Team USA secures sixth title at World Team Trophy
2025 World Team Trophy: Day 3
The third day of 2025 World Team Trophy concluded Saturday with the Pairs’ and Women’s Free Skate in Tokyo, Japan. Team USA secured the title for their sixth win at this event with 126 points. Team Japan pocketed the silver with 110 points, while Team Italy held on to their third placement from yesterday for the bronze (86).
Team USA
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov gave a charismatic free skate to “Je suis malade,” but it was not without errors. The 2025 U.S. champions had a low catch on the triple twist, which was graded a level two, and Efimova struggled on her jumps. She doubled the first jump in the triple Salchow-double Axel-double Axel sequence and only did a doubled the triple toes. She also two-footed the landing of the throw triple loop and put a foot down on the throw triple Salchow. However, the young team earned a level four on all spins, lifts and the death spiral. They posted 117.67 points for fifth place.
“To be honest, we feel a little bit disappointed with our skate,” said Mitrofanov. “We know we can produce better results, but this is only our second season together and our first international, so I think that kind of showed a bit today. Alisa was a bit under the weather as well, so we’ve been kind of battling that. We’re not trying to make excuses, but we’re very happy to be here. The crowd was absolutely receptive. We really gave our heart out for this program.”
“The support just gives so much energy! added Efimova. “I feel that we had a long season, and today, I feel it kind of pushed us a little bit into the mistakes we made. But overall, we’re happy that we made it. We are very happy to be here and just very happy to be part of Team USA.”
Amber Glenn gave an inspiring free skate to “I Will Find You” and “The Return,” opening with a solid triple Axel. The two-time U.S. Champion went on to land a total of seven triple jumps while displaying excellent spins and footwork throughout. She scored a new personal best of 148.93 points for second place.
“I felt calm, very composed. I got a lot of rest over the last few days,” said Glenn. “I think my body and mind were just recovering from being in such a high intensity state for like going on my fourth week.”
The skater said that even though this event was the time of her life, she stressed about remembering her steps and what to do.
“That showed on Thursday,” Glenn admitted. “I was able to rest, and I got some great advice from my teammates, and they were there for me. So today I was able to just go out there and do my job. I think I learned a lot, especially from the two drastically different performances. I’ve learned what I need to do and what I need to not do.”
Alysa Liu continued her momentum, placing first in the free skate with a new personal best of 150.97 points. Her dynamic routine to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” featured a total of seven solid triple jumps. Every jump and element received mostly +3 and +4 GOEs, including her level-four spins and footwork.
“I actually can’t believe that I won this competition either,” said the 2022 World bronze medalist. “I’m really grateful and I’m honored that the people like my skating this much! It really just makes me want to work so much harder because I feel like I can put out much better. I have so much time. I haven’t even been back training a full year. So, the fact that I have a whole year before the Olympics, it just means that I’m halfway into my training.”
“The team event was really fun!” Liu added. “I wish every competition was like this. I love the team spirit. I’d like to say it helps everyone compete better. I love the camaraderie, especially because we’re such an individual sport. I love watching team sports, so this really felt like I was in one.”
Total Team Score: 126
After a strong showing at Worlds, the U.S. team entered the event with a determined mindset. Team captain Brown emphasized that the federation had clearly communicated how important this competition was, which helped the skaters stay focused.
“So even though we were having so much fun and there was that camaraderie and support, the focus was that we want to do our absolute best, we wanted to win,” said Brown. “At the end of the day, it’s a competition and we know that it’s that last team event before the Olympics. It’s really, really important for us to show what we’re capable of and not only to the audience in this competition, but to also prove to our federation we’re all really fighting for those team spots as well,” he continued. “It’s not the same system. The spots work a little differently.”
“But we really wanted to show that we can show up for our team,” he continued. “By skating well and also by working as a team and seeing that through the good and the bad. And if you have a rough skate, you can come back and be stronger the next day and turn it around. It was definitely a huge learning experience for a lot of us too because for some of us it’s the first time that they’ve ever done a team event. It was really exciting to see those athletes step up and experience that. It’s been a really incredible experience, but we definitely took it very seriously and have that mentality because of next year. We really hope to keep the momentum going.”
Team Japan
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara placed first in the free skate to Benjamin Clementine’s “Adiós” with a personal best score of 145.06 points. Their innovative routine featured a strong throw triple loop, but Miura stepped out of the throw triple Lutz. She also underrotated the first jump in the triple toe-double-Axel-double Axel sequence and doubled the triple Salchows. However, the level-four lifts, spin, and death spiral were excellent, receiving very high GOEs.
The 2025 Four Continents champions said they weren’t thinking much about the results. Instead, they were focusing on skating the way they wanted to.
