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Figure Skating not a team sport? The world’s best Figure Skating teams proved otherwise and capped off a fantastic 2024/25 season with the formidable ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating 2025 in Tokyo (JPN) Saturday. While Team USA skated off with the top prize, all teams were winners in the Japanese capital, and celebrated Figure Skating with their amazing spirit and the fans in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and those watching worldwide.

Team USA: ‘Stronger together’

Team USA has now won the ISU World Team Trophy six times © ISU

Team USA soared to their sixth title at the ISU World Team Trophy, amassing 126 points. Team Japan earned the silver medal with 110 points while Italy claimed their first medal in this event, the bronze, with 86 points. 

On the final day of competition, the Skaters gave it their all one more time on the ice and in the team boxes. They cheered, waved flags and pom-poms and put on a show for each team member in the Kiss & Cry. 

ISU World Champion Alysa Liu turned in a personal best performance to “MacArthur Park Suite” by Donna Summer, nailing seven triple jumps (150.97 points) to score 12 team points. She was the very last competitor to skate and just let herself fall on the ice when she was done, “to cool down”, as she said.

Alysa Liu of Team USA enjoying the moment at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

Skating to “I Will Find You the Return” ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Amber Glenn hit her triple Axel and achieved her own personal best with 148.93 points, coming back from her sub-par Short Program. Glenn earned another 11 points for the team. 

US Pairs Champions Alisa Efimova/Misha Mitrofanov added eight team points by coming fifth in the Pairs Free Skating with their emotional program to “Je Suis Malade”.

Alisa Efimova/Misha Mitrofanov (USA) in action at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

Team USA has now won six of the nine ISU World Team Trophies that have been held since 2009. 

“The US team went in after such a strong Worlds and we went into this event with the mentality to win,” their captain Jason Brown said. 

“It was very important to our federation and they made it very clear to us. So even though we were having so much fun and there was that camaraderie and support, the focus was that we want to do our absolute best, we wanted to win.”

Nevertheless, there was more to this event than medals.

“For us the motto of this week that I think has become the motto of the season is ‘stronger together’,” Brown said. “Through good and through the bad, we are able to lean on each other. I think this event really gives us that opportunity to come together as a team, support one another and be there to rally behind each other when it goes well and when it doesn’t go well, to pick each other up and to support and know that that support is unconditional.

“We put so much pressure on ourselves as athletes and we so badly want to do well for our teammates but to be able to be here and just show that unconditional support and know that we’re there for each other at the end of the day is so important.” 

Team USA captian Jason Brown at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

Team Japan: ‘We’re all here to be there for each other’

ISU World Champions Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara topped the field in the Pairs Free Skating again with their dynamic performance to “Adios”, reeling off triple throws, jumps and impressive lifts, securing 12 team points. They ended the season with a personal best score of 145.06 points.

All smiles: Team Japan's Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

Japan’s captain Kaori Sakamoto got her team and the home crowd going at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium with her entertaining “Chicago” performance that was highlighted by big jumps and fast spins (145.00 points). She finished third in the Free Skating to earn 10 points for her team. ISU World bronze medalist Mone Chiba netted eight points for the team for her fifth place in the Women’s Free Skating.

“We don’t really have a motto or one word for our team, but we’re all here to be there for each other,”  Sakamoto said. 

“It was really inspiring that we were able to see all of the skaters and we were able to finish with a smile. So that for me personally is a very joyous thing.

Kaori Sakamoto of Team Japan enjoys the Women's Free Skating during the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

“It was tough for me and I know that it was also tough for the other skaters. We finished Worlds less than a month ago and then training again for this competition could not have been harder but I do appreciate from the bottom of my heart that everyone was able to give it their all.”

Sakamoto recognises the importance of the team event.

“For those who experienced the team event for the first time, I think they were able to really sense how much everyone’s support means. That was really what I wanted the team to be able to experience. 

“It would be great if we could go to the Olympics and do the team event there with these same members but I know that we have no idea what will happen. But I will say that this has been a great experience for all of us.”

