Alysa Liu stuns Rinka Watanabe: How Did the American star make a comeback to win Skate America 2025?
Alysa Liu
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The 2025 edition of Skate America delivered a dramatic weekend of elite competition, culminating in a breakthrough victory for American star Alysa Liu. Despite entering the free skate in second place, Liu produced her strongest performance of the season to climb to the top of the podium for the first time at this event, continuing a year marked by consistency and resilience.
Japan’s Rinka Watanabe had led after the short program, bolstered by an impressive triple Axel and a season-high score of 74.35 — edging Liu by just 0.62 points. Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann rounded out the top three after the opening round with 69.69, while Anastasiia Gubanova and Kim Chaeyeon completed the top five. Both Watanabe and Liu entered the weekend still in contention for spots at December’s Grand Prix Final in Nagoya.
Liu’s short program, performed to “Promise,” received a standing ovation from the packed crowd inside the historic Herb Brooks Arena. Although visibly emotional, she acknowledged afterward that a few technical lapses may have cost her the lead. “I did not skate that good,” she said. “There were some silly mistakes.” Still, her performance kept her within striking distance heading into the decisive free skate.
On Sunday, Liu delivered when it mattered most. Skating second-to-last with pressure at its peak, she executed a clean and expressive “MacArthur Park Suite” routine, earning 140.54 — her best free skate score of the season. Her total score pushed her into first place, setting a difficult target for Watanabe.
Watanabe entered the ice immediately after. Although she recovered quickly from an early wobble and showcased her signature jumping power, she could not match Liu’s score. Her 136.61 placed her four points behind the American, securing silver. The result marks Liu’s first career Grand Prix victory and comes on the heels of her world championship title earlier this year.
The win strengthens Liu’s path toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, where the United States will aim to end a medal drought in women’s singles that stretches back to Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006. With strong placements at both Cup of China and Skate America, Liu is expected to be a central figure in Team USA’s Olympic campaign.
On the ice dance side, American pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates extended their dominance with a commanding win. Their Lenny Kravitz–themed rhythm dance on Saturday and a powerful paso doble routine on Sunday earned them 212.58 points — more than 15 points ahead of Canada’s Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha. The victory is their fifth Skate America title, tying the event record held by Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto.
Chock and Bates, now competing as a married pair, are in pursuit of a third consecutive Grand Prix Final title and an unprecedented fourth Olympic appearance. Their momentum places them among the favorites heading into the U.S. Championships in January.
As the Grand Prix Series moves toward its conclusion, Skate America 2025 has set the stage for a high-stakes run into the Olympic season — and for Alysa Liu, the weekend in Lake Placid may be remembered as the moment her campaign truly ignited.
FAQ
1. Who won the women’s event at Skate America 2025?
Alysa Liu won the women’s competition after placing first in the free skate.
2. Who led after the short program?
Japan’s Rinka Watanabe led after the short program with 74.35 points.
3. What was Alysa Liu’s free skate score?
She scored 140.54, her season’s best.
4. Who won the ice dance event?
Madison Chock and Evan Bates secured the ice dance title.
5. When are the 2026 Winter Olympics?
They will take place in February 2026 in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
