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

[Sasha'sSpins]

Back in the late 70s there used to be a once-a-year skating event at MSG called Superskates; one year almost every skater at the event skated to Donna Summer. I don’t remember exactly who appeared that year but it was nonstop Donna Summer. I’m not a disco fan and couldn’t wait to flee after the evening was over.

Lol! Thank you for your response!

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Not sure if this goes here, but per goldsk8 on Instagram who posted some Alysa Liu interview tidbits on IG, Alysa is having boot problems and it's affecting her jumping abilities on the 3A and her other jumps. Ilia's dad has been helping her with the boots issue (super kind of him!). Lighting candles and praying to the skate gods and goddesses that Alysa will be able to sort out her boot issues before the Olympic season gets too far along!

Golden Skate on Instagram: "Alysa LIU 🇺🇸 69.62 World champion Alysa Liu started her season with a few surprises for herself and everyone. The little stumble when they called out her name happened because her boots felt a little bit too tight. She ad

1,626 likes, 13 comments - goldsk8 on September 12, 2025: "Alysa LIU 🇺🇸 69.62 World champion Alysa Liu started her season with a few surprises for herself and everyone. The little stumble when they called out her name happened because her boots felt a little bit too tight. She admits that she...

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

Not sure if this goes here, but per goldsk8 on Instagram who posted some Alysa Liu interview tidbits on IG, Alysa is having boot problems and it's affecting her jumping abilities on the 3A and her other jumps. Ilia's dad has been helping her with the boots issue (super kind of him!). Lighting candles and raying to the skate gods and goddesses that Alysa will be able to sort out her boot issues before the Olympic season gets too far along!

Golden Skate on Instagram: "Alysa LIU 🇺🇸 69.62 World champion Alysa Liu started her season with a few surprises for herself and everyone. The little stumble when they called out her name happened because her boots felt a little bit too tight. She ad

1,626 likes, 13 comments - goldsk8 on September 12, 2025: "Alysa LIU 🇺🇸 69.62 World champion Alysa Liu started her season with a few surprises for herself and everyone. The little stumble when they called out her name happened because her boots felt a little bit too tight. She admits that she...

www.instagram.com

I wondered if she was having some boot issues or at least needed to get a new pair of boots when I watched her SP this morning. Both of her boots were super-taped up.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I wondered if she was having some boot issues or at least needed to get a new pair of boots when I watched her SP this morning. Both of her boots were super-taped up.

Boot issues always scare me for skaters! And in the Olympic season it's especially frustrating! Hopefully Alysa will sort out her boot problems asap! I think Jason had boot problems last year before Worlds!

ETA, knowing all of this in hindsight, I'm amazed that Alysa still went for it, debuting a hard jump combo in the bonus no less, and actually stayed on her feet!

Alysa said not to expect too much for her FS. I'd much rather that she water down than risk injury!

I do like that I read in that interview tidbit that the dresses aren't the final product just yet! I understand what she's going for with her sequel SP but imo, she needs to re-think the top portion of the dress. Not sure why but it's not as flattering around the neckline as last year's number was.

 

[orbitz]

I don't think Liu's Gaga LP is much of an improvement choreographically over the Donna Summer LP last season, which in itself was already very empty. I'm surprised that M. Scali is only able to come up with these junior-ish programs for two seasons in a row. I also think the SP this season is not as compelling as last year's.

 

[Allskate]

ETA, knowing all of this in hindsight, I'm amazed that Alysa still went for it, debuting a hard jump combo in the bonus no less, and actually stayed on her feet!

I'm sure she didn't want her first competitive lutz/loop combo to be with screwed up boots. Fortunately, she does seem the type to shrug things off. She laughed when she fell just coming onto the ice. I hope she can resolve the boot problems quickly.

It's so early in the season, so it's hard to know what these programs will look like later on when she has had more time with them (and resolved her boot problems). But, at this point, I prefer her short from last season and her free skate from this season. I think the Bad Romance part in particular has great potential (though it's the "dance, dance, dance" that's stuck in my head!)

 

[skatfan]

I don't think Liu's Gaga LP is much of an improvement choreographically over the Donna Summer LP last season, which in itself was already very empty. I'm surprised that M. Scali is only able to come up with these junior-ish programs for two seasons in a row. I also think the SP this season is not as compelling as last year's.

Huh, Gaga is not junior-ish music at all. Alysa has not been able to train well with the boots issue, but I can see the potential in the choreography, which had input from a pop choreographer. She admitted that she couldn’t show what she can do at this competition.

And having been in the arena at World’s last year, I can tell you nobody thought her free program was juniorish.

 

[Karen-W]

Starr & Ava Marie have been assigned to Trialeti Trophy.

 

[Private Citizen]

Starr & Ava Marie have been assigned to Trialeti Trophy.

Did Ziegler need something to get her a bye to Nationals?

