Resolution Criteria

The 2026 World Championships are scheduled to be held from March 23 to 29 in Prague, Czech Republic, with women performing their free skates on Friday, 27 March. The gold medal winner will be determined by the highest combined score from the short program and free skate, as judged by the ISU according to standard figure skating scoring rules. Results will be available on the ISU website and major sports news outlets.

Background

Sakamoto Kaori heads to Prague for what will be the last competition of her storied career before she turns her attention to coaching duties. As a three-time world champion and 2022 Olympic bronze medalist in women's singles, she is one of the top contenders to win gold in the individual event. Sakamoto finished her Olympic career with three Olympic silver medals and a bronze, at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Nakai Ami is set to make her senior Worlds debut after a breakout season that included winning an Olympic bronze medal. Competing in her first senior season, Nakai is another podium favorite in the women's singles event. She defeated Sakamoto twice this season: once on her way to victory in her senior Grand Prix debut in France, and once at the Grand Prix Final while claiming silver over Sakamoto's bronze.

Mone Chiba — last year's world bronze medallist — sat fourth at the 2026 Olympics. Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito also on Team USA's roster, though Glenn did not medal at the Olympics.

Considerations

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu will not compete in the world figure skating championships, scheduled for later this month in Prague. Despite being the defending world champion, Liu's decision to withdraw is not a surprise to figure skating insiders and observers after she became the first American women's figure skater to win gold at the Winter Olympics since 2002.

This description was generated by AI.