Team USA captured their fifth World Team Trophy title in Saitama, Japan on Saturday, securing their victory after leading wire-to-wire throughout the competition. With 120 points, the United States topped the podium ahead of Team Korea and Team Japan, who were locked in a tight battle for the silver medal. Team Korea posted 95 points while competing in their first-ever World Team Trophy and upset hosts Team Japan who earned 94 points for the bronze medal.
World silver medalists a few weeks ago in Japan,
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier took the ice to open the final day of competition. Skating their "Sign of the Times" program, the pair earned 147.87 points which set a new international best score for the duo in what Knierim has said was her final World Team Trophy appearance. They opened with positive grades of execution on their three opening elements, including a triple twist, jump sequence, and throw triple loop, but recorded a fall on their throw triple Salchow. That misstep did not impact the rest of their program, though, as they earned positive grades of execution on each of the subsequent elements.
Reigning world champions, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Team Japan, finished second in the free skate with 143.69 points. Team Italy's Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii finished third in the free skate with 130.22 points.
The men spent day two cheering on their teammates, but closed out the competition on day three.
Jason Brown finished third in the men's free skate with 183.43 points, and the Team USA captain earned the highest program component score in the event: no judge awarded Brown less than 9.25 in any category. His Josh Groban free skate featured a triple flip, half loop, triple Salchow sequence, a double Axel, and a triple flip all in the second half of the program for a 10 percent bonus, contributing to his total score.
Current U.S. champion
Ilia Malinin competed in his first World Team Trophy, wrapping up the free skate in fifth place. Malinin opened his "Euphoria" by Labrinth free skate with his signature quadruple Axel, a jump that no one else in the world has attempted this season. The five-quad free skate earned 173.64 points and positive grades of execution on the quad toe, quad Lutz, and quad Salchow.
Team Korea's Cha Junhwan earned 187.82 points for first place in the men's free skate, though Team Italy's Matteo Rizzo finished  a close second with 187.35 points.
The 2023 World Team Trophy victory is team captain Brown's second gold medal in the event, after helping Team USA to medals in 2015 (gold), 2017 (bronze) and 2021 (silver). Newly-crowned ice dance world champions
Madison Chock and Evan Bates also earned their fourth World Team Trophy podium finish with the victory. This marks the first World Team Trophy medal for U.S. teammates
Amber Glenn and
Isabeau Levito, who made their World Team Trophy debuts this year, at the unique team-style event held every other year in Japan.
For full results, how to watch, athlete bios and more, visit the World Team Trophy Competition Central.