She did not look ready for international competition at Mid-Atlantics, but hopefully she continues a positive trajectory back to full strength.

 

[Karen-W]

Did Ziegler need something to get her a bye to Nationals?

She did not look ready for international competition at Mid-Atlantics, but hopefully she continues a positive trajectory back to full strength.

She needs to be assigned to & compete at 3 internationals in order to get a bye to Nats.

 

[Carolla5501]

Honestly I figure any program you are seeing now is really just "warm up" One of the reasons I quit going to Skate America was I was tired of watching "half baked" programs. (Probably won't be as big an issue this year with the date change)

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I was watching someone’s post on the gram with Alysa doing bad Romance, I think for this to work she needs to go full on crazy…… like go full on lunatic with the choreography and be so into it. Otherwise, she’s just going to look like half of a Lady Gaga.

If she can do it, I think it’s gonna have a lot of power to it.

 

[olympic]

I was watching someone’s post on the gram with Alysa doing bad Romance, I think for this to work she needs to go full on crazy…… like go full on lunatic with the choreography and be so into it. Otherwise, she’s just going to look like half of a Lady Gaga.

If she can do it, I think it’s gonna have a lot of power to it.

She probably will be able to do it in time. She just needs to skate with conviction, which should happen once she breaks in her boots ... I suppose

 

[Willin]

Yeah. I think a huge part of the conviction is early season and boot issues. No one's going to perform well when their skate could break and second.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I’m ready to start the Like a Prayer countdown

 

[Kateri]

I’m ready to start the Like a Prayer countdown

or something like a like a prayer prayer circle?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

or something like a like a prayer prayer circle?

By the way that already exists. @SidelineSkater

 

[Karen-W]

I think due to timing, any skater competing at Skate America (Starr and Josephine) will have a bye to Nationals.

Missed this earlier in the month - Starr & Josephine now both are assigned to 3 internationals, so they will have a Bye to Nationals.

 

[Karen-W]

And here we are, two more NQS events in the books! The NQS takes a break next weekend but resumes with the last 3 chances to qualify for Sectionals at Texas Trophy, Boston Open & LA Autumn Classic in two weeks.

Senior - Easterns
New England -
1) Cara Wong - 132.80
2) Jamiesen Cyr - 124.83
3) Katie Turcotte - 112.84
4) Clara Delcamino-Yang - 109.07

North Atlantic -
1) Jasmine Clarke - 167.20
2) Ava Marie Ziegler - 150.77 (Nepela Memorial)
3) Jessica Choy - 146.59
4) Maryn Pierce - 136.06

South Atlantic -
1) Juliana Barshay - 149.37
2) Erica Machida - 138.08
3) Maria Platonova - 128.32
4) McKenzie Edwards - 124.82

6 Next Best -
1) Ria Basu - 134.45
2) Alex Evans - 133.99 (Robin Cousins Cup)
3) Clare Seo - 121.08
4) Lindsey Byer - 120.69
5) Imogene Schwarz - 118.96
6) Caroline Santaguida - 113.56

Senior - Midwesterns
Eastern Great Lakes -
1) Emilia Nemirovsky - 195.87 (JGP Bangkok)
2) Alexa Gasparotto - 165.52
3) Kendall Erne - 160.02

Upper Great Lakes -
1) Alina Bonillo - 185.10 (Mids Sectional Champ)
2) Brooke Gewalt - 159.15 (Cranberry Cup)
3) Chloe Levine - 157.75
4) Wren Warne-Jacobsen - 141.89

Southwest -
1) Logan Higase-Chen - 164.08 (JGP Varese)
2) Katie Holling - 143.62
3) Amber Barth - 137.92
4) Alyssa Rich - 126.19

6 Next Best -
1) Lianna O'Grady - 127.05
2) Jayna Hosman - 122.32
3) Hannah Mitchell - 115.80
4) Emma Nigrelli - 113.29
5) Kacey Dockum - 110.05
6) Sydney Struss - 108.65

Senior - Pacific Coasts
Northwest Pacific -
1) Ashlyn Huber - 117.16
2) Riley Solano Mathieson - 114.38
3) Christie Lee Marshall - 105.49
4) Grace Clifford - 101.91

Central Pacific -
1) Ariana Lee - 126.48
2) Joanna Lee - 113.39

Southwest Pacific -
1) Starr Andrews - 176.14 (Cranberry Cup, Nepela Mem, SkAm)
2) Katie Shen - 160.78 (Cranberry Cup)
3) Anabel Wallace - 154.31
4) Lindsey Wang - 151.46

6 Next Best -
1) Soho Lee - 132.46
2) Maile Hilbelink - 127.97
3) Milena Markin - 122.28
4) Keira Hilbelink - 117.32
5) Athena Huang - 111.15
6) Ellie Clopp - 108.42

