Milan‑Cortina, Feb. 17 — The short program shook up expectations for Team USA’s women in a way that felt part drama, part thawing of nerves. Alysa Liu walked off the ice with the clearest statement of the night: a bold technical package, clean execution and choreography that actually communicated something. She landed the rare triple Lutz–triple loop combination—still the most difficult short‑program jump sequence attempted by any woman in Milan—and the judges rewarded her for it. Her spins were clean, her footwork precise, and the program’s emotional thread read plainly in the arena. Family and teammates stood out in her corner, a visible reminder of how much was on the line.
By contrast, the rest of the U.S. field scattered into mistakes that cost both base value and component marks. Isabeau Levito picked up an under‑rotation call on her triple loop and lost ground with a downgraded step sequence; she sits eighth after the short. Amber Glenn’s skate unraveled late—after a promising triple Axel and a valid combination she had to downgrade a planned triple loop, effectively removing that element’s value and her chance to climb the leaderboard. Both skaters must now chase points in the free skate to change their fortunes.
Where Liu stands
Liu’s short program tightened the picture more than it resolved it. Her Lutz–loop combo narrowed the gap to the leaders—she remains within striking distance of Japan’s Ami Nakai and just behind Kaori Sakamoto—and judges gave her strong component marks for interpretation and transitions. In plain terms: she has the tools and tonight she showed she can use them under pressure. That keeps her firmly in the conversation for a medal heading into the longer free skate, where base values and component opportunities expand significantly.
Execution under pressure
What separated Liu from her teammates wasn’t just difficulty; it was execution. The combination was landed with clean rotation and extension, and her spins and step sequence carried solid grades of execution. The result was a program that felt cohesive rather than frantic—an important distinction when the free skate doubles the stage for reward and risk.
The rest of the U.S. squad
For Levito and Glenn, the short program becomes a lesson in how quickly margins shrink at the top. Levito’s technical deductions cost several base‑value points and negative GOEs, forcing a more aggressive free skate strategy if she hopes to climb. Glenn’s aborted element erased a planned contribution and left her visibly upset as she left the ice—an emotional moment that underscored how unforgiving Olympic competition can be.
Bigger picture at the Games
Team USA left Milan with mixed emotions but a clear team highlight: the Americans captured the team gold, a collective achievement that brightened the delegation’s evening. In other events, the storylines diverged: Madison Chock and Evan Bates claimed silver in ice dance amid some discussion about calls, while Ilia Malinin’s hopes for an individual medal slipped away after falls in the free skate.
Across the women’s field, scores tightened. Judges have been less forgiving of technical mistakes in this cycle, and small execution gaps—under‑rotations, edge calls, step‑sequence deductions—are making big differences in placements. That dynamic favors skaters who balance daring with reliability: land high‑value elements cleanly and you climb; make a visible mistake and you tumble.
What to watch in the free skate
The free program will be decisive. It offers higher base values and more room for component scores to swing standings. For Liu, the path to a podium finish is straightforward on paper: deliver the high‑value elements she showed tonight, keep errors at bay, and lean into the performance side to pick up component marks. For Levito, Glenn and others, the calculation is trickier—do they increase technical risk to chase points, or tighten layouts to secure cleaner grades of execution?
Final note
Tonight’s short program did what great Olympic moments do: it narrowed possibilities and raised stakes. Alysa Liu left the ice with momentum and a realistic shot at a medal. Several of her teammates face a steeper climb. The free skate will not merely reveal who skates best under pressure—it will decide who can weather that pressure while still delivering the kind of clean, compelling programs judges reward.