Chock and Bates Take Big Lead into Free Dance, Liu Secures Second in Short Program
On Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the 2025 Saatva Skate America event in Lake Placid, New York, the charismatic ice dance duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates garnered a commanding lead in the rhythm dance segment, positioning themselves towards their fifth Skate America gold. This gold, if achieved, would tie them with Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto for the most ice dance golds in Skate America history.
Alysa Liu, competing at Skate America for the first time, inspired the crowd during the women’s short program, securing second place overall and trailing the leader by less than a point. As the reigning World champion, Liu aims for her first Grand Prix Final berth and a gold for the U.S. in a fully international Skate America since 2016.
In men’s competition, Jason Brown led the United States with a fourth-place finish, demonstrating his artistic prowess once again. Chan and Howe also performed admirably, landing fourth place in pairs. Chock and Bates dominated the rhythm dance with a score of 84.77. The team performed a compelling medley from Lenny Kravitz, delivering a nostalgic performance that thrilled the audience.
Chock praised their skate, saying, “We made a lot of improvements since Cup of China. I’m so proud of how we performed.” Meanwhile, Liu, after showcasing her talent to “Promise” by Laufey, was elated about her performance, saying, “I had my friend in the audience, so that gave me extra energy.”
Although Jason Brown ultimately finished fourth, his artistry shone through as he secured the event’s highest program components score. His experience from past competitions has evidently enhanced his performance strategy. Even newcomers such as Josephine Lee made their mark, scoring 54.24 in her Grand Prix debut.
Looking forward, Chock and Bates appear poised to capture their historic title, while Liu’s determination signifies an exciting chapter for U.S. women’s figure skating. As athletes prepare for the free dance and free skate, anticipation builds—fans await to witness if historical moments unfold at this iconic event. Competing strong, these athletes reinforce that figure skating is indeed not just a sport but a passionate display of art on ice.