Silver medalist: Team Japan at the ISU WOrld Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

Team Italy: ‘The strength of the team lies in each member, and the strength of each member lies in the team’ 

Two-time ISU World bronze medalists Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii delivered an excellent performance to “Papa Can You Hear Me” and made Italy’s medal dreams come true. The 2023 ISU European Champions finished second in the Pairs Free Skating with a personal best of 142.26 points. They picked up 11 team points. 

Lara Naki Gutmann also scored a personal best in the Women’s Free Skating (133.13 points) to earn seven points for the team. Youngster Anna Pezzetta contributed two team points (11th)

Team Italy's Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii in action at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

“It was an amazing day for Team Italy because for the first time we won a medal,” their captain Charlène Guignard said. 

“I am so proud of our team and it is an honor to be the captain. We were fighting for a medal, so it was stressful, but to finish the season with all the skaters from different nations is a beautiful moment for the sport.”

The next team event will be at the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina and the bronze medal gives the Italians confidence.

“This result was very important because we showed that Italy can fight for a medal in the Olympic team event even if the format is different,” Guignard said. 

“We have a strong team now in every discipline. The federation, the coaches and all the skaters worked very well to prepare for the home Olympic Games and I hope we can fight for a (team) medal. Our motto is: “The strength of the team lies in each member, and the strength of each member lies in the team.”

Team France: ‘Impossible is not a French word’

Team France ended the competition with 78 points and remained in fourth place. French Champions Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev collected seven points from the Pairs Free Skating, while Lorine Schild and Lea Serna scored five and four points, respectively. 

“We have a wonderful team, the same we had two years ago,” captain Kevin Aymoz said. “Our motto is “Impossible is not a French word” and we can dream about top five or even top three in the Olympic team event.”

Team France's Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev perform at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

Team Canada: ‘The north is filled with beautiful creatures and so much talent’

Canada came fifth on 72 points. The 2024 ISU World Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps earned nine team points by finishing fourth in the Pairs Free Skating. Madeline Schizas collected six points (seventh place) and Sara-Maude Dupuis (10th place) got three points.

Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps of Team Canada in action at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

“Our motto is: ‘the north is filled with beautiful creatures and so much talent,”' team captain Piper Gilles said. 

“Maddie (Madeline Schizas) has brought so much to our booth and she’s called it the creatures and the wildlife of Canada. We have so many different characters on our team and I think each animal kind of represents a different person and we’re a strong unit and we’re powerful in our way.”

Team Georgia: ‘One heart, one fire’

Georgia finished sixth with 68 points on their ISU World Team Trophy debut. European medalists Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava and Anastasiia Gubanova turned in strong performances to bring home 10 and nine points for the team by finishing third and fourth, respectively. Alina Urushadze who came out of retirement for the event, added one point.

Team Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava react at the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 in Tokyo, Japan © ISU

“For us, it was already a victory to be here,” team captain Nika Egadze said. “Our motto is: ‘One heart, one fire.”

Metelkina added: “We hope to qualify for the Olympic team event and participating here was a very valuable experience for us.”

What & When

The schedule of the ISU World Team Trophy 2025 is as follows:

Thursday, April 17:  Rhythm Dance, Men & Women’s Short Programs
Friday, April 18:  Pairs Short Program, Free Dance & Men’s Free Skating
Saturday, April 19:  Pairs Free Skating & Women’s Free Skating
Sunday, April 20:  Exhibition Gala 

For more information, entry lists and results, visit the ISU event page of the ISU World Team Trophy 2025, the Japan Skating Federation event website and the TV Asahi event website. Follow the discussion on social media using #WTTFigure and #FigureSkating.

Where to watch the ISU World Team Trophy 2025

The ISU World Team Trophy 2025 will be live streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. Geo-restrictions will apply in markets where TV rights are in place. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news. 

Subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive alerts when the live streams start and when new videos are posted.