MILAN: Alysa Liu is left to bear the ambitions of the American figure skating team on Thursday night, when the last of the “Blade Angels” with a legitimate shot at the Olympic gold medal tries to catch Japanese teammates Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto during the women’s free skate at the Milan Cortina Games. Nakai, Sakamoto and Mone Chiba give Japan the chance for the first-ever women’s podium sweep. Then there is Adeliia Petrosian, the young Russian sprite competing as a neutral athlete, and the only one of the contenders who has the ability to land a quad jump.

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu was nearly perfect while her teammates Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn failed to reach the top of the leaderboard in the women's short program.

Alysa Liu put on an exceptional short program, Amber Glenn struggled after a strong start, and Isabeau Levito had a clean performance.

Olympic expectations soared for Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito. But the women's figure skating short program didn't end the way they hoped.

Alysa Liu said she doesn't need to win a medal in women's figure skating, but the U.S. needs her to so it can salvage Olympics.

Japan’s skaters stole the spotlight as the Americans largely struggled in their attempts to end a two-decade medal drought

MILAN: Alysa Liu is left to bear the ambitions of the American figure skating team on Thursday night, when the last of the “Blade Angels” with a legitimate shot at the Olympic…

Alysa Liu is in third entering the women's free skate at the 2026 Olympics, representing the Americans' best chance to end a 20-year medal drought.

Argento e bronzo per le giapponesi Sakamoto e Nakai (ANSA)

American superstar Alysa Liu adds Olympic figure skating gold to her world title as she beats a standout field in the women's final.

Alysa Liu completed a stunning comeback by winning the first Olympic women’s figure skating gold medal for the United States in 24 years

The 20-year-old put the US women back on top of the Olympic women's podium in this event for the first time since Sarah Hughes took gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Alysa Liu skated with poise, grace and beauty Thursday in Milan, Italy, to capture the United States' first Olympic gold medal in women's figure skating in nearly a quarter…