“There are some things we need to work on, and we already have a clear idea in mind,” said Kihara. “So next season we want to work on that. “We had a very hard season, especially in the first half, but because of that experience, we want to enjoy our Olympic year. We are kind of thankful for the hard experience we went through. ”
“Our training doesn’t lie, so we want to believe in what we can,” Miura summed up.
Two-time Four Continents medalist Mone Chiba took a fall on a triple loop in her free skate but was otherwise solid. She landed a triple flip-triple toe and two triple Lutz combinations, as well as a triple flip. While she landed one of the Lutz jumps on the quarter, the steps and footwork were graded a level four with high GOES. She placed fifth with 138.52 points for her expressive routine “Ariana Concerto No. 1.”
“Compared to yesterday, I was able to enjoy the performance from the beginning to the end,” said Chiba. “I actually enjoyed this event the most during this season. We were able to accomplish second place, and our team fought for it together. I’m happy to have experienced the team event before the Olympics.”
Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto placed third with 145.00 points. Her playful and upbeat free skate to “All That Jazz” was highlighted by good level-four spins and footwork, but she struggled on the jumps. She turned out a triple Lutz and landed a triple Salchow and triple loop on the quarter. However, she managed to hang on to a triple flip-triple toe and showed a beautiful double Axel which earned very high GOES.
“It was tough for me, and I know that it was also tough for the other skaters,” said Sakamoto. “We finished Worlds less than a month ago and then training again for this competition could not have been harder, but I do appreciate from the bottom of my heart that everyone was able to give it their all. So, to all of the skaters, Japanese and everyone else, I wish them a wonderful off season! It was really inspiring that we were able to see all of the skaters and we were able to end with a smile. So that for me personally is a very joyous thing.”
Total Team Score: 110
Team captain Sakamoto noted that some of the members have already experienced the team event at the Olympics, but were competing in their first World Team Trophy.
“We also had people who had experienced the team event for the first time ever,” she said. “And we also had skaters who had been both to the Olympic team event and WTT. I think that maybe the way that they took the
significance of the team event was different from person to person. For those who had experienced the team event in the Olympics, they probably were able to experience how fun the World Team Trophy event can be.”
“For those who experienced the team event for the first time, I think they were able to really sense how much everyone’s support means,” she continued. “That was really what I wanted the team to be able to experience. It would be great if we could go to the Olympics and do the team event there with these same members, but I know that we have no idea what will happen. But I will say that this has been a great experience for all of us.”
Team Italy
The two-time European medalists Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii renewed their personal best in the free skate with 142.26 to place second. Their moving routine to “Papa, Can You Hear Me?” featured a level-four triple twist and solid side-by-side jumps: triple toe-double Axel-double Axel sequence and the triple Salchows. Conti put a hand down on the throw triple loop, but the throw triple Salchow was clean. They also produced very good level-for lifts and pair spin.
“It’s a beautiful start for the next season,” said Conti.
One lesson they learned this season is that even if you feel good, have repetition, and practice is good, the “mind is the most important part.”
“We will try to find a way to get more confidence from the work on the ice,” said Macii. “I think today we skated really well because we were really conscious and confident of what we could do. So, we’re going to try new work. We already tried to set up and we tried to come here, and I think it worked. So, I really felt better. I always die at the end of the free. Not today, that was so good. Normally I’m exhausted!”
Conti shared that they have plans to use Italian music next season as the Olympic Games will be held in Italy.
Anna Pezzetta struggled in her free skate to music from the Avatar soundtrack, taking a fall on an underrotated double Axel and triple Lutz. She also stepped out of a triple flip and triple loop, but produced a triple Salchow-double toe, triple Salchow and triple Lutz. The two-time Challenger Series medalist earned a level four on two spins and finished 11th with 98.41 points.
Lara Naki Gutmann delivered a nearly flawless free skate, placing sixth with a new personal best score of 133.13 points. Her routine “Wayward Sisters” and “Sheltering Sky” featured a total of six triple jumps, including a triple Lutz-Euler-triple Salchow and triple toe-double Axel sequence. All spins and footwork were rewarded with a positive GOES and a level for.
“I felt so good while skating,” said the three-time Challenger Series medalist. “I actually was a little nervous because it’s so hot in this rink, and I felt like my skates were too wide, but I think it was just mental things. So I just tried to go on and it worked. I’m really sorry for the flip because it was the only jump that I doubled, but I’m so happy about the other jumps because I felt so confident in the landings. And I really felt so much power from my team, cheering for every jump, every element, so that’s been wonderful! They helped me so much to go through to the end because I was so tired.”
Gutmann feels this has been her best season so far.
“I really feel like I’ve improved in competitions because I feel last year, I was doing really good trainings, but not so good in competition,” she said. “But I feel like I’ve been doing a lot off ice and that helped me, but the result came this year.”
