My Favorite Figure Skating Programs of 2025 - Part I
As the calendar gets ready to turn to 2026, I look back at the programs I most enjoyed this past year, starting with women's singles.
With this being the first year I truly followed figure skating, I wanted to look back at the programs I enjoyed the most. I had two rules when I started making my list:
I had to have seen the program in person.
Only one program per skater
With this in mind, I started to sketch out a quick list off the top of my head, thinking I’d have to make a few cuts to get down to a Top 10. I was very wrong. My initial list had more than 50 programs across all disciplines (men’s, women’s, pairs, ice dance, ice theatre, show skating). So instead I decided to break this up in to three parts.
Today I’m focusing on the women, since that was my longest list. Tuesday I’ll give you men’s, pairs, and ice dance (the other three world championship disciplines), with theatre on ice and show skating coming on Wednesday. I’m not going to attempt to rank them, so I’ll give them to you in alphabetical order.
Starr Andrews - Run The World
Where I saw it: Skate America
Honestly I could have gone with either of Andrews’ programs for this season, but I was most in love with her short program, set to Beyonce’s “Run the World.” This is one of the many programs I’m excited to see again next week at U.S. Nationals.
Nadia Dupuis - Ray of Light
Where I saw it: Violet Ice Classic
I’ve interviewed a lot of skaters in recent months, and many of them cited “Ice Princess” as their favorite figure skating movie. I’ve even talked to skaters who said that movie is what made them want to start skating. So I’d been hoping all season that someone would do a program to this song, which was the program music for the late Michelle Trachtenberg in the movie. I didn’t get to see Canada’s Sara-Maude Dupuis perform in person, but I did get to see UConn’s Nadia Dupuis skate to it at a collegiate meet in Boston. And it warmed my heart.
Amber Glenn - Like A Prayer
Where I saw it: Summer Sizzler
Shockingly, this was not an automatic inclusion on this list, only because of my “one program per skater” rule. I was torn between this one and Glenn’s “Hot To Go” gala program from last season, which I saw at Stars On Ice. In the end, the competitive program won out, in part because watching this live, the first time she skated in for an audience, felt like a religious experience.
Anastasiia Gubanova - Unchained Melody/The Love Inside
Where I saw it: Skate America
The first time I saw Gubanova skate in person this season was her disastrous performance in the short program at the World Championships in Boston. She was much better in both programs at Skate America, winning bronze thanks in large part to a massive score from this free skate. The program is beautiful, but what really takes it to the next level (and cemented its spot on my favorites list) is the dress.
Lara Naki Gutmann - Jaws
Where I saw it: Skate America
If you thought this program wasn’t making the list, you haven’t been paying attention. I literally bought a plush shark and brought it to Lake Placid just to throw it on the ice after this skate.
Wakaba Higuchi - My Way
Where I saw it: Skate America
I’m not crying, you’re crying. (Okay, fine, I’ve cried every time I’ve seen her skate this program this season).
Sonja Hilmer - Dave Brubeck/Cole Porter
Where I saw it: Cranberry Cup
On the opposite side of the emotional spectrum is Hilmer’s short program, which brings me so much joy every time, especially when the recording of her skates kicks in during the step sequence.
Isabeau Levito - Moon River
Where I saw it: ISU World Championships and Stars On Ice
I went through an Audrey Hepburn phase in college, and I still adore “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (while acknowledging how problematic it is), so I fell in love with this program at first sight of the dress. But Levito also skates it beautifully, and I felt so lucky to see it multiple times even in the short time I was going to skating events last season.
Alysa Liu - Promise
Where I saw it: ISU World Championships, Skate America
While I would’ve loved to have seen Liu’s new Laufey program for this season (the one she was forced to ditch when the featured artist on the song got caught in some massive legal trouble), I’m not sad that I got to see this one multiple times. It’s so beautiful. Though my video from Skate America is obviously closer up, I decided to go with the World Championship video because that was the version of the program that cemented my decision to fall in love with this sport.
Sofia Samodelkina - Sunset Boulevard
Where I saw it: Cranberry Cup
I first saw Samodelkina at Worlds, and while she was solid (finishing 14th overall), she didn’t leave a massive lasting impression on me. That changed at Cranberry Cup, where she blew me away with two incredible programs, even without competition dresses. Her free skate in particular made me believe she could be a contender for an Olympic medal in February.
Bradie Tennell - Young and Beautiful
Where I saw it: Summer Sizzler and Boston Open NQS
Technically the first time I saw this program, it was a gala program, which was the plan for Tennell for this season. Then she changed and made it her short program, which was an incredible choice, because the song is perfect for her. She put up a massive score with it in Boston, and I’ll be rooting for her to do the same in St. Louis.
Kaya Tiernan - When She Loved Me
Where I saw it: Cranberry Cup
Skate a program to a Disney song, and there’s a good chance I’ll love it. Skate a gorgeous program to the saddest Disney song ever, and it’ll definitely make my list. This is another one I’ll get to see again at nationals, as Tiernan is among the competitors at the junior level in St. Louis.
What were your favorite women’s singles programs of the season? Let me know in the comments, and follow me on Instagram for more ongoing figure skating coverage. And come back Tuesday for my favorite men’s, pairs and ice dance programs.
Great list! I'm excited to see some of these in person next week!