Junior - Easterns
New England -
1) Alysa Zhang - 142.73
2) Sofia Jarmoc - 127.71
3) Mia Lucas - 111.28
4) Pina Yee - 107.04

North Atlantic -
1) Skylar Lautowa-Peguero - 177.48
2) Melania Blecic - 146.86
3) Leah Sharpe - 142.89
4) Mia Iwase - 137.07

South Atlantic -
1) Sofia Bezkorovainaya - 179.66 (JGP Ankara)
2) Madison Chong - 172.21
3) Kaya Tiernan - 170.54
4) Courali Clay - 140.12

6 Next Best -
1) Meghan Huffman - 135.02
2) Olivia Donayre - 128.19
3) Zhiqi Zhang - 119.55
4) Julianne Wong - 114.28
5) Suemin Shin - 114.14
6) Paige Parlapiano - 113.57

Junior - Midwesterns
Eastern Great Lakes -
1) Annabelle Wilkins - 143.65
2) Erika Gerstenslager - 137.32
3) Carina Tanabe - 135.12
4) Cayla Smith - 134.06

Upper Great Lakes -
1) Jiaying Ellyse Johnson - 183.28 (JGP Baku)
2) Lejla Begicevic - 126.97
3) Madison Xaphakdy - 122.80
4) Madeline Kendig - 120.75

Southwest -
1) Jessica Jurka - 181.19 (JGP Bangkok)
2) Angela Shao - 168.76 (JGP Riga)
3) Tiffany Bunce - 128.46
4) Jolena Grohne - 124.52

6 Next Best -
1) Chloe Stickel - 127.93
2) Isabella Delcourt - 118.86
3) Pearl Rojas - 116.55
4) Madeline Benson - 115.22
5) Addyson McDanold - 114.25
6) Isabel Cooper - 111.45

Junior - Pacific Coasts
Northwest Pacific -
1) Natasha Saladin - 102.67
2) Saskia Leversee - 90.37
2) Katerina Murphy - 89.19
3) Stephanie Coe - 87.35

Central Pacific -
1) Ella Kim - 118.44
2) Angela You - 104.47
3) Arianna Larson - 102.70
4) Ashley Kao - 100.68

Southwest Pacific -
1) Annika Chao - 174.55 (JGP Varese)
2) Hannah Kim - 174.50 (JGP Baku)
3) Alayna Coats - 165.45 (Robin Cousins Cup)
4) Cleo Park - 160.16

6 Next Best -
1) Teryn Kim - 153.88
2) Kelsey Lee - 136.21
3) Hannah Gahan - 131.56
4) Jessie Chen - 122.97
5) Aya Zeleznikar - 122.20
6) Joanne Liu - 116.10

 

[Karen-W]

Annnnnd... Alysa is ditching her new SP.

刘美贤 Alysa Liu on Instagram: "As many of you know, I recently debuted a new short program for the ‘25-‘26 season. However, in light of recent news, my team & I are confidently pursuing a different direction that aligns with my values & just my overall

20K likes, 229 comments - alysaxliu on September 24, 2025: "As many of you know, I recently debuted a new short program for the ‘25-‘26 season. However, in light of recent news, my team & I are confidently pursuing a different direction that aligns with my values & just my overall ethos. I’m...

www.instagram.com

No replacement announced yet, sounds like we'll see Promise on the GP and something different for Nats/the Olympics.

 

[Tesla]

That makes sense.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

What was her program?

This is how it feels by Laufey and D4vid

 

[Tesla]

This is how it feels by Laufey and D4vid

Thank you.

 

[toddlj]

Seems like a smart idea to avoid D4vid at the moment. Plus, I love Promise.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Very wise decision on Alysa's part. As I said in the choreography thread, I'm sure that Alysa and her team will be able to come up with a new SP and the right music to go with it. Alysa has had to deal with boots issues, and now this tragic event associated with one of the artists who sang with Laufey, but she is not the kind to get rattled too much by anything. I think that she'll be just fine.

 

[toddlj]

She has stated the desire to support Laufey and her career. I wonder if she will go with "Let You Break My Heart Again" which she used as an exhibition program last year.

 

[Rukia]

She has stated the desire to support Laufey and her career. I wonder if she will go with "Let You Break My Heart Again" which she used as an exhibition program last year.

my favorite laufey song so i would support this lol

 

[jlai]

I want Alysa to bring back La Strada. Old program that didn’t get much use

 

[Aceon6]

I finally got a chance to see Amber’s Madonna program. Wow. It builds in a just right way and once she gets the crispness into the step sequence, it will be a show stopper.

 

[Karen-W]

I finally got a chance to see Amber’s Madonna program. Wow. It builds in a just right way and once she gets the crispness into the step sequence, it will be a show stopper.

I said this in the pbp thread, but she needs to fix the music edit at the end. It doesn't work at all.