For two decades, hope has hovered over American women’s figure skating like a promise waiting to be fulfilled. Since 2006, no U.S. woman has stood on an Olympic podium in singles. But at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, that drought may finally meet its match.
Enter the “Blade Angels” — Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito — three skaters, three distinct styles, and one shared mission: bring American women back to the Olympic podium.
A Trio Unlike Any Other
They don’t look alike. They don’t skate alike. And that’s precisely the magic.
All three rank among the world’s best. All three medaled at the U.S. Championships. Together, they represent different regions, personalities, and artistic visions — yet they are united by a visible bond that feels more like sisterhood than rivalry.
NBC analyst and Olympic champion Tara Lipinski put it bluntly: she hasn’t seen a U.S. women’s team this strong in decades. Some observers have even whispered the unthinkable — a possible American sweep.
Bold? Yes. Impossible? Not this year.
Amber Glenn: Power With Purpose
Glenn’s journey began in a Dallas mall rink, where early promise met relentless determination. Her parents worked extra hours to support her skating dreams, even searching for secondhand skates online.
In 2019, she made headlines by coming out publicly, becoming an important voice for authenticity in the sport. Since then, she has embraced both her identity and her ambition, stacking up national titles and landing consistent triple axels — one of skating’s most demanding jumps.
On the ice, she is fearless and emotionally open. Every performance feels like a declaration: strength and vulnerability can coexist.
Alysa Liu: Joy Reclaimed
Few stories in figure skating are as compelling as Alysa Liu’s.
A prodigy who became the youngest U.S. champion at 13, she skated at her first Olympics in 2022. But the grind of elite competition eventually pushed her to step away from the sport entirely in 2023. She traveled, hiked to Everest Base Camp, and rediscovered who she was beyond the rink.
When she returned in 2024, she came back different — lighter, freer, skating not from pressure but from choice. Since then, she’s added a world title and secured her place on a second Olympic team.
Now, she competes with something rare in elite sports: pure joy.
Isabeau Levito: Grace Under Glass
Levito fell in love with skating as a toddler watching the 2010 Olympics. Today, she glides with the refinement of a ballerina placed gently on ice.
Often described as meticulous and perfection-driven, she pairs delicate presentation with fierce inner resolve. Beneath the sparkle of her costumes lies intense discipline — the kind that counts falls on one hand and demands more each day.
At Milan Cortina, she honors her Italian heritage by skating to music inspired by Sophia Loren, blending elegance with cultural pride.
A New Era for U.S. Women
What makes the Blade Angels compelling isn’t just their medal potential. It’s the contrast.
Glenn’s fire.
Liu’s freedom.
Levito’s lyricism.
Three artists. Three identities. One flag.
“We are all individual artists,” Glenn has said. “We’re not trying to fit into anyone’s mold.”
That mindset may be the key. American women’s skating isn’t trying to recreate the past — it’s redefining the present.
As Milan Cortina unfolds, the question lingers: will this be the year the drought ends?
If it does, it won’t just be because of technical scores or clean landings. It will be because three young women arrived not only prepared to win — but prepared to skate as themselves.
And that may be the most powerful edge of all.
