2026 winter olympics women's single skating free skating: Full list out, Alysa Liu leads U.S. medal hopes after short program
The field for the women's free skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics has been finalized and fans are gearing up for Thursday's showdown. The short program left the competition wide open — Alysa Liu vaulted into medal contention, Mona Chiba landed herself inside the top five, and Amber Glenn suffered a costly mistake that dropped her down the leaderboard. The free skate will decide the podium in what promises to be a dramatic evening for the discipline.
Field finalized: full free skate list released
Organizers released the complete lineup for the women's free skate on Thursday, setting the stage for a packed session of technical fireworks and emotional moments. The published list confirms that several skaters who produced standout short programs will return to the ice with momentum, while a handful of contenders must stage late comebacks.
Notable placements coming out of the short program: Mona Chiba sits fourth with a score of 74. 00, a performance that drew cheers from the crowd and moved her firmly into contention. Event organizers and commentators have highlighted that the top five after the short program look likely to form the podium, but the results from other disciplines at these Games show that outcomes can flip rapidly under pressure.
U. S. hopes, setbacks and the 'Blade Angels' spirit
Team USA arrives at the free skate with mixed fortunes. Alysa Liu delivered a polished short program that put her in third place heading into the free skate and positioned her as the Americans' best chance for a medal. Liu expressed confidence in the moment and embraced an anything-can-happen mindset, saying she wanted to savor being on the ice and that she was prepared for any outcome.
Her teammate Amber Glenn, who drew a raucous ovation early in her routine and landed a triple axel to start, was hampered by an invalid technical element that cost her points and dropped her to 12th with a score of 67. 39. The mistake underscores how narrowly the competition can turn and how critical each technical call and element is under Olympic pressure.
Beyond the scores, the U. S. women's group has been noted for a cooperative camaraderie that has drawn attention throughout the Games. Rather than fracturing into rivals, the skaters have embraced each other in a team identity frequently described in headlines as the "Blade Angels" — a nickname highlighting both their technical blades and the supportive culture among the American contingent. That spirit could factor into Liu's performance as teammates rally behind one another before the free skate.
When to watch (Eastern Time) and what to expect
The women's free skate is scheduled for Thursday in Milan; viewers in Eastern Time should expect coverage during the day and evening hours on Thursday, with exact start times varying by broadcaster and platform. Fans planning to watch live should consult local listings for the precise ET start time for the free skate session.
What to expect on the ice: a mix of high-difficulty jump layouts, strategic program components, and the potential for shakeups among the standings. With the short program creating a tight top group and at least one high-profile fall already altering the leaderboard, the free skate carries real medal implications. The atmosphere in the arena has already been electric — crowd favorites and unexpected moments (including lighthearted fan and celebrity moments during other events) signal a raucous backdrop for what could be one of the more memorable women's finals in recent Games.
Heading into Thursday's free skate, the message from the ice is clear: technically ambitious programs and mental resilience will determine who climbs the podium.
