Alysa Liu Leads After Women's Short Program at World Figure Skating Championships

The Boston event opened with tributes to plane crash victims and high-stakes performances setting the stage for Olympic qualifications.

Alysa Liu, in a stunning comeback from retirement, leads the women's competition with a score of 74.58, followed by Japan's Mone Chiba and U.S. teammate Isabeau Levito.
Top contender Amber Glenn stumbled on her triple axel, placing ninth, while three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto is fifth as she chases a fourth consecutive title.
The championships began with a tribute honoring 28 members of the U.S. skating community who died in a January plane crash, deeply affecting the skating world.
Ilia Malinin, the reigning men's world champion and 'Quad God,' is preparing to defend his title tomorrow, dedicating his performance to the crash victims.
The event is pivotal for determining Olympic quota spots for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, with competitions continuing through March 30.