“Just Last Night in Boston…” — Alysa Liu Delivers a Statement Skate at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships

 “Just Last Night in Boston…” — Alysa Liu Returns to the World Stage With a Program That Felt Like a Promise Kept

Just last night at TD Garden, the women’s short program at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships delivered exactly what figure skating does best — breathtaking beauty and raw emotion. And at the center of it all was Alysa Liu, stepping back onto the ice only days after a major triumph, this time determined to bring something more personal to the audience.

Skating to “Promise” by Laufey and Dan Wilson, Alysa didn’t attack the program with urgency — she unfolded it. From the opening glide, there was a calm authority in her edges, a softness in her arms, and a quiet confidence in every transition. It wasn’t just about landing elements; it was about inhabiting the music. Her technical passes were crisp and composed, and as she moved into the second half of the program, the arena grew noticeably quieter — the kind of silence that signals collective focus.

When she struck her final pose, holding still for a split second longer than expected, TD Garden erupted. Coaches exchanged nods. Teammates clapped from rinkside. In the kiss-and-cry area, one coach was overheard saying, “That’s maturity.” The scoreboard placed her in third — but the placement felt secondary to the statement she had made. This was not the skating of someone chasing validation. It was the performance of an athlete skating on her own terms.

Across the ice, it was a night of contrasts for Amber Glenn. Glenn made headlines as one of only two skaters to successfully land a triple axel in the short program — a feat that electrified the crowd. But a later error on her triple loop disrupted the momentum, and she finished the segment in 13th place, leaving the ice visibly emotional. It was a reminder of how razor-thin the margins are at this level — how joy and heartbreak can exist within the same four minutes.

Boston witnessed both extremes: tears and triumph, tension and release. For Alysa Liu, the return last night felt symbolic. She wasn’t just back on the ice — she was delivering something she had quietly promised herself. And as the competition continues, one thing is clear: her biggest moments may still be ahead.