In return to the ice at the U.S. championships, the 19-year-old wins Thursday’s short program and offers hope for 2026 Olympics.

Alysa Liu won her first senior U.S. figure skating title at age 13. She retired at age 16. She has come back at age 19 and now leads after the short program at her first nationals in three years. Liu tallied 76.

For the first time in its 111-year history, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships are coming to Kansas. The best figure skaters in the country will