes the judges get super picky with that at Worlds.

 

[Jammers]

Just out of curiosity, supposing the standings were the same after the free, I wonder what would become of Isabeau's petition.

If Isabeau isn't 100% by the time of Worlds they should keep her off the team since they will decide not just spots for Worlds next season but the Olympics. Last season i wouldn't have said that but the US Ladies are so much deeper this year with Alysa and Bradie's return and Sarah having a breakout year.

 

[Karen-W]

OMG, folks, stop the handwringing over the spots & how any of these women would score compared to the rest of the field. I'm firmly convinced that whatever combination of three we send will do just fine with earning three spots (especially knowing that Loena's status is highly questionable).

Personally, I think Bradie is going to wind up behind both Amber & Sarah tonight. Her SP has been the stronger program for her all season, while Sarah usually improves in the FS. Yes, Sarah got a little hosed with the lack of correct calling for Bradie's jumps, but that was a huge score for her and the fact that Bradie is only .5 ahead of her is pretty significant.

At this point, I'm wondering if we should be discussing her for the 4CCs team rather than Jr Worlds. If Sherry does well tonight, then a Jr Worlds team of Sherry/Sophie is an option none of us had really considered.

 

[PRlady]

OMG, folks, stop the handwringing over the spots & how any of these women would score compared to the rest of the field. I'm firmly convinced that whatever combination of three we send will do just fine with earning three spots (especially knowing that Loena's status is highly questionable).

Personally, I think Bradie is going to wind up behind both Amber & Sarah tonight. Her SP has been the stronger program for her all season, while Sarah usually improves in the FS. Yes, Sarah got a little hosed with the lack of correct calling for Bradie's jumps, but that was a huge score for her and the fact that Bradie is only .5 ahead of her is pretty significant.

At this point, I'm wondering if we should be discussing her for the 4CCs team rather than Jr Worlds. If Sherry does well tonight, then a Jr Worlds team of Sherry/Sophie is an option none of us had really considered.

Sherry is an amazing performer at her young age. She makes you sit up and notice, or at least she did for exhausted me last night. With a decent FS she’d be a great bet for Jr Worlds along with Sophie.

 

[Karen-W]

Sherry is an amazing performer at her young age. She makes you sit up and notice, or at least she did for exhausted me last night. With a decent FS she’d be a great bet for Jr Worlds along with Sophie.

She was also 8th at Jr Worlds last year, which isn't the greatest result, and I worry that without a triple-triple she won't finish as high as that this year. But I'd trust her more than Elyce at this point.

 

[her grace]

Regarding junior worlds, I think beating all the Japanese and Korean skaters is out of reach for the Americans except Von Felton if she hit cold. The aim should be to be the third-best nation and to defeat every other skating nation, many of whom have skaters with 3-3s in their SP like France’s Gladki, China’s Wang, Estonia’s Goidina, KAZ’s Samodelkina, Finland’s Karhunen, and whomever Italy and Switzerland decide to send. It’s going to be stiff competition.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

She was also 8th at Jr Worlds last year, which isn't the greatest result, and I worry that without a triple-triple she won't finish as high as that this year. But I'd trust her more than Elyce at this point.

TBH I would be very concerned about sending Elyce to Jr. Worlds at this point. She has had HUGE short program struggles this year. Her results have been well clear of making the FS, which is good. But burying yourself in the short could still be a kiss of death.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Sherry is an amazing performer at her young age. She makes you sit up and notice, or at least she did for exhausted me last night. With a decent FS she’d be a great bet for Jr Worlds along with Sophie.

Can I ask a question, just wondering… I understand she does things really well but is a triple / double really junior worlds content? I’m just wondering.

 

[sk8nlizard]

I’m no Bradie fan, but I’m not necessarily surprised she’s ahead of Sarah. Bradie did harder technical content, giving her a bit of a point advantage before the rotation issues, and her spins are significantly better than just about the entire field here. She also has better presentation than Sarah (even though I can’t stand this program). It’s not like it was a blow out they are just minimal points apart.

My guess is the powers that be want Alyssa and Amber on the World’s team. They gave Alyssa a huge score to give her a cushion for the free, figuring if Amber was clean they could push her score even higher above that going into World’s. Bradie and Alyssa tend to get dinged on jump rotations so I imagine at the end of the night it will be Amber, Alyssa, Sarah, Bradie (though Amber/Alyssa could end up switched).

 

[her grace]

Can I ask a question, just wondering… I understand she does things really well but is a triple / double really junior worlds content? I’m just wondering.

No, it’s not.

The top 17 finishers in the SP at 2024 junior Worlds attempted a triple-triple. 18th place was aiming for a 3-3, but fell on the first jump. Every other girl who qualified to the LP had a 3-3 in her program.

Of the top 10 in the SP, everyone landed their triple-triple except Japan’s Uezono, who fell on the second jump, but compensated with superb PCS.

Sherry Zhang finished in 11th place in the short after falling on her 3t-3t.

 

[tangerine dream]

IMO the junior worlds team should be Sarah & Sophie.

 

[BittyBug]

Regarding junior worlds, I think beating all the Japanese and Korean skaters is out of reach for the Americans except Von Felton if she hit cold.

Does von Felton have U.S. citizenship? And if not, then isn't she ineligible? I thought for single you have to be a citizen of the country you're representing (whereas for pairs and dance it's ok if one member of the team is not a citizen as long as the other is).

 

[Karen-W]

Does von Felton have U.S. citizenship? And if not, then isn't she ineligible? I thought for single you have to be a citizen of the country you're representing (whereas for pairs and dance it's ok if one member of the team is not a citizen as long as the other is).

That's only for the Olympics.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

That's only for the Olympics.

For the Olympics, both partners must have citizenship.