Team USA Wins Men’s and Ice Dance Events, Extends Lead at World Team Trophy
Team USA has achieved an outstanding performance at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025, continuing to build on its lead in the competition held in Tokyo, Japan. With victories in both the men’s and ice dance categories, Team USA collected an impressive 43 points on Friday, bringing their total to 95 points. Japan follows closely in second place with 80 points.
In the men’s event, world champion Ilia Malinin led the charge with a stunning score of 183.88, landing four quadruple jumps to the energetic sound of “I’m Not a Vampire” by Falling in Reverse. His teammate, two-time Olympian Jason Brown, finished a commendable second with a score of 179.33, displaying a graceful free skate to “Spiegel im Spiegel” by Arvo Pärt. Brown’s performance earned him 11 points, helping tighten Team USA’s grip on the leading position.
“We wanted to keep the momentum going from our first day,” Brown explained. Sharing his fears about the competition’s stress, he remarked, “I’m happy to end my season this way,” emphasizing his emotional journey.
The ice dance event concluded with a brilliant performance from Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who clinched victory with a score of 133.51. Their routine, showcasing technical brilliance, earned them an additional 12 points, helping solidify the team’s lead. “It’s really great to finish off the season strong,” Chock expressed, illustrating their determination and success.
This victory put the tandem on the cusp of a monumental achievement—if Team USA retains its lead, Chock and Bates will secure their fifth World Team Trophy gold medal.
In the pairs segment, champions Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov faced early struggles but rebounded well, scoring 64.67. Their resilience, highlighted by a formidable throw triple loop, reflects Team USA’s overall spirit as they march toward potential victory.
Looking ahead, Team USA strives for its third consecutive World Team Trophy gold and the sixth in total, reaffirming its dominance in a competition it has medaled in since its inception in 2009.
Catch all events streaming live on Peacock, available for 72 hours post-event. For detailed results, visit the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone.