Total Team Score: 86
“It was an amazing day for team Italy because we for the first time we won a medal,” pointed out Guignard, the team captain. “I am so proud of our team and it is an honor to be the captain. It was more stressful for me to watch the others competing than doing my competition. We were fighting for a medal, so it was stressful, but to finish the season with all skaters from different nations is a beautiful moment for the sport.”
“This result was very important because we showed that Italy can fight for a medal in the Olympic team event, even if the format is different,” she added. “We have a strong team now in every discipline, also in the women that were weaker. The federation, the coaches and all the skaters worked very well to prepare for the home Olympic Games, and I hope we can fight for a (team) medal.”
Team France
Four-time national champions Camille Kovalev and Pavel Kovalev gave a good effort in their theatrical “James Bond” free skate to place sixth with 107.45 points. Their routine was highlighted by three level-four lifts and a solid throw triple Lutz.
Lea Serna, who has a shin injury, put out a solid free skate to “Exogenesis,” placing ninth with a season’s best of 106.65 points. The three-time national champion scaled down her routine, landing a total of three triple jumps, but displayed level-four lifts and footwork throughout.
Teammate and three-time national medalist Lorine Schild finished just a head in eighth place (117.78). Her free skate to selections by Cédric Tour, but was highlighted by a triple Lutz-triple toe, solo triple Lutz and a triple loop-double Axel-double toe sequence. All three spins were graded a level four, while the footwork was a level three.
Total Team Score: 78
Team Canada
Three-time Four Continents medalists Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps struggled a bit on the side-by-side jumps, but the throw triple Salchow and throw triple loop were solid. Their enigmatic free skate also featured three level four lifts, twist and spin. They placed fourth with 134.35 points.
“This competition was tough,” said Stellato-Dudek. “You’re tired coming in and then the big jet lag for us from North America, and I was like, ‘oh this long program is going to be tough!’ It was harder than I thought it was going to be. I changed the position of my forward outside death spiral. It wasn’t for the level, it was for GOE.”
“We go right from here to get our free program done, so we’re really excited about that,” said Deschamps. “I’ve been dreaming of these programs, like saving them, like a little keychain or something that you save, that you love. I can’t wait to start working on them and I have so many ideas too, so we’re very excited to start. Lori Nicol is doing our free and then Julie Marcotte is doing our short.”
Sara-Maude Dupuis placed 10th with 99.07 points with her free skate set to the soundtrack from Human. The 2025 national silver medalist took a fall on a triple flip and doubled a loop, Lutz and Salchow. However, the opening triple Lutz-double toe-double loop was clean, and she also produced two level-three spins and footwork.
Madeline Schizas hung on to her opening triple Lutz but landed a total of six more triple jumps to place seventh (124.57). Her lyrical routine to Butterfly Lovers also included three level four spins, with the layback spin earning high GOES.
“For all the women, this was a very hard event, but I’m happy with the way I skated today,” she said. “I pushed, even if it was a difficult day and a difficult schedule.”
Schizas added that she really enjoyed team events.
“I think that the team has done a great job in bringing the team’s spirit this week,” she said. “We were all World Team Trophy rookies last time, and so this time, we came in a little more prepared.”
Schizas will tour with Stars on Ice for three weeks before she prepares for the new season.
“I’m excited for this, I’m excited to keep growing this program! she said of the free skate. “I think it’s a really good fit for me!”
Total Team Score: 72
Team Georgia
Two-time European medalists Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava placed third in the free skate with 139.96 points. Their haunting and cinematic program to “A Necessary End” was nearly flawless with the exception of a doubled toe and step out by Metelkina on the side-by-side triple toes. The triple twist, lifts, spin, and death spiral were all graded a level four with positive GOES. The triple Salchow-double Axel-double Axel sequence, throw triple flip and throw triple loop were all solid.
“It feels easier to skate in this event as there is so much support,” said Metelkina. “Even though I made a mistake, I didn’t want to give up and just go on. We hope to get into the Olympic team event and this competition was a good practice. It was very important for us to be here.”
“The season had ups and downs, and it was a good working season,” said Berulava. “We are satisfied and we learned a lot.”
Despite only having two triple jumps planned, Alina Urushadze gave a fun free skate to music by ABBA. She landed a triple toe-double toe, triple toe and two double Axels. The flip, Lutz and loop were planned doubles and were clean. The spins and footwork were graded a level three, and the 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial bronze medalist placed 12th with 90.19 points.
2022 Olympian Anastasiia Gubanova skated to a new personal best 141.39 points with her sophisticated free skate to “Balder” and “Freya.” She was solid, landing a total of seven triple jumps, including a triple flip-triple toe and triple Lutz-double Axel-double toe sequence. All spins and footwork received a level four, and she finished fourth.
“I’m so happy and today it was not really hard because I really have big support from my group,” said Gubanova.
She said she’s thinking of trying something new for next season but will probably stay with her “usual” style.
“I think my strengths are my skating skills, creating an atmosphere and also my expression,” she said.
Total Team Score: 68
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