The landscape of American figure skating underwent a significant shift during the final week of January 2025, when the US Figure Skating Championships 2025 convened for the first time in Wichita, Kansas. Held at the Intrust Bank Arena, this event served as a critical evaluation point for the 2024–25 season, determining the teams for the World Championships and the Four Continents Championships. The competition was marked by record-tying performances, unexpected technical rallies, and the reaffirmation of established champions under the intense pressure of national scrutiny.

The Significance of the Wichita Venue

Choosing Wichita as the host city represented a strategic expansion for US Figure Skating. As the first time the championships were held in the state of Kansas, the event drew a fresh audience and provided a distinct atmosphere for over 180 competing athletes. The Intrust Bank Arena became a stage for high-stakes drama across the senior, junior, and novice levels. Beyond the medals, the 2025 championships were pivotal because they functioned as the final domestic proving ground before the selection of the teams for the 2025 World Championships. The technical standards observed here offered a glimpse into the trajectory of the U.S. national team leading into the 2026 Olympic cycle.

Women’s Event: Resilience and the Return of Champions

The senior women's competition at the US Figure Skating Championships 2025 was a testament to mental fortitude and technical ambition. Amber Glenn entered the event as the defending champion, but her path to a repeat title was far from linear. After a short program that lacked her typical "attack," she found herself in third place, trailing the leader by nearly six points.

However, the free skate segment demonstrated why Glenn has become a central figure in American skating. Performing to a medley featuring "I Will Find You / The Return," Glenn successfully landed her trademark triple Axel, a feat she accomplished at every competition during that season. Despite a fall on a triple loop, her technical base—including a triple flip-triple toe loop combination—propelled her to a personal best free skate score of 145.88 and an overall total of 216.79. This victory made her the first American woman since 2020 to win back-to-back national titles.

Adding to the depth of the field was the competitive return of Alysa Liu. Competing in her first national championship since coming out of retirement, Liu delivered two clean programs that emphasized artistry and consistency. Her free skate to Donna Summer’s "McArthur Park" featured six triple jumps and level 4 spins, earning her the silver medal with a total of 215.33. The podium was rounded out by Sarah Everhardt, whose performance to Stravinsky’s "Firebird" earned her the bronze medal and a personal best total of 207.36. The presence of veteran Bradie Tennell, who secured the pewter medal with a sophisticated "Nessun Dorma" program, highlighted the immense depth and experience present in the 2025 women's field.

Ice Dance: Tying the All-Time Record

One of the most historic milestones of the US Figure Skating Championships 2025 occurred in the ice dance discipline. Madison Chock and Evan Bates arrived in Wichita with the opportunity to cement their legacy by matching the record for the most U.S. ice dance titles. Their rhythm dance, a throwback medley spanning the 50s, 60s, and 70s, nearly broke their own national record, scoring 92.16 points and establishing a nine-point lead early in the competition.

Their free dance, performed to Dave Brubeck’s "Take Five," was characterized by sophisticated jazz movements and intricate lifts. Despite Chock reportedly not feeling her best physically, the duo relied on their decade-plus of experience to secure a free dance score of 131.36 and a total of 223.52. This win marked their sixth U.S. title, tying the legendary record held by Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

The ice dance competition also saw strong performances from Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, who repeated as silver medalists with a passionate "Carmen" program, achieving a personal best total of 210.79. Caroline Green and Michael Parsons overcame a year of injury and surgery to claim the bronze medal, while Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik reached the 200-point milestone for the first time to take the pewter medal.

Men’s Singles: Continued Dominance

In the men's event, the technical standard remained exceptionally high, largely driven by the presence of Ilia Malinin. As the reigning world champion at the time, Malinin entered the US Figure Skating Championships 2025 as the heavy favorite. His performance in the short program established a commanding lead that effectively set the tone for the entire event. Malinin’s ability to combine high-difficulty quadruple jumps with improving artistry continued to widen the gap between him and the rest of the domestic field. His third consecutive national title underscored his role as the leader of the U.S. men's team as they looked toward international podiums.

Pairs: A New Chapter

The pairs competition in Wichita was a narrative of breakthrough and resilience. Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who had teamed up only in mid-2023, claimed their first U.S. pairs title. Their free skate to Forestella’s "Je suis malade" was a highlight of the weekend, moving from third place after the short program to the top of the podium with a total score of 211.90. The program was praised for its emotional range and technical execution, including a level 4 triple twist.

Conversely, the defending champions Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea experienced a challenging free skate. Despite a strong start with their triple twist, multiple falls on jumping elements and lifts relegated them to the bronze medal position with a score of 189.57. Katie Mcbeath and Daniil Parkman capitalized on the openings in the field to secure the silver medal with a personal best of 190.57, marking Mcbeath's first national medal after years of competing in both singles and pairs.

Junior and Novice Highlights

While the senior events garnered the most media attention, the junior levels at the US Figure Skating Championships 2025 showcased the future of the sport. In the junior pairs event, Olivia Flores and Luke Wang made history by becoming the first-ever junior pairs team to win back-to-back national titles. This achievement signaled a rare level of consistency and stability in a discipline that often sees frequent coaching and partnership changes.

The junior singles titles went to Lorenzo Elano (Men) and Sophie Jolie Von Felton (Women), both of whom displayed technical packages that suggested they would soon be ready to challenge for senior podium spots. The inclusion of the National Development Camp immediately following the championships allowed nearly 150 younger athletes to learn from the experts and officials present in Wichita, ensuring that the momentum from the event would continue through the lower levels of the sport.

Technical Trends and Judging Observations

Analysis of the protocols from Wichita reveals several trends in how U.S. officials were scoring elements during the 2024–25 season. There was a noticeable emphasis on "Grade of Execution" (GOE) for components like step sequences and spins. For instance, Chock and Bates’ choreographic rhythm sequence earned a massive 6.43 GOE, indicating that the top-tier American teams were being rewarded for polish and performance quality as much as for raw technical difficulty.

In the singles events, the disparity between those with and without consistent triple Axels or quadruple jumps became even more pronounced. The scoring gap between the top three finishers and the rest of the field in both the men’s and women’s events suggested a narrowing of the elite circle, with a high premium placed on technical risk-taking.

Broadcast and Engagement

The 2025 championships also benefited from extensive media coverage, with over 15 hours of live broadcasts on NBC and USA Network, and full streaming coverage on Peacock. This accessibility was crucial for maintaining the sport’s visibility. The final groups of the men’s free skate and the free dance were aired during prime slots, reflecting the high interest in seeing if Malinin would maintain his dominance and if Chock/Bates would indeed make history. The engagement levels in Wichita proved that there is a sustainable market for figure skating in the American Midwest, potentially opening the door for more events in similar venues.

Conclusion: The Legacy of Wichita

As we look back from the perspective of 2026, the US Figure Skating Championships 2025 stand out as a definitive moment of transition. It was the year where long-standing records were tied, where retirements were reversed with successful results, and where new partnerships proved they could handle the pressure of being national favorites.

The results in Wichita directly influenced the composition of the U.S. team that competed in the subsequent World Championships, where the momentum from these nationals translated into critical world standing points. For athletes like Amber Glenn and the team of Efimova/Mitrofanov, 2025 was the year they proved their consistency. For the sport itself, the successful debut in Wichita showed that American figure skating continues to evolve, balancing its rich history with a forward-looking approach to technical excellence.