Last year, the joke was that the Grand Prix Final women’s event was Japan Nationals and guest—the guest being Amber Glenn, who eventually ended up winning “Japan Nationals.” This year, it’s a similar story, except it’s four Japanese women against two American women. The competition will be phenomenal, with every skater in the lineup having broken 210 this season, a few of them multiple times. And half of the field have landed triple axels this season.
2025 Grand Prix Final predictions
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GOLD Kaori Sakamoto JPN - She was on fire during the two Grand Prix events—and for her to be coming into the Final with two scores over 220 is a big deal, because she hasn’t looked this locked in this early in the season. Part of the consistency could be that she has returned to a free skate layout that she’s just more comfortable with, and part of it could be that she really is taking this farewell tour season and soaking it all in. Whatever it is, it’s been a very promising season so far, and she will be looking to win her second Grand Prix Final title.
SILVER Mone Chiba JPN - The World bronze medalist has taken and ran with the momentum that she built last season, becoming the only one in this field to win both of her Grand Prix events. Her biggest hurdle will be clean rotations on her jumps, and given how competitive this field is, the difference could be a couple of underrotations. She was the silver medalist here last year and want to take that step up to the title.
BRONZE Amber Glenn USA - The defending champion faces a perhaps even more daunting group this year at the Grand Prix Final. She’s been right on the edge of skating clean competitions this season so far, and much like last year, her free skates have had one or two errors that have prevented her from maxing out her scores. She will need to watch for rotations on her triple flip-triple toe and the second half free skate jumps, but if she puts down two clean skates, she could make that repeat happen.
4. Alysa Liu USA - Will we see a new free skate from Liu this week? She’s been talking about the potential return of a revamped Lady Gaga free skate since she went back to last year’s free skate for the Grand Prix. And given that there really are just two events left until the Olympics—provided that she does get selected for the team—it will be very important for the World champ to get some competition reps in for a new program. Either way, her Grand Prix was solid, and she will very much be in the mix for the podium.
5. Ami Nakai JPN - In her very first senior Grand Prix appearance, Nakai delivered one of the biggest shocks of the entire season so far, beating a near-clean Kaori Sakamoto to win Grand Prix de France. Her score there is still the second highest score that we’ve seen this season. And though she came back down to earth a bit at Skate Canada, she’s proven that she’s one to contend with here. The triple axel, which she has in both programs, will be absolutely important for her if she is to find herself on the podium.
6. Rinka Watanabe JPN - Speaking of triple axels, Watanabe will be looking to get hers in order here as well. Of the six here, she’s had the most erratic season, though she seems to have shed the rollercoaster ride that she was on earlier in the season with her two medals on the Grand Prix. She returns to the Grand Prix Final for the first time since she qualified here three years ago—and crazily enough, skating the same two programs that she had in that breakthrough season.